#Sore Throat due to Ice Cream and Cold Drinks

[pantomatique]

His Return

The small cottage came into view. Azriel slowed down, his feet touching the cobblestone path without a sound. The balmy summer air was a welcome compared to the near-constant freeze of the Winter Court, even if it made him soak his leathers through with sweat. He had built the cottage for Elain as a gift when they got married; built it in a field of wildflowers outside of Velaris. He remembered her smile as he flew her there and surprised her with it.

It has been three weeks since he stepped into his own house, the smell of peonies and sunshine wafted around him- his wife’s scent. Three weeks without his wife. He was sorely tempted to wake her up and makeup for all of that lost time. He let her sleep, she needed it and he needed to hone the whirl-wind of thoughts flying through him.

The last three weeks were spent interrogating spies caught trying to cross the border between the Night and Winter Courts. Spies from the Continent. They were apprehended in Winter, but Kallias allowed Rhys the courtesy of his own interrogation… as long as it was in Winter. Rhys stayed a week, using his daemati gifts to quicken the process. After the week, Rhys left him with Lucien to try to open up the last two spies who had been shields. Fae gifted with protection against daemati.

Walking to the dining room, he noticed a light yellow rug with a floral print. Bright and cheery against the dark wood floors. How very Elain, he thought. In fact, he started noticing all of the details added since he left. The wedding portrait that Feyre had painted of them, rested on the mantle. Vases of flowers and other feminime touches graced the house. It was perfect. It reminded him of Elain, who made anywhere she was- home to him. 

They've only been in the cottage for six weeks- married that long too. He hated himself for being gone for half of their marriage, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make to keep her safe.

Azriel poured himself a drink at the small copper bar cart near the kitchen, using a glass - not bothering with a shot glass. Ugly. That’s what those last weeks were. As a favor to his Highlord, Azriel begrudgingly worked with Lucien. When Elain had chosen the shadowsinger over her mate, the townhouse nearly collapsed due to the fight that took place. Lucien was still silently seething over the matter while they worked. Azriel’s shadows picking up the wrath thumping underneath the fox’s golden skin. 

As much as Azriel hated to admit it, he was angry too. Angry at Vanserra. Angry at whatever force decided to tie Elain and Lucien’s souls together for eternity.

 Pulling out a chair to face the three paned window, he took a seat at the end of the mahogany dining table. A gift from Cas, his reasoning being that the happy couple needed a big enough for both their families. Family. That’s what he and Elain wove themselves together to become.

Staring at the starry night sky, whiskey burned down his throat as he his mind circled back to that comment Lucien made to him when he found out Elain wouldn’t be accompanying them to Winter. Accused him of cloistering Elain, saying that the cottage Azriel had built her was nothing more than a gilded cage meant to keep her bound to him. 

He wanted to bring Elain with him. Wanted to take her gliding over the iced over ponds hidden in the Winter Court’s forests, to show her the snow-blooming flowers that flourished in the cold… He would take her one day. Where he could give her all of his attention, she deserved it.

In truth, Azriel didn’t want Elain to see this part of him. He couldn't fathom sharing a bed with her mere hours after he tortured fae barely out of boyhood. Resting his elbows on his knees, he cradled his face in his hands, the scars and calluses scraping against the light stubble that began to form on his jaw. He thought about gentle Elain watching her husband break trained warriors apart, watching someone usually so caring and loving to her- turn to violence and bloodshed. She knew what he did, what was required of him to keep the Night Court safe. He would not allow her to see that part of him. Not anytime soon.

“Az, is that you?” a gentle voice behind him flowed like water. He turned around to see Elain standing at the stop of the staircase. A cream shaw was wrapped around her shoulders, over the pale pink nightgown edged with cream lace - another wedding present from Feyre. He had blushed when Elain opened up the trunk full of scraps of lace and satin and then rolled his eyes at the note that Feyre had left him:

 “A gift for the groom. - your sister in-law”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” Didn’t mean to, but he was elated to see her. Graceful as a doe, she glided down the stairs- towards him.

“It’s okay. I have trouble sleeping without you anyways.” A smile touched her lips as she talked. His heart ached at the thought that she had problems sleeping. The first night they shared a bed, she had told him that it was the first time she slept without nightmares. Did she not feel safe without him here? He had placed wards around the house before he left and even told her to sleepover at Rhy and Feyre’s if she was scared. Azriel would ask her about it tomorrow. 

 Placing his hands on her hips. He pulled her towards him, so that she was standing in between his legs. Resting his head between her breasts and wrapping his arms around her slim waist, he breathed her in.

“I missed you.” He whispered to her.  So very, very much, he thought. Elain threaded her fingers in his midnight hair and began playing with it. Twirling his locks around her thin, small fingers.

“I’m so glad you're safe.” she said. “That is quite a nightcap you’ve made yourself.” She let out a chuckle at the large glass of whiskey sitting on the table. “I’ll make you some tea to wash it down.”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to.” he responded, but she already untangled herself from him and was walking towards the kitchen. Azriel was content to just watch her. Placing the copper kettle on the stove, she turned and gave him the sweetest smile as she pulled out two mint mugs from the cabinet. She stirred extra honey into his tea, making a remark about how she heard it helps prevent hangovers.

She placed both mugs on the table and was about to sit down, until he pulled her onto his lap- so that she was straddling him. Elain let out a giggle as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“I like what you’ve done with the place.” he whispered into ear, pressing a kiss right below it, as he eyed the velvet blue curtains enclosing the window.

“Cassian helped me hang them up. He said the blue would go with your siphons.”  She ran her fingers over the one in the center of his chest, before picking up his mug of tea and bringing it to his lips. “Drink.” He did what she said.

“Delicious, from your garden?” he inquired as he took the mug from her small hands and held it to her lips. He tilted it up as she took a sip.

“Yes, I starting growing herbs that help with sore muscles and fatigue… for you.” she said shyly, looking down. Azriel put the mug back on the table and then tilted Elain’s chin up with his hand. 

“Thank you.” he said as he stared into her chocolate eyes. Thank you for everything, for taking care of me, for loving me, he thought, hoping that his eyes conveyed what he felt.

‘She is thinking you’re welcome.’ a wisp of a shadow whispered in his ear. One of the reasons he loved Elain was that she didn’t push him to talk. The two of them seemed to exude their thoughts and feelings to each other without words.

Azriel released her chin, running his hands over the silky material of the nightgown, he pulled her flush to his chest- into a passionate kiss. The shaw around her shoulders, fell to the floor forgotten. Her soft, doll lips parted allowing their tongues to intertwine along with their souls. Her hands stroking his chest, his shoulders, his wings. Desire flooded his loins.

He moved his hands over the curve of her hips, down to her knees. Then he moved them back up over her creamy thighs, up to the hem of her nightgown which was pushed up from straddling his lap. Lips parting, she began to pepper kisses along his jaw and neck.

“Arms up.” 

Elain obeyed. Lifting her arms up, as he pulled the nightgown over her head and let it drop to the floor. Unconcerned of where it landed. She wouldn't be needing it for the rest of the night. 

The primal, fae part of him hummed with pleasure at the bare skin before him. The moon beams streaking through the glass windows behind her, making her pale skin glow like back-lit alabaster. Clad only in a pair of pink lace panties, she whispered his name. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, the word echoed in his head as his eyes roamed over his wife’s body- exposed only for him.

Lips meeting once again, Azriel cupped her breasts, his thumbs moving in circles over her nipples- peaking them. She moaned into his mouth as her hips began to move in a soft rhythm against his own. Reminding his body that they spent three weeks without touching each other. Those days apart had left him ravenous.

He trailed one finger down the valley of her breasts, the center of her naval- until he got to the waistband of that scrap of lace she wore. Perhaps she expected his return tonight with those seer powers of hers, he thought, that would explain the… ensemble. 

A purely male smirk appeared on his face, as he realized that she was soaked through.  Before he could insert a finger into that wet heat of hers, she crawled off his lap to pull off her underwear. The shadowsinger sat back and enjoyed the sight. Stepping out of them, she kneeled before him. Kneeled before death incarnate.

Her nimble fingers began pulling at the laces of his leather pants. A groan escaped his lips, as his aching length sprang into her awaiting hand. He nearly lost his mind when she kissed the tip. Unable to wait any longer, Azriel hauled her up onto his lap and buried himself deep inside her in one smooth stroke.

All five hundred of those years he had spent in heartbreak and trapped in lust, had been worth it. He would have waited an eternity to wait for her. His one true love.

Azriel thrust up into her, still clad in his fighting leathers, while she writhed atop him naked. Her head dropped to the nook of his shoulder, her sweet little moans and gasps echoing in his ear.

Inside her, he forgot his sins. Forget the dark shadows of his past that leeched on his very existence- she burned them away. Outshining every star in the sky.

Azriel would give her everything.

Bringing his hand to that bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs, she fell off that shimmering edge into a pool of starlight. And as she gasped his name as she found her release, he stood up- wrapping her thin legs around his waist.

When the tremor in her stilled, he pulled himself out of her and sat her at the edge of that giant table. Pushing her shoulders so that she laid flat on her back, knees bent, legs spread and feet perched at the end of the table. Exactly where he wanted her.

       “Az?”

“Soon, love.” pressing a chaste kiss to her mouth to quiet her.

Before he could take what he needed, he began unstrapping the armor from his shoulders and forearms and unbuckled the leather tunic. And as he threw the tunic to the ground, he leaned over her, guiding himself into her. His pants slung low over his chiseled hips.

Enjoying the feeling of her small bare breasts crushed against his chestt, he set a punishing pace that would take them both over the edge. Elain’s small hands traced over his back, feeling the muscles flex and tighten as he thrust into her. Azriel grabbed her wrists, twinning their fingers together as he pinned her hands by her head.

No language could describe how good it felt to share this intimacy with her. But gods, he tried. Whispering in her ear about how much she pleased him, how amazing she felt wrapped around him. A blush spread from her dimpled cheeks to those perfect tits of hers.

And as her fingers tightened around his own, release found her again that night. At the sight of his wife moaning his name below him, he found his. His siphons flaring as he spilled himself into her.

Elain wrapped her legs around him, holding him close as pleasure shot up his spine. Foreheads pressed together, noses touching, he pressed an open mouth kiss to her swollen lips. 

“I love you.” she said. “So very much.”

Azriel hoped that he was enough to keep her safe, strong enough to make sure they had nights like this again and again.

[catchlalune]

Cold Nights and Coffee

authors note: The feeling is warmth on a cold night with a nice cup of feelings and a shot of trouble. or alternatively; Moon Taeil is whipped

Reader x Barista/Bartender Taeil, best friends Ten and Johnny and cutie Mark

Originally posted: sometime in December of 2018 woops, it’s also posted on my ao3 

word count: 4,480

warnings: alcohol, some dirty dancing, a little jealousy~, slightly suggestive, reader flat out falls on her ass and Ten’s annoying af lol

You regretted taking the chance on taking the last train back home. You were cold, sore, and really really tired. You had an exam in sociology soon and decided that studying with your friends who already took the course would be a great idea. Of course, you didn’t account for the fact that they were several train stops away from your campus and there really wasn’t much studying that got done (but there was a lot of eating, and laughing, and just about everything but studying.) You had just slipped on some ice a few minutes ago and honestly just wanted to crawl into bed and cry a little after a warm meal.

You were at least another twenty minutes from home on foot and the sign for Nouveau Café was looking very inviting. It was one of your favorite places on campus, they had great coffee, decently reliable wifi, some of the most handsome guys you’d ever seen worked there, oh and they were open twenty-four hours. Not that you were into appearances like that but they were all undeniably attractive in a way that was extremely befitting for internet cafe workers. Everyone on campus knew about NCT, Nouveau Cafe Team members were notorious for being attractive, intelligent, and great at customer service. Some things you were greatly craving right about now.

The tinkling of the bells over the door signals your arrival inside and the smell of coffee and the feel of warm air instantly makes you relax. In the back of your mind you know it looks strange to be standing right in front of the threshold with eyes closed but you can’t bring yourself to care too much. Until he says something to you of course.

“Long night?” The man behind the counter smiles at you, he always does and you can hear it in his voice as you hum.

“The longest, please give me something to make it worth it.” You finally open your eyes to give him a response and he chuckles at you.

“Wrong job for that right now, but I’ll see what I can do.” He says it with a smirk on his face and you raise a brow at him as if asking for him to elaborate but he turns from you to start on your order.

“Hey, you don’t usually work so late. What happened to Ten?” You tilt your head at his back and he stops briefly to look back at you then continues as if you hadn’t said anything. Fair enough, that question was probably pretty rude anyway.

You slip into a stool at the countertop and groan at the dull ache on your left side. You weren’t going to be able to walk well tomorrow.

“I’m disappointed, you don’t want to see me?” He asks jokingly but you can see the earnestness in his eyes as he sets down a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and a warm muffin in front of you.

“Maybe I just wanted to bother my friend, don’t be too jealous.” You stick your tongue out at him before reaching for your muffin. You look around the establishment as you take a bite and note that it’s just as dead as you thought it’d be at 1am on a Wednesday. “Doesn’t it get boring being here all alone?”

“Not really, I’ve got you to keep me company for the time being.” He laughs as you wrinkle your nose up at his corniness. “I’m joking, mostly. I’ve been doing that Soc study guide that’s due on Monday.”

“Shit Taeil, it’s due Monday?!” You nearly choke on the cocoa you were trying to gulp down in order to question him. You hope he’s joking but he just nods and you groan with frustration. You knew you were forgetting something.

“Aw cheer up, how about I make you another hot chocolate and you can give me your email so I can send you what I have so far. We can even study together if you want to.” You thank the heavens for Moon Taeil, he wasn’t really a friend but he sat a few seats away from you in Sociology and always made your coffee just like you liked it so he was always in your good books. This just earned him a thousand more points.

“Seriously?! You’re a lifesaver! Thank you!” You beam at him and take another large gulp of your drink the warmth of it finally seeping into your fingertips.

“No problem! I’ll make the hot cocoa to go for you so you can stay awake on the drive back.” You tilt your head at his statement.

“I didn’t drive here, I walked. Part of the reason I look like hell probably.” You grumble the last part to yourself and roll your shoulder wincing slightly at the deep tug in your muscles.

“You walked...in the cold...at 1 am...when there’s snow outside?” He seemed completely mystified at the idea, it even sounded idiotic to you when he said it like that.

“Actually it’s all ice now, had to learn that the hard way.” You pout and take another bite from your muffin that was starting to get cold. His eyes widen a fraction and he leans closer to you.

“Are you hurt?! I can’t believe you fell on ice!” He sounds so concerned it makes you stop munching and swallow dryly.

“Just my pride mostly, it’s nothing I can’t handle. Don’t worry about it, really.” The fact he was so worried even though he barely knew you were extremely endearing to you.

“Well, I can’t let you walk back, at least not alone. My shift ends in like twenty minutes, I’ll take you back.”

This was now a little less endearing, extremely kind and suspiciously so. You weren’t very inclined to trusting strangers with taking you home. Granted, Taeil wasn’t exactly a complete stranger you couldn’t really say you knew him very well either. He could very well be a serial killer and you wouldn’t know it. Peeking another look at him over the edge of your mug you weigh the pros and cons of your situation. On one hand, he was offering a free ride or at least free company on the walk back, he was trustworthy enough to go off of what Ten’s said about him, he was extremely attractive, and he was going to make you a free drink. On the other hand, as good looking as he was you didn’t know him too well, Ten doesn’t really have the soundest of judgment, and he could very well be trying to kill you.

“You don’t need to feel pressured, honestly. But think about it okay?” He gives you a small smile that makes your heartbeat quicken and then goes back to scribbling in a notebook, probably doing the rest of the study guide you think.

No one else pops in for twenty minutes save for the next employee and you don’t go anywhere. Taeil places your cup of cocoa down on the counter and when you reach for your wallet to pay he shakes his head at you.

“No need, I already paid for it. Besides you really needed it.” His smile looks so genuine and you could already feel the sleep set in fifteen minutes ago, at least that’s what you tell yourself to feel better about what you say next.

“Okay, you’ve convinced me. I’ll let you take me home but just to let you know if you try to kill me I have very strong lungs and can scream very loud.” Your comment makes him (and his coworker) giggle but he nods anyway.

“Okay, I’ll see you later Taeyong.” He waves at the man that takes his place behind the counter and then turns to you. “Ready?”

When you nod he smiles softly and leads you out into the cold, tinkling of the bells above the door signaling your departure.

***

“So you’re coming out with us yeah?” It had currently been a whole week since the last time you set foot in Nouveau Café and you were really about to punch Ten in the throat if he didn’t stop talking to you before you got a cup of your nightly coffee.

Ten was for some reason over the moon about the fact that Taeil drove you home that night and that the two of you essentially studied the entire weekend together when the two if you weren’t working. He had said something about it being fate that he called out from work to practice for his dance midterm but the thought of something like fate made your stomach turn.

“Oh come on! How can you say no to this handsome face?” Ten pouts at you and it takes everything for you not to actually kick him in the shins.

“Why do you even want me to go out so bad? It’s not like you don’t see me every day.” You move your head to try to see the front of the line wondering why the hell it was taking so long. The cafe was never so busy at 8:45 on a Wednesday night before and you were starting to get impatient.

“First of all, this is the first time I’m seeing you face to face in two weeks.” He frowns at you and you look at him in shock. Had it really been so long since you’d seen him? “And second, it’s not just me. Mark and Johnny miss you too! Maybe even Jaehyun.”

“Jaehyun wouldn’t miss me if I was the last person on Earth and he hadn’t spoken to anyone in two years.” You groan and move up in the line, finally, it was moving. You weren’t usually so agitated but you were pretty sure you were going through some sort of coffee withdrawal.

