Castor oil has been a staple in my home for decades. I discovered it while devouring second-hand healthy living books in my 20’s and 30’s. I historically used castor oil primarily for the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) and to treat soft tissue pain and inflammation. A recent sports injury and subsequent extended bedrest provided an opportunity to mindlessly binge YouTube videos. I quickly learned that castor oil usage has greatly expanded! I increased my use of castor oil and like many others, my anecdotal results are miraculously fabulous on my 65-year-old skin.
Complete Proximal Hamstring Avulsion and Surgical Reattachment of Hamstring Tendons to Bone by Deborah Tosline
Hamstring injuries are one of the most common sports injuries, however a complete Proximal Hamstring Avulsion (PHA), where the hamstring tendons tear away from the bone, is a rare injury. I recently sustained a full PHA, chose surgical repair and am now on the slow recovery path. In my experience, there is little information available about recovery from PHA surgery. I write about my experience hoping that this information will help others. Not surprisingly, PHA recovery involves the same biochemical healing cascade and collagen development phases for soft tissue repair as for advanced skin care.
From Castor Oil Notes to a Proximal Hamstring Avulsion by Deborah Tosline
Hey there,
I was going to write an article about my long-term and recent, renewed, and expanded use of castor oil. Instead, I am not publishing an article this month, as my mind and body recover from a Proximal Hamstring Avulsion complete tear resulting from a sports injury.
Take good care of yourselves, Deborah
Mewing - a Mandatory Posture for Optimum Health and a Balanced Facial Profile by Deborah Tosline
Mewing is a mouth posture invented by Dr. Mike Mew that maintains closed lips, uses constant nose breathing and rests the tongue against the roof of the mouth to develop healthy facial posture. Mewing propels the bottom jaw forward to develop a healthy facial profile that promotes straight teeth alignment, supports the nose and cheeks, widens the upper jaw and provides access to a full airway for better breathing. I began mewing in 2019 and continue to this day.
Period of Revolution - Happy New Year 2024
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_System_by_Philippe_Put.jpg, Philippe Put, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Welcome to our next period of revolution and orbital trip around the sun.
Wishing for peace and careful nurture of the Earth and all of its inhabitants.
Happy New Year!
Take good care XO Deborah
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sky_of_Fire_(31166311974).jpg Paulius Malinovskis from Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_System_XI.PNG, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Solar_System_XI.PNG, See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Avoiding Toxic Synthetic Chemicals for Life by Deborah Tosline
My story is simple. As a teenager, I realized that I needed to be able to take care of myself for the rest of my life. As a young adult, I understood that I was miserable working when I did not feel good. I decided that I would do everything in my power to maintain my health including embracing nature-based practices and avoiding synthetic chemicals.
Will You Keep Yourself or Will You Let Yourself Go – Personal Maintenance for Life by Deborah Tosline
Your belongings may be stunning and you may be a top performer, but it is all meaningless without you. Yes, all the people and things that you work so hard at maintaining do not mean a thing unless you are there to give, enjoy and experience these assets. If YOU are not well-maintained, what’s the point of maintaining anything else? Have you checked your personal owner’s manual for maintenance requirements?
My Coolpeel™ and Vivace™ Med Spa Experiences by Deborah Tosline
My Decades Long Sauna Compulsion by Deborah Tosline
Starting in the late 1970’s, I educated myself on exercise, nutrition and healthy living. I developed a lifestyle routine based on how I felt a couple of hours after I ate, drank or experienced something. If I felt good, I repeated the experience. Over time, I noticed that my lifestyle choices were beneficial to my well-being. Experiencing good results on multiple levels, in a variety of ways, validated that I could trust my gut instinct to guide my nature-based life path. The first time that I used a sauna, I felt good and knew that sauna bathing would be a new routine.
