Q: If you don’t want to take a full bath, you can take a Sitz bath, where you sit in a few inches of water. Add about 1 cup of Epsom salts to a full bathtub and 2-3 tablespoons of Epsom salts for a few inches of water in the tub.  Keep the water warm, but not too hot. Repeat 2-3 times a day. Using Epsom salts may also speed up the healing process. Get a clean, cotton wash cloth and soak it in warm (not hot) water. Apply the compress directly to the hemorrhoids for about 10-15 minutes. Repeat 4-5 times a day.  This should offer some soothing comfort. You can use a cotton pad soaked in witch hazel after a bowel movement. Witch hazel acts as an astringent and may help reduce swelling. Repeat as often as needed--at least 4-5 times a day. After having a bowel movement, be sure that you clean yourself completely to avoid irritation.  You might want to use baby wipes or a pre-moistened toilet paper product rather than dry toilet paper to clean yourself. An ice pack may help reduce your hemorrhoidal swelling but it should not be left on for too long; limit the ice pack use to 5-10 minutes at most each time. Find a foam cushion or a doughnut cushion to sit on. This can help relieve some of the pressure associated with hemorrhoids. While this will not aid in "curing" your hemorrhoids, it may help ease your discomfort and make them easier to live with. Keep in mind that hemorrhoids are caused by too much pressure on your veins.
A: Take warm baths to soothe your hemorrhoid. Apply a warm compress for pain relief and comfort. Shrink the hemorrhoids with an astringent. Clean yourself thoroughly after using the restroom. Apply an ice pack for 5-10 minutes to relieve swelling and pain. Sit on a cushion to relieve the pressure on your hemorrhoids.

Article: All the pieces of this puzzle are identical, though some may be different colors. Choose any piece to begin with and lay it down vertically on your table or work surface. Each piece has triangular-shaped “peaks” that stick out as well as triangular-shaped “valleys” or indentations for the “peaks” on other pieces to fit into. Use a piece in a different color than the first. Turn the new piece sideways so the peaks point outward, and situate the middle peak of the new piece into the farthest valley, or indention, of the first piece. The pieces should be perpendicular to each other. Choose a piece that is the same color as the last 1. Turn it sideways and fit it into the closest valley of the first piece so the 2 are perpendicular to each other. The peaks should be pointing toward the last piece you added. Select a piece that is the same color as the first piece. Flip the new piece over so the peaks and valleys face downward and it is parallel to the first piece. Nestle it on top of the 2 stacked pieces. At this point, you should have 4 identical pieces that are interlocked. Turn the puzzle sideways so that there are 2 pieces pointing vertically. Hold the puzzle in 1 hand and use the other hand to slide a piece horizontally in between the 2 vertical pieces. Turn the puzzle over so the last piece you added is on the bottom. Slide the last piece in between the 2 pieces that are sticking up vertically so that it is parallel with the last piece you added. You may have to wiggle or manipulate it a bit to get it to fit. You’ve now solved a 6-piece wooden star puzzle!
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Lay down 1 piece vertically on your workspace. Stack another piece in the farthest valley of the first piece. Slip the next piece into the closest valley of the first piece. Stack a piece on top of the last 2 pieces. Turn the puzzle sideways and fit another piece in between the 2 vertical pieces. Flip the puzzle over and fit the last piece in between the 2 vertical pieces.

Q: Metta means non-romantic love, kindness,and friendliness. It is a feeling that comes from your heart, and it has to be cultivated and practiced. It is usually practiced in five stages. If you are a beginner, try to stay in each stage for five minutes.  Stage 1- Feel metta for yourself.  Focus on feelings of peace, tranquility, strength, and confidence.  You can repeat the phrase "May I be well and happy." to yourself. Stage 2- Think of a friend and all of the things that you like about them. Repeat the phrase, "May they be well; may they be happy." Stage 3- Think of someone that you are neutral about.  You do not like them or dislike them.  Consider the person's humanity and extend your feelings of metta to that person. Stage 4- Think of someone that you do not like at all.  Instead of thinking about why you do not like them and having hateful thoughts, send your feelings of metta to them. Stage 5- In this last stage, think of every single person including yourself.  Send metta to those people, your city, your neighborhood, your country, and the entire world. This type of mediation will teach you to concentrate and focus your thoughts.  Through this mediation you can learn to practice mindfulness, relax, and rid yourself of anxiety.  Find a sitting position that is comfortable for you. Your spine needs to be upright and relaxed. Your shoulders should be relaxed and slightly rolled back and down. Support your hands on a cushion or in your lap. Once you have your posture, begin going through the different stages. Each stage should last for at least 5 minutes.  Stage 1- Count internally (breathe in, breathe out, 1 breathe in, breathe out 2, etc.) after each breath until you reach 10. Start over once you have reached 10.  Focus on the sensations of breathing in and out.  Your mind will wander.  Just bring your thoughts back to your breathing. Stage 2-  Continue to breathe in cycles of 10, but count before you inhale this time (e.g.,1, breathe in, breathe out, 2, breathe in, breathe out, 3, etc.). Focus on the sensations you have when you are inhaling. Stage 3- Breathe in and out without counting. Try to see your breathing as a continuous process instead of just breathing in and breathing out. Stage 4- Your focus should now be in the sensations of your breath as it enters and leaves your body. This may be your breath passing over your nostrils or your upper lip. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to achieve inner peace and then share your experience with other people. Attaining nirvana is not only for your benefit, but for the world as well. It is important for you to be a source of encouragement and support for others.  This is as simple as giving someone a hug if he or she is feeling down. If someone is important to you or does something nice for you, let the person know how you feel. Let people know that you are grateful for them and appreciate them.  If someone is having a bad day, provide a listening ear. Your happiness is directly related to the happiness of other people. Showing compassion promotes happiness for all. You can practice compassion in many ways:  Turn off your cell phone when you are spending time with friends and family. Make eye contact when someone is talking to you and listen without interrupting. Volunteer in your community. Open doors for other people. Be empathetic towards people.  For example, if someone is upset, acknowledge and try to understand why they are upset.  Ask them what you can do to help. Listen and show concern for their feelings. When you practice mindfulness, you pay attention to how you think and feel in the present moment.  Mindfulness is not only for meditation but for your every day life as well.  For example, you can be mindful as you eat, shower, or get dressed in the morning. Start by choosing one activity and then focus on the sensations in your body and your breathing as you do it.  If you want to mindful while you are eating, concentrate on the taste, texture, and smell of the food as you eat it. As you wash the dishes, pay attention to the temperature of the water, how your hands feel as you clean the dishes, and how the water feels as you rinse the dishes. Instead of listening to the music or the television as you get dressed in the morning, get ready in silence.  Notice how you feel.  Were you tired or well rested when you woke up? How does your body feel as you put on clothes or shower?
A:
Practice Loving Kindness (metta bhavana). Practice Mindfulness of Breathing. Affirm and uplift others. Treat people with compassion. Be mindful.