“Touché, speaking of which I would really like to know what’s up with that.” He stops for a second to think about it then shakes his head as if coming back to the task at hand; annoying the hell out of you until you caved. “Anyway, Mark and Johnny miss you too and you definitely need a drink.”

“Yes, I need a drink of this coffee and- oh hi Taeil.” As soon as you see him all the tension leaves your body and you even offer him a small smile. Ten gawfs at you and folds his arms, clearly a little offended your attitude changed so tremendously.

“Hey, the usual right? My shift ends in a few minutes but I’ll make it for you. Jungwoo can you take the next customer?” Taeil gestures for you to move to the side and Ten lets out a sound.

“Hey lovebirds, I’m here too you know. What if I wanted a coffee?” He says it with a mocking pout so you pinch his cheeks with a roll of your eyes. The scene makes Taeil laugh.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make you the usual too. Thai tea right?” When Ten flashes him a smile and nods Taeil turns around to quickly start on the order.

“Ten you don’t even like coffee.” You give him a side-eye and he pouts again but this time for real.

“I like coffee! I just hate fruits.” He takes a straw from out of the dispenser and boops you on the nose with it.

“Literally how could I possibly forget how much you hate fruits? You’re always telling us! Also, how do you hate fruits but like fruit-flavored things? It makes literally no sense. You probably taste like-”

“Honey!” You have to blink twice at his outburst.

“You do not taste like honey and this is not a conversation we should be having in public.” You look around at the people in line and Taeil’s coworker but it doesn’t seem like anyone has heard anything.

“Here you go.” Before Ten can even point out that you were the one to bring it up Taeil sets your drinks down.

“How much is it?” Ten takes the words right out of your mouth and hands his card to Taeil.

“Ten why are you-”

“Now you have to come out.” He smirks at you taking back his card and grabbing your drinks. With a wink, he turns on his heel and you swear you could strangle him.

“Thanks, Taeil, now if you excuse me I have a friend to go beat up.” He shakes his head at you giving you another laugh.

“You better hurry, I hear his bones are made of liquid.”

****

“Literally why did I let you drag me here?” You were not here for it, not the tight clothes Ten made you wear, not the loud music, or the sweat of all the people around you. You really hated clubs.

“We’ve been here for all of five minutes. Besides Johnny and I are gonna by your drinks all night.” He had a good point, as much as you hated the overall ambiance you weren’t really giving the club much a chance. Plus free drinks were always a good thing, you’d been getting lucky lately in that department.

When you see the top of Johnny’s head Ten all but drags you in that direction, politely but forcefully pushing people out of the way with his body. Did there have to be so many people? It just turned 12 am for God Sake.

“Hey, cutie! Haven’t seen you in like a month.” Johnny leans down to give you a hug and you can’t do anything but smile. Of all your guy friends he was probably the one that made you feel the most comfortable.

“I haven’t seen them in like two. Move over.” Mark pushes Johnny away from you playfully and it makes you laugh so you give him an extra squeeze.

“That’s because she’s been too busy ogling over her new-” You elbow Ten in the arm before he can finish his sentence and smile at his wince. Payback for him cutting you off twice earlier.

“He’s talking out of his ass. I’ve just been busy and Sociology has been kicking my ass. If it weren’t for Taeil I’d probably be crying into a glass of cheap wine right now.” Johnny thinks this is funny and grabs a jello shot off of the table to hand to you.

“Ten said you needed some destressing. So, let's destress.” You lift the shot to your lips at his words and finally let loose a little.

Or maybe after five more jello shots, you had let loose a lot. You're sure it’s been at least two hours since you got to the club and all the dancing you’ve been doing with the guys has made the alcohol start to wear off. You tug on Johnny’s shirt and he follows you to the bar helping you to sit in the stool.

“Hey Taeil, whatever she wants just put it on my tab.” The mention of his name has you perking up in your seat and looking up to find him staring down at you with a bemused look. He looked damn good in his bartender outfit almost better than his barista uniform and it made your palms a little sweaty.

“Are you following me?” The alcohol had surely muddled your brain. You didn’t just say that out loud right? The laugh from Johnny assures you that you had just said that out loud and you groan.

“Wait let me try that again. You work here too?” Johnny mutters a smooth under his breath and if you were a little more alert you probably would’ve hit him.

“Yeah, I work here too.” Is Taeil’s reply and he’s laughing again and you really wish you would stop giving him a reason to laugh. “So what will it be gorgeous? Or should I just surprise you?”

“That was the corniest shit you’ve ever said to me ever.” He’s laughing again and Johnny just shakes his head at you. He knew you were bad at flirting but he thought he taught you a little better than this.

“Surprise it is then. I’ve got something I think you’ll like.” Taeil winks at you and you're sure your heart stops beating for a second.

“Okay, you’ve gotta get better at this. Do you need some help?” Johnny yell-whispers at you when Taeil turns his back to make your drink. Had he always had such nice back muscles?

“Help? How?” You tear your gaze away from Taeil for a second to look at Johnny who’s giving you the same smirk Ten did earlier in the café.

“Make him jealous, how else?” Johnny says it like it should be as plain as day to you and maybe it should but you weren’t exactly sure that Taeil was attracted to you. Guys flirt for fun all the time, right?

Johnny notices your apprehension and gives you a reassuring smile. “He’ll be jealous, I promise.” Then he’s on his phone texting someone so you go decide to concentrate on counting how many colored glasses there are on the wall. Six blue, five purple-

“Hey! Getting drinks without us?” Ten slides an arm around your waist and that's when Taeil turns around to set down your drink. It's pretty and looks good but you’re a little wary of trying out new alcohol.

“It’s called Golden Roots. Figured you might want something a bit fruity.” You trust him, the bartender probably knows best. So you raise the glass and take a sip.

“Holy shit that's good.” You close your eyes at the taste of pineapples and lemons. When you open them the boys are watching you so you hold the straw up to Johnny’s mouth. “You try, it's really good.”

He dips his head down to take a sip and lets out a sound of approval. Johnny turns his head to you and licks his lips but you think nothing of it and turn your attention back to Taeil. There's a flicker in Taeil’s eyes you notice and he shifts on his feet.

“How did you make it? Can you teach me?” You ask him but his eyes seem to be more trained on the arm around your waist you’re sure Ten seems to forget about because he’s having some conversation with Mark about how to say things in Thai.

“He can teach you later, I like this song. Let’s go dance?” Johnny takes the drink out your hand and places it down in front of Ten who stops for a second to give him a look. When Johnny nods at him he takes his arm from around your waist and goes back to talking to Mark.

“Okay, if you really want to.” You give in to his request with a simple shrug and he whisks you away. It’s not too far from the bar you have the perfect view of Taeil as he serves some other patrons actually but your more focused on the heat of Johnny’s body behind you.

Johnny’s hands and touches are a little more aggressive than they were at the beginning of the night and he’s grinding more on you then he ever has but you just chalk it up to the alcohol. It’s not like the two of you haven’t gotten drunk and done this before, it just feels a little different this time. But Johnny is a really good dancer and he easily pulls you into his world. The beat of the music is fast and it thrums through your veins just as hot as you feel. Your clothes are sticking to your body again and when you open your eyes you make direct eye contact with Taeil.

His jaw is set and it looks like Ten is saying something to him but he doesn't answer. Just watches you even as you give him a small wave. It confuses you a little but then Johnny is tugging on your chin to look at him and you have to look away.

“I told you I could make him jealous cutie.” Johnny has to lean down to say it in your ear and it takes you a second to process it.

“He doesn’t look jealous to me John, just tired and maybe a little annoyed because of Ten.” Johnny rolls his eyes at you then spins you around so your ass is pressed against his groin. It’s much closer than you’re used to with him and it makes your body feel just a little bit hotter.

“I bet after this you’ll definitely see it.” As if in time with his words the music changes to something much more sensual and it has your body melding to Johnny’s in a way that must look positively sinful.

It feels like an eternity that you and Johnny are out on the dance floor dirty dancing so when you sit back up on the bar you’re more than thankful for the ice that somehow still remains in your drink from earlier. Taeil has disappeared somewhere and the crowd is starting to thin as the early morning hours approach much quicker. You grab at Mark’s phone to take a look at the time and note that it’s nearing 5 am and you’re thankful you don’t have class later.

“Hey, guys I’m getting kind of tired. I think I’m gonna call it a night.” You’re a little disappointed that Taeil left before you could say goodbye but it’s been ten minutes and the only person tending the bar is some guy named Yuta who gave you a glass of cold water when Johnny asked him to. He’s nice and certainly attractive but he’s no Taeil.

���Let me take you home then?” Taeil’s voice makes you whip around startling you at how unhappy it sounds.

“Yeah, okay.”

***

It’s just as cold as it was last week when you fell on ice and your body is feeling just as sore too. Taeil deposited his jacket on your shoulders as the two of you walked to his car and he turned the heat all the way up but it didn’t retract at all to the coldness you felt. You weren’t really sure why but you felt like you’d done something wrong.

Taeil wasn’t talking much save for asking if you need more or less heat and if you were hungry or not. Even though you said no your stomach still growls so he pulled into a drive-through to get you some warm food to eat. His actions are warm but you still feel uncomfortable.

“Hey, are you okay? You’re probably really tired right? I can't believe you work at the bar too.” Taeil doesn't answer you for a second and then he sighs.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little tired, that’s all.” You were hoping his words would make you feel a little less tense but they seem to do the opposite.

“Did I do something wrong?” You take a peek at him from your side in the passenger seat and you confirm he looks just as tired as he says he does. But he’s still just as pretty and looking at him makes your heart flutter.

“No, it’s not you at all. It’s just me being stupid.” He speaks with a somber tone that makes you pout.

“Moon Taeil you are not stupid.” You huff at him and he pulls up to your apartment with a grunt.

“Listen, can I talk to you before you go inside?” He seems a little nervous but less tired so you turn to him with a smile his jacket falling off your shoulders a little. His gaze wanders down for half a second before he chews on his lip.

“You can say whatever you want to me Taeil. You could probably curse me out and I’d probably tell you you were right.” You try to lighten the moon with a laugh but he runs a hand through his hair and sighs.

“Can you just be quiet for a second?” He glares at you and it makes you frown but you nod anyway. This causes him to groan again and then he’s leaning on the console that's dividing the two of you.

“No that came out wrong, I don’t want you to stop talking I just...I like you. A lot.” He reaches out towards you then draws his hand back as if he had touched something hot. “I had no idea you and Johnny were a thing before I started flirting with you. I wouldn’t have if I had known that.”

“I-what?” He wasn’t making any sense at all. “Johnny and I aren’t dating? Wait you were flirting with me?!”

Taeil takes a second to look at you before he starts laughing. He’s laughing so hard that his eyes crinkle and a tear rolls down his cheek. You aren’t sure what’s so funny but seeing him so mirthful makes you smile wide too.

“Ten told me you were oblivious but I had no idea it was this bad! I’m sorry it’s just, I’ve been flirting with you since the beginning of the semester.” He’s shaking his head at you again looking at you as if you have stars dancing around your head.

This time when he reaches for you he tugs his jacket back over your shoulders and smiles.

“Let me show you what I mean.” And then he’s kissing you. It’s soft and warm and he tastes like mint. There’s something so casual and comfortable about the way he kisses you but it still manages to take your breath with him when he pulls away. “Do you get it now?”

“I-no not really. I mean I knew you were flirting but I didn’t know you were serious and why did you even think I was dating Johnny? I mean I know we’re close but-” He’s kissing you again this time a bit more firm and it shuts you up or it leaves you gasping like a fish rather.

“Remember when I said I was just being stupid? To be fair though, you were dancing pretty close.” He leans forward more to nuzzle his face into your neck before whispering in your ear. “But if you say yes to being my girlfriend he can’t touch you anymore.”

“But what if I want to give him a hug?” His whispers leave you breathless but the kisses on your neck leave you wanting just a tad more.

“A hug is fine, no dancing.” He runs a hand up the other side of your neck and traces along your bottom lip with his thumb.

“But what if-”

“Shhhh, what did I say about talking?”

“Actually you said you didn’t mean it.” He groans at you and pulls away completely.

“Okay okay! I’ll be quiet,” He turns to look at you then. “But only if you make me.”

“That can be arranged.”

[scottybrock]

Sick & Sweet - Colby Brock

A/N: Based off of the prompt a beautiful anon sent: Anonymous said to scottybrock: “so could you do an imagine where the reader is sick and just wants to cuddle and colby takes of them and it’s just really fluffy”

It wasn’t often you fell ill, but when you did, it hit hard. You woke up one rainy morning to a sore throat, a stuffed nose, and a pounding head. You groaned, rolling onto your stomach as your body began aching. You glanced over to your sleeping boyfriend, and sighed, wishing for more sleep. The tickle in your throat grew more and more, until you couldn’t contain your wheezy coughs. You covered your mouth, desperately waiting for the coughing to stop as it only made your throat hurt even more. Colby cracked one eye open to look at you. Your skin was paler than normal, other than your cheeks, which were flushed due to your rising temperature. 

“Baby,” Colby said softly, reaching over to run a hand down your back soothingly as you continued to cough. “Baby, lay back down.” Your coughs died down and you weakly laid back, closing your eyes wearily. Colby slid out of the bed, making his way downstairs. He walked into the kitchen and filled up a glass of ice cold water, then grabbed the bottle of Tylenol off of the kitchen counter. He hurried back up the stairs, back to you. He kneeled on the floor next to the bed, looking down at your prone form sadly. “Here, baby,” He murmured. “Drink it slowly.” He lifted the cup of water to your mouth as you slowly drank the ice cold liquid. You sighed in appreciation as the icy liquid slid down your raw throat. “Thanks, babe.” You rasped, your voice scratchy and nearly gone. 

Colby hushed you, then gently placed the two capsules into your mouth, bringing the cup of water back to your lips. You felt your eyelids fluttering. Your coughing fit took most of your energy. Colby pressed his lips to your forehead as you slowly fell back asleep. Once you were sleeping, he slid a pair of shorts and grabbed a t-shirt, hurriedly throwing it on. He grabbed his car keys, then made his way downstairs once again. Sam greeted him from the kitchen, his eyes still sleepy.

“Hey, where’s your other half, brother?” Sam teased good-naturedly. Colby chuckled at that, then shook his head. “She’s sick. I’m going to run out and get her some stuff to help her feel better.” Colby told his best friend. Sam frowned sympathetically, nodding. Colby quickly tied his shoes, then walked out to his car. He drove to the closest pharmacy, and quickly walked in. He wanted to get back to the house before you woke up again. He grabbed another bottle of Tylenol, some cough drops, some gatorade, and a fever-reducing medicine. On his way to the cash register, he spotted a blue stuffed dog. He smiled, picked it up, then placed it into the basket. He grabbed your favorite candy, then turned around to grab some ice cream, in hopes that it would help soothe your throat.

After checking out, he drove back home. As he made his way upstairs, he heard your wheezing coughs. He ran up the rest of the stairs, then dropped down onto the bed next to you. He gently patted your back until the coughing subsided. You looked up at him, your eyes teary from the pain of your coughing. He ran a hand over your forehead, checking your temperature. “Hey, babe, I went out and got some stuff to help you feel better,” Colby told you quietly, aware of how you winced at any loud noises. You smiled feebly at him, squeezing his hand. “You’re a saint, Colbs.” You whispered, rubbing at your throat.

Colby began unpacking the bags. He held up the cough drops, and your eyes brightened. He opened the bag and handed you one, smiling as you immediately popped it in your mouth. He showed you the rest of the medicine and the gatorade, and you felt your heart swell. Finally, he grinned at you. “I have a few more things for you.” He held up the stuffed animal, and if you could’ve squealed, you would’ve. He handed it to you, laughing softly as you brought it to your chest and cuddled it. You beamed up at him, and he was momentarily taken aback at how genuinely beautiful you looked, even when you were ill. 

He held up a carton of your favorite ice cream, then displayed your favorite candy. Your smile only grew wider, and your eyes even brighter. “You’re too good for me, Colbs,” You murmured through smiling lips. Colby shook his head, placing the bounty onto the nightstand next to you. “Not true, baby.” He told you, tucking a lock of hair behind your ear. You pouted suddenly, alarming him. “What’s wrong, babe? You alright?” He asked, his voice urgent. You pouted even more. “I’m fine, I just wanna kiss you.” You whined, your voice scratchy. Colby raised an eyebrow. “So what’s stopping you?” He asked, amused. You frowned at him. “If I kiss you, then you might get sick.” You replied, your eyebrows furrowing. Colby rolled his eyes, then leaned down and pressed his lips against yours softly. You couldn’t help but smile into the kiss, feeling his lips curl up against yours as well. He pulled back, his smile stretching into a grin. 

“Totally worth it, babe.”

[ice-cream-nekogirl]

Dusk Till Dawn (Shinsou Hitoshi X Reader) PART 3

PART 2: https://ice-cream-kitsunegirl.tumblr.com/post/186248881234/dusk-till-dawn-shinsou-hitoshi-x-reader-part-2

Taglist: @estherosoro

Summary: You and Shinsou are made to suffer and forced to do things against your wills, but thinking about each other is what keeps you both from giving up.

I'm not the best with graphic things but I tried my best! This is... definitely my most... probably psychological thrilling chapter... I’ve watched a lot of shows that include torture so... I think I did well? I tried  ^^; But this does serve as a warning for some who might not be good with torture scenes or the idea of torture. There’s quite a lot of angst in here too.

Warnings: Some graphic violence, gore and sexual situations.

Featuring: Our Purple Son!! <3 

Chapter 3: Torment

3 DAYS LATER…

It hurt…

Everything in your body was hurting.