Review – Wholesale Natural Body Care by Deborah Tosline
In 2015, the Environmental Working Group found that women apply “168 chemicals to their faces and bodies every day”. A 2023 study from the College of Charleston, found that “on average, young women use eight different personal care products each day that can contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, but some report as many as 17.” To promote good health (Health = Beauty) it is vital to choose personal care products (PCPs) carefully. I make many of my PCPs including tinctures, serums, oil blends, lotions, creams, masks, and deodorant to name a few. Over the decades, I’ve made conscious decisions to avoid/minimize my exposure to synthetic chemicals making it difficult for me to find retail products that I would use. Every once in a while, I research skin care and this time I found Wholesale Natural Body Care.
The Skin Biome and Pre-, Pro-, and Postbiotics by Deborah Tosline
When I think of the human skin microbiome, I am reminded of how important the human gut biome is for good personal health. Further, the Earth’s biomes are fundamental to sustaining life as we know it. A biome is a community of organisms that naturally occur within the same general area. Millions of beneficial bacteria, fungi and viruses colonize to create the microbiota that protect and nourish our skin.
Mewing to Support Facial Bone Structure by Deborah Tosline
Over time, my skin care practice increasingly evolved into a holistic facial care program. While I continued to pursue advanced skin care, I began to integrate facial muscle and facial bone strengthening exercises into my routine. I also implemented oral and neck posture corrections. It’s easy for me to embrace an ancient natural tongue placement referred to during contemporary times as mewing or orthotropics.
Skin Remodeling DIY - Author Video Chat by Deborah Tosline
This month, I introduce myself in a video chat to say hi to skin care enthusiasts who share my passion for Do-It-Yourself skin and facial care. Check out my awkward video here.
My DIY Skin and Facial Care Path by Deborah Tosline
My foray into advanced DIY facial care evolved slowly. I had little spare time and money and I integrated new DIY practices into my routine when I was able. Today, I am addicted to my own facial care products. Yes, I love them all, the DIY toners, creams, lotions, deodorants. Love, love, love. I don’t know, on some level it feels like I nurture myself deeply with these beautiful DIY nature-based skin care products and practices.
DIY Flaxseed Gel for Nature-Based, Inexpensive, Gloriously Nutritious and Heat Protective Hair Care by Deborah Tosline
Five Years of DIY Forehead Smoothing by Deborah Tosline
Good Bye 2022 - Hello 2023 DIY Skin Care Plan by Deborah Tosline
Life’s challenging. As we work hard to meet responsibilities, achieve goals and plan futures, it’s easy to forget about simple mindless low-cost beneficial pleasures. I began my Do-It-Yourself (DIY) skin care journey about 40 years ago while struggling through college. On Saturdays, I slathered plain yogurt on my face and neck, followed by honey, followed by avocado for an hour at a time while I cleaned, organized and studied. I remember it as a mindless action that was telling. I don’t remember what prompted me but I’ve pursued a continuous DIY skin care hobby throughout my life.
Nutrition and Nutraceuticals for Facial Bone Health by Deborah Tosline
Bones are the foundation of our face and body and combined with soft tissue provide the power to move us through life. Buried deep beneath an intricate matrix of skin, fascia, blood vessels, muscles and more our hidden bones labor to meet our demands. Out of sight, out of mind, it’s easy to forget about them. The US mainstream lifestyle does not promote bone health. Over time, bones lose density and strength which fundamentally changes health outcomes and physical appearance.
Facial Architecture, Bone Volume, and Aging by Deborah Tosline
I began my Do-It-Yourself (DIY) facial hobby in my early 20’s and focused solely on skin health at the time. A couple of decades later I changed my focus and began to strengthen weak and atrophied facial muscles while continuing to advance my DIY skin care practices. Currently, I focus on facial bone health and identifying a variety of methods to maintain and enhance facial bone volume. Facial bones provide the foundation for facial muscles and skin and our individual look.
Near-Infrared Light Identified and Eliminated Irregular Chest Tissue by Deborah Tosline
I hope that sharing this personal information may be beneficial to someone. In 2017 I built a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Near-Infrared (NIR) light spa and have continuously used it on a weekly basis to experience benefits identified by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) research and additional co-benefits. In 2021, my NIR light spa exposed irregular tissue, caused cell death and reduced the irregular tissue to a benign condition as evidenced by laboratory imaging.