You shivered while you lied on your ‘bed’ in pain as burns and scars lacerated around your stomach, back, wrists and arms. You were positive that they were going to get infected at some point because it was still so freaking cold in here, and even with the weak jacket you still couldn’t bear the cold because it made your wounds feel even worse. And you didn’t even want to imagine how Shinsou must have been feeling since he was beaten just as badly as you were.

These men made you search for heroes and other students with strong quirks, and when you refused, they either beat you or shocked you with a cattle prod until you reluctantly gave them their location. They asked you questions about UA, and every time you refused, they shocked you again and tortured you until you tearfully gave them answers about what you knew. Your friendships with Izuku and Bakugou as well as your closeness to 1-A.

You felt so horrible when they managed to bring at least three other kidnapped teenagers and then Shinsou was forced to brainwash them or else he got prodded. So he made them do things that he never would have made anyone do, and was constantly threatened with even more severe beatings if he attempted to brainwash any of the goons like Bozo, Lothario or Mad Dog. 

Guilty from the deeds you did, you silently cried for the 3rd time that day, and you didn’t even know how long it had been because it felt like you were trapped here forever. They barely took you out of this jail cell unless they needed you to find someone, or for bathroom breaks which they were surprisingly generous enough to do.

But they barely gave you any food, all you’ve had for ‘breakfast’, ‘lunch’ and ‘dinner’ was this disgusting old gruel that couldn’t have been good for your body. It tasted awful and you could barely even eat it as you felt your stomach cramp painfully from hunger. They had left a bowl of that same gruel for you, but it was untouched for the past day because you just couldn’t down it, but your stomach demanded you to put something in it…

Whimpering, you inhaled sharply as you numbly crawled to the plate, leaning in to get a small bite of the vile gruel. 

The sickening taste making your tastebuds revolt as you shuddered and forced yourself to swallow it, but you instantly gagged as soon as that slop went down your throat.

At least they gave you water, in fact they gave you more water than food since humans needed water to survive. But it wasn’t enough, because you were in pain, starving, thirsty and imprisoned. It was like Hell on earth. A true nightmare for the two of you, and you couldn’t even be around Shinsou other than when they made you both use your quirks for their evil deeds.

In your moment of self-pity, you gasped with tears in your eyes when the door opened and it was Lothario, the one you hated the most as you trembled when seeing his sick grin. “C’mon you… need your mind again~.” He drawled as he picked you up and threw you over his shoulders, ignoring your weak protests and soft sobbing.

However, you forced yourself to look and see around the place, wanting to memorize your surroundings so that way you could think of possible ways to escape. 

But one thing’s for sure, you weren’t leaving Shinsou behind at all.

Elsewhere…

Shinsou was curled up and trembling in the blood-stained ‘bed’ of his cell as he tried to ignore how much his body was hurting. Purple bruises spotted all over his back, chest and stomach with raw scars on his wrists from the restraints they constantly put on him. At least he didn’t have the gag in his mouth anymore, but it didn’t make the agony any or the freezing cold any better.

Bozo had it out for him, and beat him every chance he got but he was wise as he made sure to only hit Shinsou’s torso and lower body, refusing to hit him in the face or the head as to keep him alive and conscious to use his quirk.

Everything was sore, he could barely even move his limbs because whenever a bruise formed, Bozo made sure to hit the same spots over and over again to keep him weak and unable to fight back. Shinsou was thankful he at least wasn’t drugged, but he knew that he was only kept stable just so he could properly brainwash others.

Shinsou hated this, he hated everything. The pain wasn’t nearly as bad as the swirling self-hatred inside of him. All the things his old classmates said about him, his ‘potential’ to become a villain, had come true…

He forced people to do things; he forced them to act as tools for Koru, and they were trapped here just like you and him were. Just like a villain, this man turned him into the villain his classmates always said he had the potential to be.

He hated it.

Shinsou didn’t even hear the sound of the door opening, no longer dreading a beating from Bozo because he felt it was deserved for what he had been forced to do. “Purple Mist.” It was another goon that went by ‘Tornado’, that he could tell but Shinsou didn’t budge from his spot. So the man picked him up, and roughly dropped him to the floor as the teen grunted slightly as the impact only made more blood from his nose leak and stain the filthy floor.

“Drink.”

Purple eyes blinked to see a ladle full of water out for him to drink from, slowly he peered up to see Tornado’s cold blue eyes. This man was silent compared to the rest of the screaming lunatics here, but Shinsou knew that he couldn’t be stable since he was here voluntarily. He enjoyed seeing him in prison like this and making him feel like a prisoner.

The last drink he had was over 24 hours ago, and he couldn’t deny that he was extremely thirsty, and starving. If he didn’t know any better, he would say that this person was doing this on purpose for his own pleasure.

“Drink.”

He repeated and Shinsou’s tired eyes narrowed a little bit; he’d been drinking nothing but water for the past couple of days because he could barely down that disgusting gruel, even though he knew he needed to eat and drink to stay alive. Maybe if he stopped drinking then these men would discard him and he could no longer do things for them. Maybe he should have stopped fighting because there was no one coming to rescue you and him.

Until he remembered you…

He couldn’t leave you, and he wouldn’t leave you…

Every time he was taken out, he remembered the halls, and carefully listened to the men talking and the sounds of heavy wind hitting the walls every room he was put into. Outside the one window he saw every day, there was nothing white. Heavy snow, he assumed, as it would explain why it was so fucking cold. And there was also a ski lift with old chairs.

But based on how far the ski-lift descended, he deducted that they were at the very top and likely near a mountain…

This place used to be a ski resort, and that made sense as to why it was far out and isolated, because it was abandoned due to malfunctioning chairs that got a few people killed back in the day according to an amused Bozo. Koru had found it and turned it into his personal fortress since nobody else came around here and with the mountain taking away Wi-Fi, combined with his powerful snow quirk, it made search and rescue almost impossible.

“Drink.”

Tornado was persistent, his expression still like stone as he looked down expectantly for Shinsou to drink so he was still hydrated, but didn’t notice that the boy was in deep thought, “Is he givin’ ya attitude?” But Shinsou’s eyes slightly widened as soon as heard Bozo’s voice.

And there he was, walking right inside next to Tornado and glaring down at the battered teenager. “Didn’t your parents ever teach ya manners? When someone gives you something, you take it and say ‘thank you’.” Bozo reprimanded him, grabbing a fistful of his hair as Shinsou shut his eyes and grit his teeth. 

“I… know…” He rasped out, resenting the fact that he had to be so damn compliant, but he didn’t want to be killed or beaten any further to prevent a potential escape.

Unsatisfied, Bozo scoffed and let him go, shrugging his shoulders as he took the ladle from Tornado and held it out for Shinsou to take a drink from. Although his body was still quivering, Shinsou did pick himself up to take a drink, but then he shut his eyes when a sudden downpour of freezing water suddenly crashed over him and soaked his hair, face and torso. He sputtered and started coughing out the water that got into his nose and eyes, his body automatically shivering when the frigid air just made him colder with the added wetness.

Shinsou could barely hear Bozo’s uproarious laughter over his chattering teeth and didn’t see the bastard taking Tornado to leave. “Start showin’ manners kid… maybe I’ll be nicer to ya when ya do.” Bozo said one last time before he left the teenager to tremble all by himself in the bitterly cold room.

He hated that man, he absolutely hated him more than he’s hated anyone before. The act of cruelty doing nothing to quell his thirst as a very reluctant, but very desperate Shinsou slowly crawled over to the small little puddle of water left on the ground. 

Disgusted with himself and ashamed for how pathetic he felt right now, he unwillingly pressed his lips to the spill to sip up whatever was left…

He had to survive. He had to survive for yours and his sake so you both could escape...

FIVE HOURS LATER…

You successfully found three other young teenagers that had strong quirks, and Koru had already sent out some of his goons to go and retrieve them. A stray tear fell down your cheek when you heard the boss’s heinous little giggle. Koru saw this though, and he wiped it away as you slowly peered up at him with an empty, yet repulsed gaze.

“Don’t be upset Psy-Fy… I’ve told you… we are doing a good thing here…” He ‘reassured’ you, but you knew better. This man was a lunatic, hell-bent on trafficking children.

Koru smiled at you, he was aware that you weren’t exactly broken yet. “Hey… if it makes you feel any better. You and Purple Mist aren’t going to be alone too long.” That made your eyes widen a little bit, and you felt apprehension beginning to build in your chest.

“I’ve heard the stories… Shigaraki had the right idea… but he did it wrong. He tried and failed to get that Bakugou kid… and didn’t bother to get any of the other stronger ones with the useful quirks… what were their names again?” He feigned innocence as he recollected the names of your friends that you were forced to tell him, “Midoriya, Kaminari, Endeavor’s kid, sweet Yaoyorozu and Uraraka… or even that weird bird kid… ”He started smirking as soon as he saw you trembling when some of your very good friends were mentioned…

“It’s because he didn’t have enough resources and couldn’t get close enough to him… it was sloppy work. Very sloppy… not enough back-up, and not an inside source… or even a villain with a quirk useful enough…” Koru’s eyes widened as he gave a false gasp, clasping his hands together as he gave you an open-mouthed grin.

“But we do! We have you! And Purple Mist! Your quirk can find them… I’ll send Bozo and Mad Dog to find him… and Purple Mist will make them do what I need them to do!” He said excitedly, snickering when you visibly shook and tears sprung to your (E/C) eyes.

Choking on a sob, you shook your head, “N-No… please no… d-don’t… don’t make me… please don’t make me look for my friends… please don’t make me find anyone anymore…” You tearfully begged and whimpered, but all Koru did was give you a look of fake sympathy. “I NEED those kids Psy-Fy… why can’t you just understand that this is all for a greater world?” He asked you softly, a slight edge of roughness at the end of his sentence when you shook your head.

“N-No… No I’m not gonna help you find Izuku or Katsuki… I ain’t helping you find any of them…” Your lip quivered as you refused and Koru’s baffled face contorted into a silent fury as he smacked you hard in the face. A loud shout left you as you tried to hold it back, but his hands were so cold and firm and you cried out when he grabbed your hair, pulling on your scowl as he snarled.

“I NEED YOU (L/N)!! I need those kids!! They are the tools for my plan! A plan that’s even bigger than all of us to remake the world into a greater one, and you are NOT GOING TO FUCK IT UP!!” He screamed in your face as spittle’s of saliva splattered onto your face; your eyes shut as you bit your bottom lip to quell a terrified wail. 

You whimpered and gulped hard, your body shaking on a knife’s edge as you reluctantly nodded, not wanting this man to beat you again…

But you had your own plan…

“Now find em for me…” He muttered to you, as you shakily nodded and allowed him to take you outside to the satellite dish. The cold wind pierced through your thin clothes and made you shiver and throw your arms around you, but  Koru wasn’t concerned as he put the headpiece on you so you can track the people like some kind of fucked-up Cerebro. “I want Bakugou and Midoriya…”

Koru gave you the order and you nodded through your shivering, closing your eyes as you searched throughout the country thanks to this satellite. Blocking out how cold you were to focus as hard as you could…

[neokollection]

Mine To Play With ㅡ Doyoung (M)

A/N: Someone asked for a continuation of drying DY’s hair- So, I'm here doing it because I’m in a Doyoung mood and a horny mess ready to take it out on him :/

**MATURE**

Word Count: 2K ㅡ  Genre: Domestic smut & fluff ㅡ  Teaser: A lazy day with your man while your hormones are raging causes you to have horny temptations. Who better to take it out than your ever willing boyfriend?

no, im not oki

    Your period certainly came with a plethora of side effects, a wild appetite, mood swings at ungodly hours, cramps and pains, and occasional horniness. Your victim, always your victim, endearing Doyoung, sat idle on your floor- He’d been playing Need For Speed on your phone to help you level up since you’d been whining about being stuck on a level. However, slumber had gotten the better of him... His head hung low your phone caressed by his familiar hands. His hands- They were beautiful, warm hued and smooth skin that you loved to touch, prominent knuckles and veins that snagged your attention, and slender delicate fingers that did ungodly things to you.  You’d nearly been nodding off to sleep yourself, watching over his shoulder from your comfortable bed-

    “Youngie,” you murmured, stretching your leg beneath the covers to nudge one of his broad shoulders.

    His shoulders- They were so broad. A safe haven for only you to embrace and to protect you- Prominent and alluring, it was prime real-estate that was begging to be marked.

    “Dongyoung,” you tried again, nudging him once more.

    “It’s weird when you call me that,” he muttered, raising his head before shaking his tresses to get them out of his eyes.

    “I miss you,” you whined, a pout forming on your lips.

    You weren’t normally this needy or cutesy, but you couldn’t help it at the moment.

    “What do you need?” he questioned, shifting slightly to set your phone upon your nightstand.

    “You,” you half-joked.

    He crawled onto your bed, resting atop your covers as you shifted beneath them, the homey sounds of sheets shifting causing him to smile to himself tiredly.

    “Let’s take a nap,” he suggested, shifting to let his face fall to your pillow, draping an arm over you.

    “I don’t want to sleep,” you hinted, wiggling closer.

    He let out a muffled hum into your pillow to serve as an inquisition as to why- Reaching over, you massaged the nape of his neck gently, knowing it must have been sore from how he’d fall asleep.

    “Because I want to spend time with you.”

    “You are-”

    “I want you to hold me,” you blurted, dragging out your words.

    Knowing how childish you could get if your affectionate demands weren’t met, he slipped off the bed, throwing back the covers before sliding in, nudging you to scoot over with his body pressed to yours. His arms wound around you, his face tucking itself into your shoulder, his cheek resting upon the fabric of your sweaters as his doe-like eyes met your own for a moment before closing. Disrupting the peace, you turned from your back to your side to face him, peppering light kisses across the expanse of his face, to which he grinned before nuzzling into your chest as he whined for you to quit, his cheeks heating at how unusually affectionate and forward you were being. You arched your back slightly, pressing your chest against his face to savor the sensation. 

    “Doyoung...” you called gently.

    He drew back slightly to glance upward.

    “I’m really horny,” you admitted, turning sheepish.

    He knew you were on your period- He was able to read the boisterous signs. Plus, you’d been using it as an excuse, as to why you couldn’t leave home, and as leverage, as to why your ice cream choice was more valuable than his due to your menstruation.

    “What’s there to do?” he questioned partly to himself.

    You let a hand sneak beneath the front of his black shirt, letting it raise along with your tempted hand.

    “I want to do stuff-”

    He let out a small hiss, swatting at your hand as you pinched his nipple. Not in the mood to be teased, he herded your hand to your other, collecting your lithe wrists in his single hand, to keep them docile.

    “You have to be more specific than that.”

    “Let me take care of you,” you tried, mustering a pleading expression.

    Wordlessly, he released you, instead, his hands moving in haste to push your sweater upward, frowning at the sight of your bra before he was tugging it down, the straps biting into the skin of your shoulders. Your voice was caught in your throat as he leant in, pulling you closer by the small of your bra that his fingers had hooked in. He was already peppering kissed over the warm skin, his lips growing wetter with each pass. You let out a breathy sigh of his name, weaving your fingers into his black hair to pull him closer. His hot tongue glided across your nipple, causing you to screw your eyes shut to keep quiet as his teeth grazed it next.

    “No, no-” you muttered, pulling at the soft hair at the nape of his neck.

    As much as you loved the effect he had on you, you wanted to be the one inflicting pleasure- To touch his body and make him writhe. Your own personal pornographic content starring your dream boy.

    Easily, he let you push him away, content with resting on his back as he watched you pull your sweater down. His eyes were half-lidded with lust and drowsiness, the small unconscious pout on his lips alluring your own. Letting your mischievous hand sneak under the hem of his shirt once more, you lazily kissed, swallowing his muffled sound as the pad of your finger traced around his pink areola, your palm melding to the curvatures of his chest. He could feel a blush creeping on to his cheeks, he hadn’t known you were so fascinated with his chest- The unfamiliar sensation of attention on his sensitive nipples causing him to writhe gently in the sheets. Your hand abandoned his chest, going to the front of his sweats to palm him as your lips trailed to his neck, suckling upon the side of his neck, causing him to jerk at the ticklish sensation.

    “Ah- You’re so...” he paused, trying to find the right word, “horny-”

    “You made me like this,” you blamed in a low utter.

    You hand slipped beneath the waistband of his sweats, fingers crawling towards his length, before his hand met your own.

    “Slow down- There’s no rush,” he huffed, cheeks flushed.

    You wiggled your hand from under his grasp, suckling upon the delicate skin of his neck causing him to hum lowly. He gave up trying to slow you once you crawled on top of him, his head lolling to the side as you pushed his flimsy t-shirt to rest at his collars. You kept a watchful gaze over him as your lips fell to his chest, your body pressing to his own. It was easy to pull him out of his boxers and past the waistband of his sweats, tucking it beneath his taut sack as your stroked his length. Squeezing his scrotum, you watched how his brows knit together, lips parting slightly. You tore your eyes away from his features to let your teeth dig into the supple flesh of his chest, littering love bites in your wake. His skin was warm, with a salty twinge, a familiar scent- his scent. Your tongue laved across one of his nipples as you squeezed the base of his shaft, his body jolting at the sensation.

    You sat back, straddling him just below where his cock lay. Your greedy gaze swept over his chest, pink marks littered, but none angry enough to leave a bruise. Your hand moved to the tip of his length, its weight comfortable in your hand as you used your thumb to swipe the precum from his tip. Doyoung let out a sigh of satisfaction, let his head fall back before nodding forward, petal pink lips parted and hair disheveled as he watched your other fingers slip between your lips.

    “I want you,” he muttered, knowing he couldn’t- At least in your current condition.

    You removed your glistening fingers from your mouth before licking your palm. He let out a slight whine at the lewd sight, feeling his cheeks once more ignite and his cock twitch. Using your slicked hand to caress his length, you began to tug him, forming a comfortable pace at which to pump your boyfriend’s shaft. His hips began to flex, eager for more, his chest rising and falling in unison. You angled him towards himself, flat against his toned stomach. You worked him, your slickened hand sliding from veiny shaft to rosy tip. His moans and pants were godsend to your eager ears, unable to keep quiet. He came on himself, his abdomen crunching as he lurched forward slightly, calling your name before falling limply back to the sheets.

    Beneath you he lay motionless, only his chest rising and falling. You massaged his shrinking length in your palm, drinking in the sight of him. Worn out, he pushed your hands away, bucking you from his thighs. A small yelp escaped you as nearly tumbled off the side of the bed, grabbing his boney hips to stay seated. Impatiently, he tore his shirt the rest of the way off, sweat having formed along his hairline and neck. His eyes fluttered open to meet your own once he finally felt your weight crawling from him. He tugged his sweats back up to cover his decency before getting off the bed with a creak, careful to not let the cum on his stomach drip. Giddily, you followed him to the bathroom, turning on the tap to wash your hands of him. He was unusually quiet, turning to turn the knobs of the shower. You watched his back flex in the reflection of the mirror, suddenly wanting to embrace him and plant soft kisses along his warm back-

    He showered, turning the water cold to cool his scorching body and regain his breath. He took longer than was necessary, his movements slow with fatigue. Opting to tug on only his shirt and his boxers before returning to your room. The bed dipped dramatically as he dropped to it, snuggling close and lazily tugging the covers over the two of you- but you squirmed away from him.

    “Your hair’s wet,” you complained, the dampness uncomfortably cold on your warm skin.

    With a sigh he got up, tossing the blankets away dramatically as he slinked into the bathroom. You heard some commotion before he was dropping back to the bed, reaching to unplug your phone charger and plug in your... hair dryer.

    “Do it for me,” he bargained, glancing over his shoulder from where he sat on the edge of your bed.

    With a small sound you sat up to crawl towards him, sitting on your haunches behind him, as you picked up the dryer. You turned it on the lowest setting, raking your hands through his hair in the process. His head bobbed to and fro where your hands raked, his eyes drifting closed. You turned it up to a higher setting, watching as the fine black stands slithered through your fingers easily, no tangles. With your fingers you brushed his bangs down in the front and the sides before drying over them, combing your fingers through the fluffiness to tame it. He let out a low hiss, bringing his hand to cover his ear; evidently you held it over the same spot for too long. With an apologetic tone, you focused on his other side, turning off the noisy dryer once you felt he was sufficiently dry. Gently, you dropped the dryer to the floor, off the edge of the bed. Brushing Doyoung’s hand aside, you saw the angry red shell of his ear. Apologizing, you tucked his hair behind it before giving it a chaste kiss. You coaxed him to lay with you once more, holding the covers open invitingly as you wiggled your way in.

    Exhaustion got the better of him as he snuggled into the valley of your breasts, your inviting warmth and soft hands brushing through his tresses lolling him into a peaceful slumber.

[paulasldkjf-blog]

(scroll down for references)

I’ve heard stories of athletes in their 30s/40s getting extremely sick

seek medical attention if: short of breath, blueness in lips/fingers, choking sensation, persistent pain/pressure in chest, mental confusion

symptoms take between 2 and 14 days to appear after infection

people experience mild symptoms, start to get better, then go into severe symptoms and pneumonia around day 7

mild symptoms: impaired sense of smell/taste, upper-respiratory tract infection that progresses to a lower-respiratory tract infection, dry coughing (from the chest not the throat), sore throat, headache, fever, high temperature, tiredness, aches/pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, diarrhoea

severe symptoms: shortness of breath, blueness in lips/fingers

"Seriously sick coronavirus patients in New York state’s largest hospital system are being given massive doses of vitamin C — based on promising reports that it’s helped people in hard-hit China"

if experiencing severe symptoms take 1500mg vitamin C every 6 hours (food-sources are not effective at high dosages, only liposome vitamin C will work: https://au.iherb.com/pr/SunLipid-Liposomal-Vitamin-C-Naturally-Flavored-30-Packets-0-17-oz-5-0-ml-Each/90757)

"fatality rate was 14.8% in people 80 or older ... 1.3% in 50-somethings, 0.4% in 40-somethings, and 0.2% in people 10 to 39"

"A new study found the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detectable in aerosols for up to 3 hrs, up to 24 hrs on cardboard and up to 2-3 days on plastic/stainless steel."

home-made sanitiser recipe: "mix two parts 95% non-denatured (denatured contains toxic elements to prevent drinking) ethanol ... with 1 part aloe vera gel"

fabric over the mouth/nose should help against the virus contained in water-vapour in the air

weaken immune system: alcohol, sugar, stress

strengthen immune system:

adequate sleep

moderate exercise (intense exercise temporarily weakens the immune system)

spending time in nature

vitamin D (sunlight (sunscreen blocks vitamin-d intake), organ-meat) cuts risk of respiratory tract infection by 50%

hot bath/sauna

200-500mg vitamin C /day (1 orange contains 50mg or https://au.iherb.com/pr/California-Gold-Nutrition-Gold-C-Vitamin-C-500-mg-240-Veggie-Caps/61866)

vitamin A (fermented codliver oil (1t/day), organ meats https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR10.TRC0.A0.H0.Xblue+ice+cod+liver+oil.TRS0&_nkw=blue+ice+cod+liver+oil&_sacat=0)

fermented vegetables (high vitamin-c content + other)

garlic and onion

bone-broth (boil bones for 3 hours)

saturated fats (butter, coconut oil, meat fats, cream, cheese)

mushrooms (chaga, shiitake, maitake, turkey tail; https://au.iherb.com/pr/Four-Sigmatic-Superfood-Blends-10-Mushroom-Blend-2-12-oz-60-g/82309?rec=iherbtest-pdp-related&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6_vzBRCIARIsAOs54z47x95jolkYlc6bTCbEnxc_5MEJlm14Q1UmX5Okc5rNSqsHLrXnhywaAiiUEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)

berries

magnesium

essential oils

coconut oil

zinc

ground flaxseed

elderberry

licorice root

activated charcoal

chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine

peptides

oxide therapy

fermented vegetable recipe: 2g salt per 100g water (or 2.5g for warmer climate); fill jar with vegetables up to 2.5cm from the top, add salt-water up to 1.25cm from the top; taste-test every three days (or every day in warmer climates) until the taste is right, then refrigerate; they keep for months in the fridge; it should never smell/taste 'off' or be slimy; to prevent build-up of CO2, loosen/release the jar-lid every few days (fermentation-kit: https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/collections/cultured-vegetable-starter-cultures)

======================== SYMPTOMS/SEVERITY OF THE SICKNESS

"About half of the 109 Covid-19 patients (ages 22 to 94) treated at Central Hospital of Wuhan, researchers there reported, developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in which fluid builds up in the small air sacs of the lungs" [1]

"About 5% of all COVID-19 cases need intensive care, and without it, all of them will die" [3]

"If you're starting to feel severely sick though, if you're getting short of breath, if you're having any blueness in your lips or in your fingers, if the illness just feels like it's taking hold of you, you do eventually have to go in because there are interventions in the hospital that are extremely necessary" [7.1]

"They've also noticed that the progression of the illness to the severe illness seems to be happening a bit later in the course. So, somewhere around that 7 to 10-day range. So, people will often start with sort of a mild upper respiratory tract infection, progresses to a lower respiratory tract infection. Then over the course of a week, progresses to the more severe illness where they start getting the inflammation and the acute respiratory distress syndrome or the ARDS. They've also noticed that the ARDS cases are not quite as bad, and a lot of times, the patients will actually recover from the ARDS, and then it'll actually be the dilated cardiomyopathy that gets them in the end. A cardiomyopathy is where your heart stops squeezing as well, basically. So, it doesn't squeeze as well as it normally does your ejection fraction, which is an estimate of how well your heart is performing decreases severely, and then patients end up dying of basically cardiogenic shock" [7.1]

if choking sensation, call doctor

every morning breath deeply and hold breath for 10seconds. If this can be done without difficulty/coughing all good [30]

impaired sense of smell [15, 44]

cough, fever, tiredness, dry cough, aches/pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea, difficulty breathing [39]

"These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually" [39]

symptoms that indicate severity and warrant seeking medical attention: trouble breathing, persistent pain/pressure in chest, confusion, bluish lips/face [40]

symptoms take between 2 and 14 days to show up [40]

"you sort of get better, then it comes back, you sort of get better, then it comes back" [42]

"little bit of cough, headache, runny nose ... for first 36hours ... got a little bit worse with muscle aches ... day five ... fever, muscle-aches, pain everywhere" [42]

"98% had fever, 76% had cough, 55% had shortness of breath" [43]

"incubation period of maybe about a week or two, and then there was the illness that lasted for 8 days, and then there was the shortness of breath" [43]

loss of taste and smell, fever, dry cough that comes from your chest, shortness of breath ("If your chest becomes tight or you begin to feel as if you cannot breathe deeply enough to get a good breath"), persistent pain/pressure in chest, blush lips, mental confusion, headaches, digestive issues, body aches, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing [45]

"One possible sign that you might have Covid-19 is if your symptoms, especially shortness of breath, don't improve after a week or so but actually worsen" [45]

"you get better before it gets worse" [46]

"common cold, my nose was was stuffy, I had ear problems, sinus problems ... got better ... got hit with the flu ... headache ... was getting better with the flu and that's when I got hit with the pneumonia ... can't take a full breath like you need to" [46]

"very mild persistent headache ... that was a friday, then saturday I started to feel gradually worse during the day ... got to the sunday ... full flu-like symptoms, weak, achy ... cough at that point and high temperature ... felt like I was starting to turn the corner ... breathing problems" [47]

ibuprofen/advil could make it worse [48]

MOST VULNERABLE: ELDERLY AND THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING HEALTH PROBLEMS

"this virus has been worse in the elderly and quite mild in children. And we think that's probably due to some immunity that's cross over from the other coronaviruses, which we typically get when we're children. So, that immunity is lost as we become adults and we age" [7.1]

"The people most vulnerable to viral infection and death are the elderly and those with acute or chronic diseases." [7.2]

Patients who have been tested for SARS-CoV-2 are disproportionately those with severe symptoms and bad outcomes [33.3]

"fatality rate was 14.8% in people 80 or older" [11]

"1.3% in 50-somethings, 0.4% in 40-somethings, and 0.2% in people 10 to 39" [11]

"The age-related death risk probably reflects the strength, or weakness, of the respiratory system" [11]

AVOIDING CONTAMINATION

"A new study found the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detectable in aerosols for up to 3 hrs, up to 24 hrs on cardboard and up to 2-3 days on plastic/stainless steel." [6]

"It's an enveloped virus (with a thin plasma membrane), so easily broken chemically: killed by soap/detergents" [8, slide 17]

90% of virus dies after 6h of weak sunlight [8, slide 17]

home-made sanitiser recipe: "mix two parts 95% non-denatured (denatured contains toxic elements to prevent drinking) ethanol ... with 1 part aloe vera gel" [8, slide 44]

"20 seconds of thorough hand-washing can take one down" [9]

fabric over the mouth/nose should help against the virus contained in water-vapour in the air [15]

"Covid-19 transmits very early in infection, even before people start to become unwell." [41]

"“I don’t think we know,” said Weiss when asked about the immunity question. “I think they’re going to be immune for a while." Perlman said some other coronaviruses — the four that cause colds and flu-like illnesses — can be caught more than once. He wonders if people who had asymptomatic infection would not develop enough antibodies to be able to fend off the virus on a later exposure but might have a mild infection on a second go-round." [41]

STRENGTHEN IMMUNE SYSTEM

"the less toxins we put in ourselves, the healthier we get our intestines and our heart and our lung, and the more we sleep and the lower our stress, and the more we exercise and we're doing everything to get our immune system and our biology working well, then that has potential to be a long-term strategy of preventing infections. And I would say that has been borne out in my clinical experience." [7.1]

"if you strengthen your immune system you will be okay" [11]

"The common denominator is a compromised immune system. People with robust immune systems have a much lower infection vulnerability and, if infected, a much higher survival prognosis." [7.2]

THINGS THAT WEAKEN IMMUNE SYSTEM

"Excess alcohol consumption affects booth innate and adaptive immunity, leading to a significant weakening of your defences and heightening the risk of infections. Avoiding not only sugary drinks but sugar in general will also benefit your immune function, while a high sugar intake is associated with an increased mortality risk from all causes" [33.4]

"She covers the role of 5G in weakening the immune system" [14.2]

ADEQUATE SLEEP

"I don't know if there's anything that's really going to have as much of an impact on your immunity than sleep" [7.1]

recommends [11]

"Shorter sleep duration, measured behaviorally using actigraphy prior to viral exposure, was associated with increased susceptibility to the common cold" [38]

EXERCISE

" immunity will actually be slightly lower when I'm training really hard. So, movement, staying in shape but not overdoing it will be important when you think about exercise" [7.1]

"Exercise boosts your immune system in multiple ways, including causing white blood cells, which fight disease, to circulate more rapidly, allowing them to detect illnesses sooner" [33.4]

"excess sitting is a risk factor for disease in its own right and has even been linked to an increased risk of death from all causes" [33.4]

SPENDING TIME IN NATURE

recommends [15]

"In a study of 20,000 people, a team led by Mathew White of the European Centre for Environment & Human Health at the University of Exeter, found that people who spent two hours a week in green spaces — local parks or other natural environments, either all at once or spaced over several visits — were substantially more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who don’t" [22]

"time in nature — as long as people feel safe — is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood" [22]

STRESS

"Worry and panic and stress deplete vitamin A, which we need to fight the virus" [14.2]

stress/anxiety weakens the immune system [33.4]

HOT WATER IMMERSION / SAUNA

"increase your own heat shock protein production and enhance your immunity, and that's via the use of frequent sauna exposure" [7.1]

recommends [11]

"sauna practice ... increases the expression of heat shock proteins and also boosts white cell counts" [7.3]

Men that used the sauna 2-3x per week were 27% less likely to get pneumonia and those that used it 4-7x per week had a 41% reduced risk compared to men that used the sauna 1x per week [25]

"Here we discuss the potential benefits and mechanisms of active (i.e., exercise) and passive heating methods (e.g., hot water immersion, sauna therapy) to reduce chronic low-grade inflammation" [26]

"Scientists are not sure why saunas have such a dramatic impact on respiratory illnesses but the theory is that the heat generated by them eases airway obstruction." [27]

VITAMIN C

(1 orange contain 50mg vitamin C)

"Extra natural vitamin C such as Pure Radiance C – 1 teaspoon two times a day or 6 caps daily" [2]

"I recommend camu camu, a bushy riverside tree. One teaspoon of its cherrylike fruit in powder form has 760% vitamin C" [4]

“People that have more vitamin C are less likely to get the illness, and if they do get it they’re more likely to have a mild case.” [5]

"Only 200mg of vitamin C...reduced the death rate of elderly pneumonia patients by 80 percent.” [5]

"So, there's some studies that have shown that vitamin C, when it was given intravenously, decrease mortality and prevent the organ system failure in patients with sepsis" [7.1]

small studies have found vitamin-c to help with sepsis (life-threatening illness caused by the bodies response to infection) [8, slide 36]

'liposomal' Vitamin C is required, regular Vitamin C will not be effective, even in high doses. 20ml/day [7.2]

"I suggest taking 200-500mg oral vitamin C during cold and flu season" [7.3]

"To find a good-quality vitamin C product, look for an all organic food based supplement, or a USP grade vitamin C, produced in a GMP certified facility. A few good brands that fit these criteria include Whole Foods Food Sourced Vitamin C, American Nutraceuticals and OrthoMolecular Buffered C capsules" [7.3]

"High dose vitamin C was discovered by Linus Pauling to fight disease" [17.1]

recommends [19]

recommends [29]

"Your best source is fermented veggies like sauerkraut" [17.3]

"vitamin C, found in foods like broccoli and kiwi, exerts anti-viral immune responses as well as has antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-infectious effects" [33.4]

"Seriously sick coronavirus patients in New York state’s largest hospital system are being given massive doses of vitamin C — based on promising reports that it’s helped people in hard-hit China" [21]

"said his intensive-care patients with the coronavirus immediately receive 1,500 milligrams of intravenous vitamin C. Identical amounts of the powerful antioxidant are then readministered three or four times a day, he said." [21]

"The patients who received vitamin C did significantly better than those who did not get vitamin C" [21]

"natural absorption of vitamin C above an intake of about 200 mg decreases sharply by 50%" [49]

"Liposomes are phospholipid containing microscopic spheres that carry vitamin C at their core. Their absorption does not depend on vitamin C transporters like SVCT-1 but rather on direct fusion of the liposome with the small intestinal cells resulting in direct intracellular release of the vitamin C and eventually into the blood circulation." [49]

"allows it to bypass the slow vitamin C transporters present in the gut" [49]

"some products labeled as “liposomal" vitamin C don’t utilize “liposome” delivery at all" [49]

"A good liposomal vitamin C supplement should be  non-GMO and preferably use phospholipids derived from sunflower lecithin" [49]

"Choose a formed liposomal or a well made pro-liposomal supplement that contains vitamin C and a fatty substance (phospholipids or phosphatidylcholine), but does not include ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl oleate, or cetyl ascorbate as they offer no advantage over regular vitamin C" [49]

"A good liposomal vitamin C supplement should be  non-GMO and preferably use phospholipids derived from sunflower lecithin" [49]

high-quality liposome vitamin C: https://au.iherb.com/pr/SunLipid-Liposomal-Vitamin-C-Naturally-Flavored-30-Packets-0-17-oz-5-0-ml-Each/90757

high-quality (USP, GMP) non-liposome vitamin C (meaningless to take more than 500mg at one time): https://au.iherb.com/pr/California-Gold-Nutrition-Gold-C-Vitamin-C-500-mg-240-Veggie-Caps/61866

GARLIC AND ONION

recommends both [11]

recommends garlic [19]

"Onion and garlic are natural sources which are known to possess antiviral properties. It is well known that onion and garlic are rich source of organosulfur compounds. Organosulfur compounds like quercetin and allicin are associated with inhibition of viral infection" [23]

"As far as the research goes, garlic has immensely powerful anti-infective (i.e. suppressing dysbiosis and opportunistic overgrowth of microbes) properties" [33.2]

recommends garlic [33.4]

VITAMIN A AND D WORK TOGETHER

"when you take [vitamin A and D] together, that can be synergistic" [7.1]

"How vitamin D works synergistically with vitamin A" [14.2]

Vitamin D works with vitamin A to give us a strong immune system. [17.3]

VITAMIN A

"Fermented Cod Liver Oil – 1 teaspoon per day" [2]

"Vitamin A turns out has a whole diversity of ways that can improve immune function ... You definitely need to have some of it, but you don't have too much [7.1]

"eating liver once per week" [14.2]

"vitamin A (from animal foods) is critical for fighting disease" [14.2]

"egg yolks, butter, liver, and cod liver oil are good sources of vitamin A" [14.2]

"vitamin A is a powerhouse for fighting disease" [17.1]

"Foods high in vitamin A are pastured yolks, beef liver, lamb liver, cod liver oil, mackerel, salmon, pastured butter" [17.1]

"Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin, which means if you are taking a supplement, first of all it’s synthetic and not often absorbed by the body, but also can’t absorb if it’s not taken with fat" [17.1]

"Orange foods, high in beta carotene, like carrots, butternut squash, and pumpkin, are powerful vitamin A support as the beta carotene goes to your liver, where it is converted to vitamin A" [17.1]

"Vitamin A is our number one protection against viruses" [17.3]

"Best sources are cod liver oil, egg yolks from pastured hens, butter from grass-fed cows" [17.3]

high-quality codliver oil: https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR10.TRC0.A0.H0.Xblue+ice+cod+liver+oil.TRS0&_nkw=blue+ice+cod+liver+oil&_sacat=0 [50]

VITAMIN D / SUNLIGHT

"vitamin D deficiency may actually be considered a risk factor for sepsis and inflammatory disorders" [7.1]

"The next one would be vitamin D. They've called it the pro-survival molecule and it's felt to be helpful to the immune system in states of excessive or chronic stress" [7.1]

vitamin d3 every day: between 5000 and 50000 international units [11]

vitamin D/K blend (5000mg daily) [7.2]

UV helps fight virus's

recommends sunlight [15]

"sunscreen blocks vitamin D from getting into our skin" [17.1]

"Foods high in vitamin D include pastured yellow butter, seafood, fish eggs, organ meats" [17.1]

vitamin D (sunlight, meat, egg) [19]

Analysis of 25 randomised controlled trials from around the world found that vitamin D supplementation cut the risk of respiratory tract infections by 50% in people that were deficient and by 10% in people with normal vitamin D levels. [20]

"Vitamin D supplementation was safe and it protected against acute respiratory tract infection overall. Patients who were very vitamin D deficient and those not receiving bolus doses experienced the most benefit." [24]

vitamin D intake may be harmful if not paired with vitamin k [51]

FERMENTED FOODS

recommends [7.3]

This podcast (40mins) explains fermented foods and nutrition in general. [14.1]

"Drinking home fermented kraut juice or fermented garlic brine are both great options" [17.1]

"People are finding that when they take the maximum tolerated levels of kraut juice daily, they don’t get sick. Each person’s maximum tolerated level is specific to them, the amount just before they see die off" (recipe: https://www.nourishingplot.com/2014/06/02/kraut-juice/) [17.2]

"Fermented foods and beverages, such as yogurt and kefir, are also beneficial. Consuming a probiotic drink has been found to reduce the incidence of influenza in children[vi] while eating yogurt fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus augmented natural killer cell activity and reduced the risk of catching the common cold among the elderly" [33.4]

fermented vegetable recipe:

increasing your nutrition too drastically can cause 'die-off' [17.5]

"die-off ... when these gut pathogens are killed, causing their cell wall to burst open and dump toxins previously contained inside the bacteria into the intestines ... can cause uncomfortable symptoms" [52]

fermented vegetable recipe: 2g salt / 100g water (or 2.5g for warmer climate); fill jar with vegetables up to 2.5cm from the top, add salt-water up to 1.25cm from the top; taste every three days (or every day in warmer climates) until the taste is right, then refrigerate; they keep for months in the fridge; it should never smell/taste 'off' or be slimy; to prevent build-up of CO2, loosen/release the jar-lid every few days. (fermentation-kit: https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/collections/cultured-vegetable-starter-cultures)

BONE BROTH

recommends [7.3]

"bone broth is an excellent immunity booster and detoxing protocol" [14.2]

recommends [17.3]

boil bones for 3hours

SATURATED FATS

"we need saturated fats to keep the lungs working well ... found in butter, coconut oil, meat fats, cream, & cheese" [14.2]

"Coronavirus has an affinity for the lungs, and the lungs can’t work without saturated fats, so eat plenty of butter and avoid all industrial fats and oils" [17.3]

MUSHROOMS

mushrooms (chaga, Shiitake, Maitake, turkey tail). "My favorite way to get a daily dose of immune-boosting mushrooms is through Four Sigmatic’s 10 Mushroom Blend" [7.3]

recommends [33.4]

BERRIES/FLAVONOIDS

recommends (herbacetin, isobavachalcone, quercetin 3‐β‐d‐glucoside, and helichrysetin) [33.1]

"Flavonoids, for instance, found in berries and onions, among other produce, reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections" [33.4]

MAGNESIUM recommends [11] recommends [7.2]

ESSENTIAL OILS recommends [11] recommends [7.2]

COCONUT OIL "1 Tablespoon of coconut oil per day" [14.2] recommends [17.3]

ZINC

"Zinc deficiency we know is associated with immune dysfunction, including some pro-inflammatory cytokines, atrophy to thymus, reduction in T regulatory cells. So, personally, I started taking a zinc supplement, which I wasn't in the past. So, about 15 to 30 milligrams per day" [7.1]

if exposed to sickness, dissolve 4 zinc lozenges in mouth per day [7.3]

recommends [29]

GROUND FLADXSEED flaxseed ground (if not ground it can't be digested, 2Tbsp twice/day) [7.2]

ELDERBERRY

elderberry in the form of juice, tea, tinctures, and supplements [7.3]

"Elderberries are commonly used with the onset of of a virus as it stops a virus from mutating inside the body. It is not recommended for the coronavirus due to an increase in cytokines." [17.1]

"Elderberries, small, dark purple berries grown on the Sambucus tree, are well known for their cold and flu-fighting properties" [33.4]

LICORICE ROOT licorice (1500mg / day) [7.2] recommends [7.3] recommends [33.1]

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL recommends [11] recommends [7.2]

CHLOROQUINE/HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE

"chloroquine works against sars-cov-2 in human cells" [8, slide 18]

"hydroxychloroquine was found to be more potent than cloroquine ... a loading dose of 400mg twice daily of hydroxychloroquine sulfate given orally, followed by a maintenance dose of 200 mg given twice daily for 4 days is recommended for sars-cov-2 infection" [8, slide 20]

"common side effects [of hydroxychloroquine] include vomiting, headache, changes in vision and muscle weakness" [8]

overdoses of hydroxychloroquine are rare but possible [8]

"despite its small sample size our survey shows that hydroxychloroquine treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin" [28]

PEPTIDES

recommends [7.1]

"The most effective immune enhancement substance I am aware of is the Russian developed Peptide Bioregulator Vladonix (for thymus/immune system)" [7.2]

OXIDE THERAPY

recommends [7.1]

Dr John Bergman recommends ozone therapy (blood is extracted, oxygenated then injected back in. Vitamin C must be consumed 1.5hours later [29]

OTHER

Arsenicum album 30C and Camphor 1M as homeopathic defense: First take one dose (about 2 to 3 pellets) of Arsenicum album 30C. If your flu-like symptoms are significant contact your local MD, describe your symptoms, and see about getting tested for coronavirus. If the Arsenicum album 30C helps alleviate your symptoms, continue dosing this remedy two to three times a day, for three days or more. If your flu-like symptoms are not being alleviated by this remedy however… Then take one dose (about 2 to 3 pellets) of Camphor 1M, from two times a day to every four hours (depending on the intensity of your symptoms), for three days or more. If neither the Arsenicum album or Camphor help reduce your symptoms within a few hours, contact me or your local homeopath as soon as possible. Early intervention is crucial. [2]

"Emu oil – 1 teaspoon two times a day" [2]

"CHAMP Pro Plus – From ½ to 1 scoop daily in water (GALT, Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue, regulates almost 70% of the immune system.)" [2]

"NotaSan 4X – 2 drops rubbed over the tonsil areas of the upper neck or snorted up the nose, three to six times a day, to help reduce cold, flu, sinus, or allergy symptoms when they arise." [2]

"Unfortunately, we do not know how long this immunity lasts. We already observe multiple strains of COVID-19, and will see many more, due to the large number of carriers." [3]

'Flattening the curve' is not a viable option. The virus is predicted to infect >40% of people it comes in contact with. In order for the 'curve' to be flattened to a point where our care/treatment facilities are not exhausted, it would have to stretch over an unrealistically long period (the article estimates 10 years). The article considers containment (eradication via preventing the spread until those infected are identified and cured) as the only option [3]

"Why doesn't the government, the CDC, offer any nutritional or dietary advice? Think about it." [4]

olive leaf extract [7.1]

hot soups, ginger, root vegetables, hot liquids, conscious breathing (breath out twice as long as you breathe in) [11]

"All of the nutraceuticals, other than the peptides, can be purchased at the Swanson Vitamins website. It is essential you use the specific products listed (referencing a list displayed below the quote, on the website I've taken it from) as each has the required potency and high-quality ingredients necessary to be effective. This is especially true of the liposomal Vitamin C. Regular Vitamin C will not be effective, even in high doses." [7.2]

beta glucan / beta right (500mg) [7.2]

"His research has shown that a specific combination of micronutrients can support and enhance the immune system. In addition to vitamin C, they include vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, magnesium, calcium, and iron" [7.2]

"What my Chinese herbologist friend specifically recommended was: Liposomal Vitamin C packets – 3x a day, L-Lysine 1000 mg – 3x a day, NAC 1500~1800mg – 3x a day. Be sure all of the above are taken together" [7.2]

"For adults, drink 10 mls Silversol 4-6 times daily; 1-2 teaspoons of Umcka four times daily; 6 squirts of BioCidin LS 4-6 times daily; 1 cap 50,000 units Vitamin D x 4 days; 2 tablets of Iodine 25mg daily for 4 days; 5 ml Silversol 2 times daily if there is possible contact with a virus; 1000mg of Vitamin C daily; Briotech HOCL – use as a spray and you can ingest orally" [7.2]

"Vitamin D/K, Ancestral Supplements Thymus blend, liposomal glutathione, colloidal silver, oil of oregano" [7.2]

Echinacea [7.3]

"John Douillard’s Decoction Tea Instructions: Soak 1 tablespoon of [slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, and licorice root] (you must source these herbs in a chopped, not ground, form) in 2 quarts of water overnight. Boil the mixture down to 1/2 quart in the morning. Strain the mixture through a metal strainer (use a large spoon to push it through. Save the liquid and discard the herbs. Take 1 tablespoon of the liquid every two hours on an empty stomach for one month, sometimes two months if needed." [7.3]

"look for oregano oil that contains a natural carvacrol level of over 80%. The “fake” stuff at the grocery store or bulk supplement website is typically comprised of thymol or is simply an oil harvested from thyme, which doesn’t give you the same potent effect as an oil high in carvacrol. Finally, should you purchase the 100% pure version of oregano, be very careful: it is extremely caustic and can burn the skin or the mouth, so you must mix it into a carrier oil" [7.3]

antiviral: sulfate (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage); terpenoids (cannabis & other herbs, block uptake of virus into cell); glutathione, glycine, selenium; herbs/spices; avoid glyphosate [19]

"selenium, either oral or Iv's" [29]

hot liquids kill it [30]

ensure mouth/throat is always wet (drink something every 15 mins) [30]

"Cistus tea has been found to thwart off viruses" [17.4]

"food-derived substance with proven coronavirus-inhibiting properties: Chameleon plant " [33.1]

"Natural substances which have been studied for Coronavirus infections include: Black Tea, Cinnamon, Resveratrol" [33.2]

"turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin" [33.4]

SARS-COV-2 is the virus that caused COVID-19 (stands for "coronavirus-2019")

"I’m not planning on forgetting that earlier this week Joe Biden told the American public that anyone “not at risk of being exposed to COVID-19” (not a real category of person) should go congregate in public, including in dozens of low-income senior centers, to vote for him"

gargling salt water could clear the throat of bacteria and prevent infections getting worse

========================== [1] https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/03/who-is-getting-sick-and-how-sick-a-breakdown-of-coronavirus-risk-by-demographic-factors/ [2] https://www.louisawilliamsnd.com/post/coronavirus-recommendations-update?utm_campaign=3a59df04-d55c-4561-8259-a2d7ec266e69&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=7cd28690-a598-42af-abc5-feafcdce315b [3] https://medium.com/@joschabach/flattening-the-curve-is-a-deadly-delusion-eea324fe9727 [4] https://twitter.com/tao_lin [5] https://youtu.be/fwyAM7fCG44 [6] https://twitter.com/foundmyfitness [7.1] https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/transcripts/transcript-how-to-improve-immune-system/ [7.2] https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/article/lifestyle-articles/how-to-boost-immune-system/?preview=true [7.3] https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/article/nutrition-articles/shorten-cold-flu-duration/ [8] https://docsend.com/view/stajszk [9] https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/03/biography-new-coronavirus/608338/ [11] https://www.blogtalkradio.com/askdrjohnbergman/2020/02/25/im-not-afraid-of-the-corona-virus [14.1] https://www.westonaprice.org/podcast/202-what-you-dont-know-about-ferments/ [14.2] https://www.westonaprice.org/podcast/232-protect-yourself-from-the-coronavirus-or-any-virus/ [15] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym-WGOq96G0 [17.1] https://www.nourishingplot.com/2020/03/04/natural-treatment-against-the-coronavirus-what-you-need-on-hand-to-be-prepared/ [17.2] https://www.nourishingplot.com/2017/02/07/natural-flu-shot-prevention-support/ [17.3] https://nourishingtraditions.com/how-to-protect-yourself-from-coronavirus-or-any-virus/ [17.4] https://www.nourishingplot.com/2020/03/17/cistus-tea-for-virus-and-bacteria-support-shows-to-reduce-tick-and-mosquito-bites/ [17.5] https://www.nourishingplot.com/2019/06/04/die-off-and-vitamin-c-sources-for-chronic-illness-gaps-approved/ [19] https://t.co/jtN1BOeJcN?amp=1 [20] https://t.co/rpD72lacR7?amp=1 [21] https://nypost.com/2020/03/24/new-york-hospitals-treating-coronavirus-patients-with-vitamin-c/ [22] https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health [23] https://pharmascope.org/index.php/ijrps/article/view/1738/2428 [24] https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6583 [25] https://t.co/htUYo4bFZL?amp=1 [26] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32139348 [27] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/10/09/saunas-cut-pneumonia-risk/ [28] https://mediterranee-infection.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Hydroxychloroquine_final_DOI_IJAA.pdf [29] https://www.instagram.com/drjohnbergman/ [30] msg mum sent (apparently info given to hospital staff) [33.1] https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/studies-find-natural-treatments-coronavirus [33.2] https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/medicinal-foods-and-beverages-protect-against-coronavirus-research-suggests [33.3] https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/fiasco-making-coronavirus-pandemic-takes-hold-we-are-making-decisions-without-rel [33.4] https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/who-five-ways-boost-immunity-fight-covid-19 [33.5] https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/top-four-antiviral-benefits-elderberry [38] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4531403/ [39] https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses#:~:text=symptoms [40] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html [41] https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/26/what-weve-learned-about-the-coronavirus-and-what-we-still-need-to-know/ [42] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzJgPvukzTE [43] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCG3xqtcL3c [44] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4eu-h_owaI&t=4s [45] https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/25/health/coronavirus-symptoms-list-what-to-do-wellness/index.html?utm_content=2020-03-28T07%3A58%3A01&utm_source=twCNN&utm_medium=social&utm_term=link [46] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9oqvJ3iXGI [47] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxQPCfeywXQ [48] https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/ibuprofen-and-covid-19-what-gps-need-to-know [49] https://coremedscience.com/blogs/wellness/how-to-pick-the-best-liposomal-vitamin-c [50] https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/cod-liver-oil/cod-liver-oil-basics-and-recommendations/ [51] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-and-vitamin-k#section3 [52] https://justthrivehealth.com/blogs/blog/what-is-die-off

[rootcure]

How Homeopathy Medicine is Best to Cure Tonsillitis?

Definition: It refers to inflammation of tonsils- two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat- one tonsillitis on each side.

Tonsils form a part of the lymphatic system.

Tonsils work by trapping the germs coming in through the mouth and nose.

Common Age Group

In children (5 to 15 years of age).

Causes of Tonsillitis

Bacterial and viral infections. Mostly caused by Streptococcus Pyogenes.

Abuse of antibiotics.

Coughing or sneezing. (From one person to another).

Adults who have Immune deficiency conditions like HIV.

Hyperglycemic or Diabetic patients.

By consuming excessive cold drinks, cold food like ice-creams etc.

In some patients due to deficiency of Vitamin-D leading to recurrent tonsillitis.

Tonsil Conditions

ACUTE TONSILLITIS:

Tonsils become swollen, inflamed with pain during deglutition and develop a gray or white coating of exudates.

CHRONIC TONSILLITIS OR QUINSY:

Persistent infection of tonsils at the slightest exposure develops the condition of chronic tonsillitis.

PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS:

An infection creates a pocket of pus next to tonsil, pushing it towards the opposite side.

ACUTE MONO-NUCLEOSIS:

Usually caused by Epstein Barr Virus.

Causes: Severe swelling in the tonsils, fever, sore- throat , rash and fatigue.

STREP-THROAT:

Streptococcus, a bacteria that infects the tonsils and throat, is called Strep Throat.

TONSILLOLITHS:

Tonsil stones.

SYMPTOMS

1. Throat pain: Most common symptom. Pain may last more than 48 hours. Even empty swallowing may cause pain.

2. The pain may be referred to the ears.

3. High to moderate fever.

4. Hoarseness of voice.

5. Severe lethargy, feverishness or low- grade of fever may accompany acute tonsillitis.

6. Headache or heaviness of head.

7. Sometimes, foul odor from the mouth is affected with Strep Throat.

8. Children may also complain of abdominal pain.

9. There may be dry cough associated with tonsillitis.

10. Difficulty in swallowing any type of food.

11. Children may also have a decreased appetite with irritability.

HOMEOPATHY AND ITS SCOPE IN TONSILLITIS:

Homeopathy is highly effective in cases of Tonsillitis by removing the root cause of the disease. As tonsillitis is common among the children, Homeopathy is safe and natural in treating most of the cases.

Homeopathic medicines help in treating tonsillitis by avoiding unnecessary surgical removal of tonsils.

Homeopathic treatment also boosts up the immunity in such patients.

Here are top 5 Homeopathic medicines for Tonsillitis:

1. BELLADONNA:

Useful in red, congested and inflamed tonsils.

Key indications: Pain in throat at the time of swallowing.

The tonsils are often affected by taking any cold things : cold drinks, ice- creams or by exposure to cold air.

The throat pain is relieved by warm drinks.

The main symptom guiding towards Belladonna: First stage of inflammation with extreme redness.

2. PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA:

Tonsils are dark red or bluish red in color.

There is much pain at the root of the tongue and soft palate.

Swelling especially at the right side.

Sharp shooting pain into ears on swallowing.

Aggravation: Hot drinks or hot food.

3. MERCURIUS SOLUBILIS:

The key symptoms to prescribe are :Pain in throat, congestion of tonsils and unable to drink or eat anything.

There is more salivation from the mouth.

Pain is worse at night.

The patient feels thirsty though, there is more salivation.

4. HEPAR SULPH:

Marked tendency to suppuration. When swallowing, there is a sensation of a splinter or plug -like in the throat.

There is quinsy with tonsil suppuration of tonsils.

The patient is very chilly and cannot tolerate any cold air or cold water.

Tonsils are aggravated by eating or drinking anything cold.

Read More : https://www.rootcure.in/how-homeopathy-medicine-is-best-to-cure-tonsillitis/

[balalji]

How Homeopathy Medicine is Best to Cure Tonsillitis?

Definition: It refers to inflammation of tonsils- two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat- one tonsillitis on each side.

Tonsils form a part of the lymphatic system.

Tonsils work by trapping the germs coming in through the mouth and nose.

Common Age Group

In children (5 to 15 years of age).

Causes of Tonsillitis

Bacterial and viral infections. Mostly caused by Streptococcus Pyogenes.

Abuse of antibiotics.

Coughing or sneezing. (From one person to another).

Adults who have Immune deficiency conditions like HIV.

Hyperglycemic or Diabetic patients.

By consuming excessive cold drinks, cold food like ice-creams etc.

In some patients due to deficiency of Vitamin-D leading to recurrent tonsillitis.

Tonsil Conditions

ACUTE TONSILLITIS:

Tonsils become swollen, inflamed with pain during deglutition and develop a gray or white coating of exudates.

CHRONIC TONSILLITIS OR QUINSY:

Persistent infection of tonsils at the slightest exposure develops the condition of chronic tonsillitis.

PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS:

An infection creates a pocket of pus next to tonsil, pushing it towards the opposite side.

ACUTE MONO-NUCLEOSIS:

Usually caused by Epstein Barr Virus.

Causes: Severe swelling in the tonsils, fever, sore- throat , rash and fatigue.

STREP-THROAT:

Streptococcus, a bacteria that infects the tonsils and throat, is called Strep Throat.

TONSILLOLITHS:

Tonsil stones.

SYMPTOMS

1. Throat pain: Most common symptom. Pain may last more than 48 hours. Even empty swallowing may cause pain.

2. The pain may be referred to the ears.

3. High to moderate fever.

4. Hoarseness of voice.

5. Severe lethargy, feverishness or low- grade of fever may accompany acute tonsillitis.

6. Headache or heaviness of head.

7. Sometimes, foul odor from the mouth is affected with Strep Throat.

8. Children may also complain of abdominal pain.

9. There may be dry cough associated with tonsillitis.

10. Difficulty in swallowing any type of food.

11. Children may also have a decreased appetite with irritability.

HOMEOPATHY AND ITS SCOPE IN TONSILLITIS:

Homeopathy is highly effective in cases of Tonsillitis by removing the root cause of the disease. As tonsillitis is common among the children, Homeopathy is safe and natural in treating most of the cases.

Homeopathic medicines help in treating tonsillitis by avoiding unnecessary surgical removal of tonsils.

Homeopathic treatment also boosts up the immunity in such patients.

Here are top 5 Homeopathic medicines for Tonsillitis:

1. BELLADONNA:

Useful in red, congested and inflamed tonsils.

Key indications: Pain in throat at the time of swallowing.

The tonsils are often affected by taking any cold things : cold drinks, ice- creams or by exposure to cold air.

The throat pain is relieved by warm drinks.

The main symptom guiding towards Belladonna: First stage of inflammation with extreme redness.

2. PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA:

Tonsils are dark red or bluish red in color.

There is much pain at the root of the tongue and soft palate.

Swelling especially at the right side.

Sharp shooting pain into ears on swallowing.

Aggravation: Hot drinks or hot food.

3. MERCURIUS SOLUBILIS:

The key symptoms to prescribe are :Pain in throat, congestion of tonsils and unable to drink or eat anything.

There is more salivation from the mouth.

Pain is worse at night.

The patient feels thirsty though, there is more salivation.

4. HEPAR SULPH:

Marked tendency to suppuration. When swallowing, there is a sensation of a splinter or plug -like in the throat.

There is quinsy with tonsil suppuration of tonsils.

The patient is very chilly and cannot tolerate any cold air or cold water.

Tonsils are aggravated by eating or drinking anything cold.

Read More : https://www.rootcure.in/how-homeopathy-medicine-is-best-to-cure-tonsillitis/

[blogkelleyb]

Cancer treatment in the time of Covid

So I have finished my second Chemo treatment 3 days ago? Why not blog after the first? Well cause I was a potato thats why. That is my new term for the overwhelming exhaustion that comes with my friend Chemotherapy. It is interesting but nothing I have experienced before.  I lie, 10 years ago I was super ill and left Kingston Hospital 88 lbs. I know weak and it is a scary feeling and yeah I called them.  I found out it is completely normal, give in to it. Ok will do don't have a choice because I don’t have the energy to do more than make myself a cup of tea. My daughter is doing the rest and doing it well. I can relax and just be a potato if I feel like one.  So I was for about 3 days. 

Around the same time my mouth started to get sore. First kind of coated then raw feeling and really chapped lips.  My daughter went to pharmacy and got some special spray that is all natural and helped with the dry sore mouth quite well. She also got special mouthwash made for the same issue. It helped and it passed in about 4 days. 

But that wasn’t the first side-effect. I had very mild “hand-foot syndrome” Google it because it is fascinating, and can at its worst be horrendous.  It is extreme skin sensitivity to cold. First discovered when I got home from first Chemo and reached into the fridge for a pepsi.  Zap, every finger touching the can starts to tingle intensely. You know that feeling when a limb or hand goes to sleep and I mean dead asleep no feeling and then it starts to wake and you hit a max on the tingly feeling? Yeah it feels like that. Not painful, disturbing definitely uncomfortable. Then I took a drink of the pepsi...OMFG my mouth and throat are tingling like crazy. The answer? Warmth. A tea, no cold drinks and don’t touch anything with your hands that is colder than body temp. Warm that water up before you wash your hands. Etc.  It lasted a day and gradually improved. 

The third and least noticeable side-effect is actually not due to the Chemotherapy but the high dose steroids that they give you before and during to help combat them.  Steroids give you a false sense of wellness and I get very chatty to say the least. So yes I noticed this and the fact I felt pretty damn good the first 3 days after.  But I know having been on steroids many times for my Colitis the fall going off them is kind of harsh so this probably adds to the chemo exhaustion that hits on day 4 and your done your 3 day steroid regime. 

So lets look at the positives of this treatment shall we? I didn’t barf, not even once. Nor did I even get nauseated.  I was terrified of this side-effect. I mean worse than hair loss by far.  Like I said I know what it feels like to be 88 lbs when my good weight is 135.  I weighed 137 when diagnosed, my weight at my first chemo was 112. I have lost 25 lbs already and the treatment hadn’t even started yet.  What was I going to look like going into surgery, will it affect the outcome, will I be healthy enough to get it at all or will it have to be delayed risking my life?  Yeah it was a great big fat hairy deal. And I didn’t get sick. Can I have a “Hell yeah” 

The second side effect is just as exciting folks, I found my lost appetite and oh boy is it back with a vengeance. I fell like I did 10 years ago like I have an insatiable tape worm.  It started to come back around day 5 post 1st chemo. And each day became stronger and stronger.  I was eating bowls of ice cream at midnight and making bacon and eggs at 5AM.  I even appealed to my friends who brought “Mac and Cheese” and “Oven pot pies” And I ate them all and at my weigh in before starting chemo I saw the beautful number 118.6 lbs.  Omg the joy I felt I can’t tell you. The relief....1000 lbs literally off my shoulder. I am so holding on to the hope that it stays around. I expect during my potato days, it won’t be as good. But I will remain hopeful that the tapeworm stays awake and keeps eating. 

But then I got my second treatment 3 days ago.  It was different. The nausea? Nope its fine none of that at all. Appetite seems normal not bad but not ravenous.  The hand/mouth, wow. It began as I arrived home from my treatment. My hands and feet and lower legs were tingling like crazy and I was touching nothing and fully dressed and had a coat on.  The cold air, It was like minus 2 or something out.  Wow what if it was in the middle of winter how would this feel?  I come inside and its pretty intense. My daughter gets me a cup of hot tea and heats up my hot pack to put my hands in like I did first round. It helps. I put on my legs it helps them too. 

I have a chemo bottle attached to my PICC line that goes into the large vein in my upper body into the upper vessel of the heart. Regular arm veins used for IV’s  can't take chemo drugs, That chemo bottle is to drain over a period of 24 hours. I carry it around for those 24 hrs in a little bottle bag around my neck and navigate the tubing.  Then the next day I get into the car and drive to Para-Med and they remove the chemo bottle, dispose into the toxic waste container and redo my dressing on my PICC line. I go home. Except two hours later I note the bottle of Chemo is not draining.  I call, and they tell me I have to go back to hospital so they can fix. I did, it sucked, I tingled the whole way but did get to ask that nurse about it too. Yes it’s normal but yes we watch it some have a problem.  Am I going to have a problem? I hope not she says. Yeah me too.   

We drive home. I decide in case this gets worse I should take my shower while I am stable on my feet. I do so and it was  glorious hot water. No tingling, until I stepped out. OMFG again. Bare feet on the floor, naked and shivering. Ok now its painful. This bloody sucks.  Get dressed in flannel onesie right away. Get big winter socks on and get that hot pack. Ok I am good.  How bad will this get?  Is this something that could interfere with my ability to get regular prompt continued treatment so I can have surgery and be cancer free.  Is this threatened?  I have two more treatments and will have a long break in-between these treatments my surgery and my recovery and restarting again. It should get out of my system.  But the effects are cumulative, how bad will it get? Can they give more steroids to counter act this effect and keep it controllable. You can bet I will be asking all those questions to my Oncologist when I see him before my next treatment. My daughter is going with me and will make sure I miss nothing with my hearing and that I get all my questions answered.  Thats a very good thing to do together.  And good news, the tingling is improving this morning. Whew!

I don’t know what the exhaustion will be like this time.  I was what I called “baked” yesterday.  Like you took that extra THC gummy at bedtime (oh chill its legal and I only take them for sleep) except they are always worn off by morning with zero hangover effect. Baked with a really clear logical mind and a mouth that just will not stop talking. Like there was no filter, if something ran though my head it came out my mouth.  My daughter from previous experience with me realized it was the steroids!  And then we laughed and laughed and laughed until our bellies hurt.  The poor girl finally was able to retreat to the privacy of her room and I would still come down the hall to tell her more pearls of wisdom from my mind.  I carried on a running commentary with my best friend over messenger from the early morning hours before the sun came up all the way to bedtime and yes she too finally just stopped answering me. I think its hysterical. But I get that it may be a tad annoying to others. So I went into my favourite facebook group for women over 40 that play the video game “Animal Crossing” Oh don’t judge that either, hottest selling game of the year last year, absolute record sales and got many of us through this damned pandemic. Just minding our islands and building homes and fishing etc.  So peaceful, so non political and so damn cute.   So yeah headed to that group and made two new online friends and yep they probably won't message again but they were kind to me. This side effect will pass today as the steroids wear off and the exhaustion kicks in.  I suspect it may be little worse and last a little longer than last time. If you don’t see a new blog post till next treatment, thats why. See ya when I am no longer a potato. 

[pantomatique]

His Return

The small cottage came into view. Azriel slowed down, his feet touching the cobblestone path without a sound. The balmy summer air was a welcome compared to the near-constant freeze of the Winter Court, even if it made him soak his leathers through with sweat. He had built the cottage for Elain as a gift when they got married; built it in a field of wildflowers outside of Velaris. He remembered her smile as he flew her there and surprised her with it.

It has been three weeks since he stepped into his own house, the smell of peonies and sunshine wafted around him- his wife’s scent. Three weeks without his wife. He was sorely tempted to wake her up and makeup for all of that lost time. He let her sleep, she needed it and he needed to hone the whirl-wind of thoughts flying through him.

The last three weeks were spent interrogating spies caught trying to cross the border between the Night and Winter Courts. Spies from the Continent. They were apprehended in Winter, but Kallias allowed Rhys the courtesy of his own interrogation… as long as it was in Winter. Rhys stayed a week, using his daemati gifts to quicken the process. After the week, Rhys left him with Lucien to try to open up the last two spies who had been shields. Fae gifted with protection against daemati.

Walking to the dining room, he noticed a light yellow rug with a floral print. Bright and cheery against the dark wood floors. How very Elain, he thought. In fact, he started noticing all of the details added since he left. The wedding portrait that Feyre had painted of them, rested on the mantle. Vases of flowers and other feminime touches graced the house. It was perfect. It reminded him of Elain, who made anywhere she was- home to him. 

They've only been in the cottage for six weeks- married that long too. He hated himself for being gone for half of their marriage, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make to keep her safe.

Azriel poured himself a drink at the small copper bar cart near the kitchen, using a glass - not bothering with a shot glass. Ugly. That’s what those last weeks were. As a favor to his Highlord, Azriel begrudgingly worked with Lucien. When Elain had chosen the shadowsinger over her mate, the townhouse nearly collapsed due to the fight that took place. Lucien was still silently seething over the matter while they worked. Azriel’s shadows picking up the wrath thumping underneath the fox’s golden skin. 

As much as Azriel hated to admit it, he was angry too. Angry at Vanserra. Angry at whatever force decided to tie Elain and Lucien’s souls together for eternity.

 Pulling out a chair to face the three paned window, he took a seat at the end of the mahogany dining table. A gift from Cas, his reasoning being that the happy couple needed a big enough for both their families. Family. That’s what he and Elain wove themselves together to become.

Staring at the starry night sky, whiskey burned down his throat as he his mind circled back to that comment Lucien made to him when he found out Elain wouldn’t be accompanying them to Winter. Accused him of cloistering Elain, saying that the cottage Azriel had built her was nothing more than a gilded cage meant to keep her bound to him. 

He wanted to bring Elain with him. Wanted to take her gliding over the iced over ponds hidden in the Winter Court’s forests, to show her the snow-blooming flowers that flourished in the cold… He would take her one day. Where he could give her all of his attention, she deserved it.

In truth, Azriel didn’t want Elain to see this part of him. He couldn't fathom sharing a bed with her mere hours after he tortured fae barely out of boyhood. Resting his elbows on his knees, he cradled his face in his hands, the scars and calluses scraping against the light stubble that began to form on his jaw. He thought about gentle Elain watching her husband break trained warriors apart, watching someone usually so caring and loving to her- turn to violence and bloodshed. She knew what he did, what was required of him to keep the Night Court safe. He would not allow her to see that part of him. Not anytime soon.

“Az, is that you?” a gentle voice behind him flowed like water. He turned around to see Elain standing at the stop of the staircase. A cream shaw was wrapped around her shoulders, over the pale pink nightgown edged with cream lace - another wedding present from Feyre. He had blushed when Elain opened up the trunk full of scraps of lace and satin and then rolled his eyes at the note that Feyre had left him:

 “A gift for the groom. - your sister in-law”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” Didn’t mean to, but he was elated to see her. Graceful as a doe, she glided down the stairs- towards him.

“It’s okay. I have trouble sleeping without you anyways.” A smile touched her lips as she talked. His heart ached at the thought that she had problems sleeping. The first night they shared a bed, she had told him that it was the first time she slept without nightmares. Did she not feel safe without him here? He had placed wards around the house before he left and even told her to sleepover at Rhy and Feyre’s if she was scared. Azriel would ask her about it tomorrow. 

 Placing his hands on her hips. He pulled her towards him, so that she was standing in between his legs. Resting his head between her breasts and wrapping his arms around her slim waist, he breathed her in.

“I missed you.” He whispered to her.  So very, very much, he thought. Elain threaded her fingers in his midnight hair and began playing with it. Twirling his locks around her thin, small fingers.

“I’m so glad you're safe.” she said. “That is quite a nightcap you’ve made yourself.” She let out a chuckle at the large glass of whiskey sitting on the table. “I’ll make you some tea to wash it down.”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to.” he responded, but she already untangled herself from him and was walking towards the kitchen. Azriel was content to just watch her. Placing the copper kettle on the stove, she turned and gave him the sweetest smile as she pulled out two mint mugs from the cabinet. She stirred extra honey into his tea, making a remark about how she heard it helps prevent hangovers.

She placed both mugs on the table and was about to sit down, until he pulled her onto his lap- so that she was straddling him. Elain let out a giggle as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“I like what you’ve done with the place.” he whispered into ear, pressing a kiss right below it, as he eyed the velvet blue curtains enclosing the window.

“Cassian helped me hang them up. He said the blue would go with your siphons.”  She ran her fingers over the one in the center of his chest, before picking up his mug of tea and bringing it to his lips. “Drink.” He did what she said.

“Delicious, from your garden?” he inquired as he took the mug from her small hands and held it to her lips. He tilted it up as she took a sip.

“Yes, I starting growing herbs that help with sore muscles and fatigue… for you.” she said shyly, looking down. Azriel put the mug back on the table and then tilted Elain’s chin up with his hand. 

“Thank you.” he said as he stared into her chocolate eyes. Thank you for everything, for taking care of me, for loving me, he thought, hoping that his eyes conveyed what he felt.

‘She is thinking you’re welcome.’ a wisp of a shadow whispered in his ear. One of the reasons he loved Elain was that she didn’t push him to talk. The two of them seemed to exude their thoughts and feelings to each other without words.

Azriel released her chin, running his hands over the silky material of the nightgown, he pulled her flush to his chest- into a passionate kiss. The shaw around her shoulders, fell to the floor forgotten. Her soft, doll lips parted allowing their tongues to intertwine along with their souls. Her hands stroking his chest, his shoulders, his wings. Desire flooded his loins.

He moved his hands over the curve of her hips, down to her knees. Then he moved them back up over her creamy thighs, up to the hem of her nightgown which was pushed up from straddling his lap. Lips parting, she began to pepper kisses along his jaw and neck.

“Arms up.” 

Elain obeyed. Lifting her arms up, as he pulled the nightgown over her head and let it drop to the floor. Unconcerned of where it landed. She wouldn't be needing it for the rest of the night. 

The primal, fae part of him hummed with pleasure at the bare skin before him. The moon beams streaking through the glass windows behind her, making her pale skin glow like back-lit alabaster. Clad only in a pair of pink lace panties, she whispered his name. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, the word echoed in his head as his eyes roamed over his wife’s body- exposed only for him.

Lips meeting once again, Azriel cupped her breasts, his thumbs moving in circles over her nipples- peaking them. She moaned into his mouth as her hips began to move in a soft rhythm against his own. Reminding his body that they spent three weeks without touching each other. Those days apart had left him ravenous.

He trailed one finger down the valley of her breasts, the center of her naval- until he got to the waistband of that scrap of lace she wore. Perhaps she expected his return tonight with those seer powers of hers, he thought, that would explain the… ensemble. 

A purely male smirk appeared on his face, as he realized that she was soaked through.  Before he could insert a finger into that wet heat of hers, she crawled off his lap to pull off her underwear. The shadowsinger sat back and enjoyed the sight. Stepping out of them, she kneeled before him. Kneeled before death incarnate.

Her nimble fingers began pulling at the laces of his leather pants. A groan escaped his lips, as his aching length sprang into her awaiting hand. He nearly lost his mind when she kissed the tip. Unable to wait any longer, Azriel hauled her up onto his lap and buried himself deep inside her in one smooth stroke.

All five hundred of those years he had spent in heartbreak and trapped in lust, had been worth it. He would have waited an eternity to wait for her. His one true love.

Azriel thrust up into her, still clad in his fighting leathers, while she writhed atop him naked. Her head dropped to the nook of his shoulder, her sweet little moans and gasps echoing in his ear.

Inside her, he forgot his sins. Forget the dark shadows of his past that leeched on his very existence- she burned them away. Outshining every star in the sky.

Azriel would give her everything.

Bringing his hand to that bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs, she fell off that shimmering edge into a pool of starlight. And as she gasped his name as she found her release, he stood up- wrapping her thin legs around his waist.

When the tremor in her stilled, he pulled himself out of her and sat her at the edge of that giant table. Pushing her shoulders so that she laid flat on her back, knees bent, legs spread and feet perched at the end of the table. Exactly where he wanted her.

       “Az?”

“Soon, love.” pressing a chaste kiss to her mouth to quiet her.

Before he could take what he needed, he began unstrapping the armor from his shoulders and forearms and unbuckled the leather tunic. And as he threw the tunic to the ground, he leaned over her, guiding himself into her. His pants slung low over his chiseled hips.

Enjoying the feeling of her small bare breasts crushed against his chest, he set a punishing pace that would take them both over the edge. Elain’s small hands traced over his back, feeling the muscles flex and tighten as he thrust into her. Azriel grabbed her wrists, twinning their fingers together as he pinned her hands by her head.

No language could describe how good it felt to share this intimacy with her. But gods, he tried. Whispering in her ear about how much she pleased him, how amazing she felt wrapped around him. A blush spread from her dimpled cheeks to those perfect tits of hers.

And as her fingers tightened around his own, release found her again that night. At the sight of his wife moaning his name below him, he found his. His siphons flaring as he spilled himself into her.

Elain wrapped her legs around him, holding him close as pleasure shot up his spine. Foreheads pressed together, noses touching, he pressed an open mouth kiss to her swollen lips. 

“I love you.” she said. “So very much.”

Azriel hoped that he was enough to keep her safe, strong enough to make sure they had nights like this again and again.

[doctorsanddoctors]

Prevent Cough and Cold with Homeopathic Treatment

Due to the rigorous season change, the cold and cough that spread easily cannot be prevented. Infect one family member that carries the next, and before long, the whole family has had a seasonal flu attack. Children are the most vulnerable carrier of these viruses. The disorder of cough and cold usually persists indefinitely for five to seven days and is only somewhat less virulent except with drugs. Although the cold and toxic seasons are hardly dangerous in the long term, they can inflict substantial work and productivity loss. And even an apparently insignificant factor like a plugged nose really can be a huge irritation that mostly reduces the energy levels. 

You can prevent these sufferings if you take help from the Homeopathic consultant in Newtown and abide by the instructions he or she gives. 

 How You Get Infected

 These seasonal viruses easily influence people with poor immune systems. The most frequently met causative factor is the abrupt temperature rise. Turning on the fan right after the exposure to heat, or drinking cold water just after coming fro outdoor, or eating ice cream in scorching heat can attract these viruses and cause illness for you. When the immunity is poor, the body cannot respond and become vulnerable to pathogens to certain abrupt changes in temperature. We are mindful of the extremely infectious and quick dissemination of these pathogens. This triggers the symptoms like headache, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, fatigue, and even fever. 

 What Is the Prevention?

The building of our immunity is vital and it is vital to start with. The dietary factor is the main part of developing our immunity. What we consume and how we eat has an effect on our health. It is important to have a diet full of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. In order to develop good immunity, egg and milk must form a part of the everyday routine. Green fruit and vegetables are irreplaceable as well. All essential ingredients for nutrition are strawberries, broccoli, bananas, basil, spinach, ginger, and garlic, and even fruits like amla. Besides these, you must also intake an adequate amount of water every day as it is also a crucial factor to flush out toxins from your body. 

 Homeopathic Remedies 

 There are many levels of homeopathic treatments that you can find from the Homeopathic consultant in Newtown. They help to resolve the signs and symptoms that arise during seasonal cold and tough attacks at the most simple stage. They work successfully with the infection to alleviate pain and heal the disease's body easily. These cures tend to deepen and stimulate the immune response of the body to weaken subsequent infections and to resolve those infections gradually. Over time, the person can prevent illness, and wellbeing increase markedly.

[rootcure]

How Homeopathy Medicine is Best to Cure Tonsillitis?

Definition: It refers to inflammation of tonsils- two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat- one tonsillitis on each side.

Tonsils form a part of the lymphatic system.

Tonsils work by trapping the germs coming in through the mouth and nose.

Common Age Group

In children (5 to 15 years of age).

Causes of Tonsillitis

Bacterial and viral infections. Mostly caused by Streptococcus Pyogenes.

Abuse of antibiotics.

Coughing or sneezing. (From one person to another).

Adults who have Immune deficiency conditions like HIV.

Hyperglycemic or Diabetic patients.

By consuming excessive cold drinks, cold food like ice-creams etc.

In some patients due to deficiency of Vitamin-D leading to recurrent tonsillitis.

Tonsil Conditions

ACUTE TONSILLITIS:

Tonsils become swollen, inflamed with pain during deglutition and develop a gray or white coating of exudates.

CHRONIC TONSILLITIS OR QUINSY:

Persistent infection of tonsils at the slightest exposure develops the condition of chronic tonsillitis.

PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS:

An infection creates a pocket of pus next to tonsil, pushing it towards the opposite side.

ACUTE MONO-NUCLEOSIS:

Usually caused by Epstein Barr Virus.

Causes: Severe swelling in the tonsils, fever, sore- throat , rash and fatigue.

STREP-THROAT:

Streptococcus, a bacteria that infects the tonsils and throat, is called Strep Throat.

TONSILLOLITHS:

Tonsil stones.

SYMPTOMS

1. Throat pain: Most common symptom. Pain may last more than 48 hours. Even empty swallowing may cause pain.

2. The pain may be referred to the ears.

3. High to moderate fever.

4. Hoarseness of voice.

5. Severe lethargy, feverishness or low- grade of fever may accompany acute tonsillitis.

6. Headache or heaviness of head.

7. Sometimes, foul odor from the mouth is affected with Strep Throat.

8. Children may also complain of abdominal pain.

9. There may be dry cough associated with tonsillitis.

10. Difficulty in swallowing any type of food.

11. Children may also have a decreased appetite with irritability.

HOMEOPATHY AND ITS SCOPE IN TONSILLITIS:

Homeopathy is highly effective in cases of Tonsillitis by removing the root cause of the disease. As tonsillitis is common among the children, Homeopathy is safe and natural in treating most of the cases.

Homeopathic medicines help in treating tonsillitis by avoiding unnecessary surgical removal of tonsils.

Homeopathic treatment also boosts up the immunity in such patients.

Here are top 5 Homeopathic medicines for Tonsillitis:

1. BELLADONNA:

Useful in red, congested and inflamed tonsils.

Key indications: Pain in throat at the time of swallowing.

The tonsils are often affected by taking any cold things : cold drinks, ice- creams or by exposure to cold air.

The throat pain is relieved by warm drinks.

The main symptom guiding towards Belladonna: First stage of inflammation with extreme redness.

2. PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA:

Tonsils are dark red or bluish red in color.

There is much pain at the root of the tongue and soft palate.

Swelling especially at the right side.

Sharp shooting pain into ears on swallowing.

Aggravation: Hot drinks or hot food.

3. MERCURIUS SOLUBILIS:

The key symptoms to prescribe are :Pain in throat, congestion of tonsils and unable to drink or eat anything.

There is more salivation from the mouth.

Pain is worse at night.

The patient feels thirsty though, there is more salivation.

4. HEPAR SULPH:

Marked tendency to suppuration. When swallowing, there is a sensation of a splinter or plug -like in the throat.

There is quinsy with tonsil suppuration of tonsils.

The patient is very chilly and cannot tolerate any cold air or cold water.

Tonsils are aggravated by eating or drinking anything cold.

5. BARYTA CARBONICA:

First grade medicine for chronic tonsillitis.

After the acute attack passes, tonsils look larger than with the last cold.

Physically and mentally, the child is very weak.

Most common symptom is whenever he catches a cold first, it attacks the tonsils or throat.

Children sweat more from their feet.

On every cold or change of weather, the patient gets a rattling respiration.

[maximuswolf]

Astonishing health benefits of Fennel seeds (sounf) via /r/herbalism

Astonishing health benefits of Fennel seeds (sounf)

Fennel seeds(sounf)

Commonly eaten spice after meal is Fennel seeds. It is used in many recipes to inhance flavour and aroma of the dish. Fennel seeds (sounf) are sweet, bitter and woody in taste. It is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a hardy, perennial herb with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. . It is an indigenous plant in the Mediterranean regions and also widely cultivated across the world near the coastal and riverbank regions. India is said to be the largest exporter of saunf. It shows antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antithrombotic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and memory enhancing property.

It has different names in different languages such as Marathi name(Badi Shep), Hindi name(Sounf), English name(Bitter fennel, common fennel, sweet fennel, wild fennel), Gujarati name(Variyali), Telugu name(Peddajilakurra, sopu), Panjabi name(sounf), Tamil name(Soumbu, Perun siragum, sohikire), Kannada name(Badisopu), Bengali name(Mauri), Malayalam Name(Perum jeerakam), Arabian name(Rajiyanaj), Farsi name(Rajiyan).

          

Parts of plant used

Fruits, fruit oil and root

• Fennel is traditionally used for medicinal and culinary purposes. The entire plant is valuable in the medicinal industry; 

         - Fennel plant enlarged base is used as a vegetable.

         - It's leaves are used for culinary purposes and its seeds as a spice and for essential oil extrac-tion. 

         - The flowers and leaves are also used to make yellow and brown dyes. 

         - Fennel pollen is the most potent form of fennel, but it is extremely.

Vitamins and minerals content 

Nutrients found in dried fennel (USDA, USA).

CompositionQuantity (Per 100 g)Proximates  Moisture90.21 g Energy31 kcal Protein1.24 g Total lipid (fat)0.2 g Carbohydrate7.3 g Total dietary fiber3.1 g Sugars3.93 gMinerals  Calcium, Ca49 mg Iron, Fe0.73 mg Magnesium, Mg17 mg Phosphorus, P50 mg Potassium, K414 mg Sodium, Na52 mg Zinc, Zn0.2 mgVitamins  Vitamin C12 mg Thiamin B-10.01 mg Riboflavin B-20.032 mg Niacin B-30.64 mg Vitamin B-60.047 mg Folate27 μg Vitamin A48 μg Vitamin E0.58 mg Vitamin K62.8 μgLipids  Fatty acids, total saturated0.09 g Fatty acids, total monounsaturated0.068 g Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated0.169 gEssential amino acids  Leucine0.63 g Isoleucine0.73 g Phenylalanine0.45 g Tryptophane0.53 gNonessential amino acid  Glycine0.55 g Proline0.53 g

• The essential oil extracted is mainly composed of (E)-anethole, (Z)-anethole and α-thujone including this it contains more than 87 volatile compounds.

• The aromatic property of fennel is because of the essence. There are more than 30 types of terpene compounds in the essential oil of fennel, the most important of them are 50 to 80% trans-anethole, 8% fenshon and limonene 5%

• Fruits contained 15–30 % fixed  oil[ contains petroselinic acid (60 %), oleic acid (22 %), linoleic acid (14 %) and palmitic acid (4 %)] and up to 12 % volatile essential  oil. The fruit also contained flavonoids, iodine, kaempferols, umbelliferone and stigmas-terol and  ascorbic acid; traces  of  aluminium, barium, lithium, copper, manganese, silicon and titanium were also found.

• Caffeoylquinic  and  dicaffeoylquinic acids,  flavonoids  and  rosmarinic  acid  among  the  ten  main  antioxidant  phenolic compounds  obtained from  bitter fennel,  using a  simple  high-performance  liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique.

• Bitter fennel contains 50 % trans-anethole, 10–20 % fenchone (which contributes to the bitter flavour).

        - The sweeter variety  has 50–80 % anethole, little  (5 %) or  no fenchone, slightly  higher levels  of limonene  with  estragole,  safrole and  pinene.

Properties and benefits of fennel seeds

Properties

• Qualities – Laghu (light to digest), Snigdha (unctuous, oily)

• Taste – sweet, pungent, bitter

• Taste conversion after digestion – Madhura (sweet)

• Potency – SHEETA (Cold)

• Effect on Tridosha – Balances Vata, Pitta  and Kapha

              Benefits

• Durnama Kshayajit – useful in chronic respiratory conditions leading to emaciation. (as in tuberculosis).

• Kshataksheenahita – useful in people with injuries

• Balya – improves strength and immunity

• Pittasradoshajit – useful in bleeding disorders of Pitta origin

• Agnikrut – improves digestion strength

• Hrudya – good for heart, cardiac tonic

• Shukrapaha, Avrushya – It is not an aphrodisiac

• Yonishoolanut – useful in relieving pain arising from female reproductive system

Useful in

• Krumi – worm infestation

• Baddhavit – constipation

• Anila – Vata disorders

• Daha – burning sensation

• Aruchi – Anorexia, lack of interest in food

• Chardi – vomiting

• Kasa – cough, cold

Uses, benefits and application 

1) Flavonoids content in fennel seeds helps to stimulate saliva, which helps to get rid of problem such as dry mouth. 

2) Antibacterial property and aromatic flavour & smell helps combating bad breath. For this condition you should also take equal quantity of roasted fennel and fenugreek seeds, crush it and add salt according to taste. Eat ¼ – ½ teaspoon of this mixture after each meal.

3) The bulb,  foliage  and seeds of  the fennel  plant are potential  sources of  different nutrients and thus  all  are widely used  both raw and  cooked in side  dishes, salads, pastas,  vegetable preparations, sausages, etc.

4) It is used as pot herb because it is aromatic nature.

5) Roasted fennel  is  consumed as an organoleptic flavour correcter, or as an after  meal digestive.

6) The whole seed, powder and oil are used as adjuncts for flavouring foods, as antioxidants and as  a  preservative in  confectioneries  and beverages.

7) Fennel can help expel wind from the alimen-tary canal, freeing the respiratory system, rendering a calming effect on coughs.

           Intake : Eat some fennel seeds after meal or when you feel above situation.

8) In industry, fennel is used for flavouring and aromatizing, and as an organoleptic flavour corrector, in non-alcoholic beverages, baked goods, condi-ments, ice creams and liqueurs  such as Anisette, and as a  seasoning for  prepared meats such as hot pepperoni and sweet Italian sausages.

9) Fennel oil  mixed with honey can be  taken for coughs and sore throat, and its(fennel seeds) tea  is used as a gargle. 

                10) Eating fennel seeds is very good remedy for nausea.

11) We offer fennel seeds after a meal. Eating saunf(fennel seeds) after meals is considered a healthy practice,  primarily because  of its  ability to  keep the digestive  system  healthy.  

12) Fennel  increased  red  and white  blood  cells  probably  due  to  the presence  of  polyphenols  and  antioxidant activity  of  fennel.

13) Fennel  seeds help  to  improve eyesight, alleviate high eye pressure, dry eyes, tired, watery eyes and  almost  all  eye  related problems. 

14) For cold take tea of Fennel seeds.

            - Add 1/2 tea spoon of sounf and some amount of jaggery and heat it for some time.

15) For a fever, take 1 cup grape juice with ½ tsp fennel powder and ½ tsp cumin powder.

          16) For gas, make a mixture of equal parts of roasted fennel, cumin, & celery seeds. Chew ½ – 1 tsp of this mixture after meals and then swallow with a cup of warm water.

17) For cases of heat stroke, soak a handful of fennel seeds in water overnight. Strain the water and add a pinch of salt before drinking.

18) To promote bowel movements, chew 1 tsp of roasted fennel seeds after meals.

19) To purify your blood and better the digestion, consume a handful of raw fennel seeds in the morning and evening.

               - According to Ayurveda, optimal digestion is fundamental to optimal health! If you don’t digest well, toxins build up and can lead to disease. 

20) According to ayurveda, it actually does not reduce gastric secretions, but it reduces the Tikshna Gunna of pitta (sharpness of gastric acid which causes inflammation in the stomach). Due to this reason it is also very good for condition such as gastritis, indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux. For better results it is also taken with mulethi and amla.

21)  In the respiratory system, fennel even reduces aggravated kapha that congests the lungs.

22) Immense amounts of phytonutrients present in fennel seeds aid in clearing the blocked sinuses and alleviates asthma symptoms. The expectorant properties help to treat respiratory ailments like bronchitis, cough and nasal congestion. 

23) For fresh and toned skin texture take a teaspoon of fennel seeds and boil well, let it cool down and filter. Apply this mixture on the face using cotton balls several times in a day this can enhance the skin glow and keep your skin revitalized. It's high Antioxidant activity help out with this problem.

Note : 1) The leaves of bulb fennel have  a  flavour  similar to  herb fennel.

            2) Florence fennel is a key  ingredient in some Italian and German salads.

            3) Shoots were also found to have high radical-scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity.

            4) 100 grams of fennel seeds provide almost 40 grams of dietary fiber. A majority of this fiber is metabolically inert insoluble fiber, which helps to increase the bulk of food by absorbing water throughout the digestive system and alleviating any constipation. The fibers, which are found in fennel seeds, remove toxins.

Refrence : 

1)   Journal of Medical Surgical Nursing Practice and Research

 e-ISSN: 2582-1512,  Volume 2, Issue 1  

2)https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241714014_Morphological_and_Chemical_Evaluati n_of_Fennel_Foeniculum_vulgare_Mill_Populations_of_Different_Origin

3) Fennel and fennel seed

S. K. Malhotra, Indian Council  of Agricultural Research

4) NCBI

5) Ayurvedacolleage.com

6) Journal of HerbMed Pharmacology

J HerbMed Pharmacol. 2015; 4(1): 1-9.

7) AYU (An international quarterly journal of research in Ayurveda)

8) PUBMED

9) Bhaprakash Nighantu

10) Wikipedia

Submitted September 19, 2020 at 10:18PM by kbjawadwar1 via reddit https://ift.tt/3kuSniI

[healthfoodbeauty]

Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Benefit for Our Health

Apple cider vinegar and honey benefit for our health?People who lead stressful lifestyles, who often consume fast foods and drinks, and who have unhealthy lifestyle habits, tend to have a problem characterized by an impaired acidity balance. When the pH is low, the body is at risk of causing a number of infections, nausea, inflammation, lack of energy, and the like. Drinking vinegar (apple cider vinegar), can help the body in alkalization, works very successfully, increasing the blood pH of the natural state and thus facilitates the fight against bacteria and various diseases. On the road to combating health problems, a key role is played by food that is brought into the body on a daily basis, so a combination of honey and apple cider vinegar in the morning on an empty stomach could be a real ally for better health.

Why honey and apple cider vinegar?

Apple vinegar is actually a fermented apple juice. It contains pectin, vitamin B1, B2, B6, vitamin C, biotin, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid and smaller amounts of sodium, phosphorus, calcium, iron and magnesium, and other minerals and vitamins. All of these healthy ingredients maintain health at the optimal level. It also contains significant amounts of acetic and citric acid. Honey, on the other hand, is also a very healthy diet option. Honey contains a wealth of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. Dark honey is believed to have a higher nutrient density and is therefore recommended to be used to improve overall health. They work best in their pure form. It is the same form that was used long ago as a medicine in ancient Greece. The first of the doctors, Hippocrate's father of medicine, used Oxymel, a mixture of honey and vinegar, very successfully. From then on, more than two thousand years later, honey and apple cider vinegar dissolved in water continue to improve our health. This simple natural preparation helps prevent certain diseases and conditions and is aided by conventional therapies. With a glass of honey and apple cider vinegar alone, you can prevent joint inflammation, reduce inflammation, resolve digestive disorders, but also rejuvenate and lose weight. In other words, many benefits to the health of us all. The secret of the blend of honey and vinegar is in their antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. Wondering what the right time to start honey and vinegar therapy? The right time is immediately and always. The mix of these two ingredients honey and vinegar is a healthy option that will significantly help our health. This mix is ​​useful for: - Lower cholesterol - Help with constipation and digestion - Acid reflux treatment - Elimination of joint pain - Reducing inflammation - Elimination of bad breath - Reduce sore throat - Help in losing weight - Lowering blood pressure - Increase the energy level In today's article, we will show you some varieties of honey and vinegar for daily use and great benefits for the body, care and beauty and other beneficial effects that each of us can apply in everyday life.

Honey and vinegar a successful cure for arthritis

If you suffer from arthritis or any other joint disease, you can easily make a home-made traditional medicine recipe that will successfully help you with arthritis.

Due to joint pain, we all avoid physical exercise, which further contributes to the creation of even more toxins. The pectin we have already mentioned in vinegar successfully absorbs toxins and expels them from the body. Preparation: In warm lukewarm water, put a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and honey and combine well. Drink the resulting mixture twice daily, once in the morning and in the evening. After just two weeks, there will be a big improvement, and your joints will be more mobile and less sensitive.

Natural remedies for heartburn

Optimal against heartburn? Yes Yes. While this may seem illogical, it is apple cider vinegar in combination with honey that can balance the stomach acids and soothe that bad feeling in the throat - heartburn.

Natural enhancement of digestion

With apple cider vinegar and honey, you not only balance gastric acid but with this combination, it has a beneficial effect and greatly improves digestion. Vinegar successfully helps us produce the necessary enzymes, and more than 150 substances in honey help keep the microbiome in balance.

Weight loss with apple cider vinegar and honey

Apple cider vinegar helps reduce appetite, keeps blood sugar levels under control, and prevents fat from accumulating.

For people who have a few tens of pounds of excess, drinking this beverage on a daily basis can melt fat and significantly reduce waist circumference. Fighting extra pounds does not mean you have to condemn yourself to foods that are not delicious to you, on the contrary, you need to prepare a good plan for daily healthy eating and physical activity. That is the only way you will be able to sustain your intention to lose the extra pounds. This juice we present to you today is a recipe of three powerful ingredients that will help you throughout the process: You need freshly squeezed juice of one grapefruit, two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of honey. Mix all ingredients together to obtain a homogeneous mixture and dilute with a little water. Drink the juice before each meal every day for a week. After the first week, you need to take a short break of seven days. Then you can repeat the procedure with this wonderful juice to lose weight.

Cholesterol-lowering mixture

A mixture of honey and apple cider vinegar prevents the growth of bad cholesterol and increases the amount of good cholesterol in the blood. In addition a great recipe for cholesterol-lowering Preparation: 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon of honey 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 cup of water Put all ingredients together in a blender and mix well, until a uniform mixture is created. Drink every morning on an empty stomach, and you can consume it regularly for 3 months every day. Remember that it is always better to prepare fresh liquid rather than refrigerate it.

Natural remedy for sore throat and cough

The antiseptic properties of apple cider vinegar and honey help with sore throat and cough.

Honey kills bacteria in the throat and has calming properties, and vinegar has an anti-inflammatory effect. Often if you consume a cold drink or ice cream, the next day you wake up with a sore throat. But don't worry here is apple cider vinegar and honey. The best thing is that the mixture of these two products has no side effects and will help you successfully. Cough medication - Ingredients needed: -ren, vinegar, and honey In freshly nice horseradish, add vinegar and honey. Mix it well. Use several times a day to consume one tablespoon to cure cough. This medicine is one of the recipes attributed to Hippocrates himself for coughing and sore throats.

Honey and apple cider vinegar against bad breath

Bad breath can occur as a result of the accumulation of bacteria in the teeth and can also be caused by stomach ulcers. If you drink the mixture in the morning on an empty stomach, it can help cleanse your mouth of unwanted bacteria. Honey and vinegar can also help break down the accumulated bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.

Beautiful skin with honey and apple cider vinegar

The antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar and honey are a great combination in creating the ideal tonic for healthy and well-nourished skin. They are often used in the treatment of dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne.

Apple vinegar prevents bacilli from getting into damaged skin and helps maintain normal skin pH. Honey, on the other hand, by its action, moisturizes and softens the skin with its nutrient proteins, vitamins, and amino acids. The use of vinegar on the face has its great advantages. Vinegar is one of the best natural cosmetics available to us that we can easily use. Using vinegar on your face is a safe procedure, as it is a natural product. However, if you want the best results, you will have to use it properly. Here are some simple ways to use vinegar on your face. One of the most famous cosmetic advantages of vinegar is that it is an excellent astringent. Vinegar is a natural astringent that helps close the pores. After cleaning your face, gently wipe it with a cotton swab dipped in apple cider vinegar.

It removes tan

Vinegar is also known as a tool that successfully removes tan. It has the power of citric acid, so it helps to remove tan. After returning from sunbathing, dip a cotton swab in vinegar and gently wipe the face.

Heals acne

Vinegar is definitely a great natural cleaner. One of the main benefits of facial vinegar is that it cures acne. Because vinegar is citrus by nature, it has the natural ability to kill infectious skin bacteria. The use of vinegar on the face also has some anti-aging properties. Exactly so vinegar can slow the aging of the skin and the appearance of wrinkles on the face. Mix honey and vinegar and apply this natural face mask. Keep it for 10 minutes and then gently wash face with warm water. It prevents the appearance of wrinkles and freckles on the face.

Honey and apple vinegar for beautiful hair

All females will be amazed at the use of vinegar and honey for better and healthier hair.

Although women care more about hair, and men want to have beautiful and silky hair. There are two options: either salon treatment or home treatment. It has long been known that the combination of honey and vinegar helps maintain hair moisture. Better hair moisture with the following recipe: Preparation: Mix 1/4 of vinegar with honey. Allow the mixture to stand for about an hour. Apply the mixture on your hair and leave it on for about 2-3 hours.

Honey and vinegar for volume on your hair

Honey and vinegar strengthen the roots of your hair and give it amazing volume. Even though you have said that you do not really like the smell of vinegar, try to stand still and see the result. Hold on and believe in the incredible effects of applying it. Spoon a tablespoon of honey and vinegar into half a cup of warm water, mix well and place in a vial with a sprayer. After washing your hair, dry it only with a towel, then just spray it with this mixture that we have made and massage it into your hair so that it can absorb better, and you gonna have more volume hair.

Beat the fatigue with honey and apple cider vinegar

If you are tired in the morning and do not look well without a cup of coffee, you can make up for the lack of energy you only feel better with honey and apple cider vinegar. This drink is a good idea even before any training. It can very well replace popular isotonic drinks. Honey contains one of the most valuable carbohydrates and is as successful in raising the energy as glucose. To make the perfect blend of water, apple cider vinegar, and honey, do the following: Mix together a large spoonful of honey with a large spoonful of apple cider vinegar. Add 250 ml of water to the mixture. You will get a magic drink, which you should consume twice a day. Do you think you'll never get used to the taste? If not, you will soon get used to this drink, and it will be just like lemonade. When to drink honey and apple cider vinegar? The best time to drink honey and vinegar is immediately in the morning, on an empty stomach - 20 to 30 minutes before breakfast. This helps the stomach to absorb vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. We recommend drinking a drink twice a day. It is wrong with exaggerating, so be careful with the amount of this drink. If you overdo it, you may experience the following: Too much water with apple cider vinegar and honey can reduce the body's potassium levels too much leading to osteoporosis. When we think about it too much, we mean to drink liter to liter and a half of this drink a day. Apple cider vinegar is great for bad breath and cleansing the oral cavity, but too much acid can damage tooth enamel. After drinking the drink, take a few sips of water, and if you have weakened tooth enamel - drink the juice through a juice straw. Final conclusion In today's article, we have shared some interesting insights about vinegar and honey. Their benefits to human health. Many benefit from their shared use. Benefits for better skin, hair, weight loss, for curing and preventing many diseases. In other words, natural ingredients that each should use and apply them in our daily lives. Share today's article with your friends so we can all use these precious benefits together from consuming apple cider vinegar and honey. Read the full article

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PLANT PROFILE: SAGE

by Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Salvia officinalis

Also, Known As:

Common Sage

Dalmatian Sage

Garden Sage

Meadow Sage

Red Sage

Sage

Scarlet Sage

True Sage

Considered all across the world as a valuable culinary spice, and cultivated everywhere, the sage is a perennial shrub that grows best in its wild state in Europe and in the Mediterranean areas of the world. The plant consists of a strongly branched root system, which produces square and finely hairy sterns. These are woody at the base and bear oblong leaves. The floral leaves of the sage are ovate to ovate-lanceolate. The flowers of the sage are small and two-lipped and they grow in whorls. The flowers are blue, purple or white in colour.

The versatile sage can be used for bringing in quick relief from a variety of ailments, both minor and major. For example, to gain immediate relief from itching and swelling accompanying insect bites, a few fresh sage leaves can be plucked, and then crushed or even chewed. When mixed with a little saliva, the sage leaves can make an excellent poultice, albeit crude and wet. This can then be applied to the affected area and secured in place with the help of common adhesive tape.

When one is suffering from symptoms of a sore throat, tonsillitis or loss of voice or from mucous accumulation leading to congested lungs, then sage would be the best bet for providing immediate relief. Sage tea can be used in these cases. The tea can be made in this way: steep 2 tsp. dried or fresh sage leaves in 1-1/4 cups of boiling water for half an hour. Then strain, sweeten with honey (if desired) and drink a half every few hours as needed. Add 1/4 tsp. of fresh lime juice and gargle well before swallowing. This will provide great relief for a raw, painful and irritated throat.

While it may be true that more and more mothers of today believe in breastfeeding their infants, so that the infant remains healthy and free from infections, it is also a fact that not many mothers are aware of how exactly they can stop nursing their babies when they are old enough and need to be weaned. Mothers keep producing extra milk, and this becomes completely unneeded when the babies are on the breast. This is when sage can help; two cups of warm sage tea a day for up to 7 days is quite capable of drying up the milk supply quite nicely. Bring 1 qt. of water to a boil and steep 8 tsp. dried or fresh sage leaves in it for 45 minutes, covered. Then strain, add honey and drink.

Similarly, an old folk remedy from Nassau in the Bahamas, which uses sage will prove to be immensely useful whenever one suffers from any type of intense and unbearable itching, whether it has been caused by an insect bite, or whether it is due to an allergic reaction. Sage can also help in cases of general nervousness, eczema, and psoriasis or come in contact with poison ivy or sumac.

Sage is often used for actually taking away grey hair. This may be excellent to use because of the fact that it is completely natural, and is, therefore, free of any chemicals in any form. The infusion can be prepared like this: in a heavy ceramic mixing bowl put two large tablespoons of dried sage and the same amount again of either orange pekoe or black tea. Then fill the bowl half full of boiling water. Cover with a small plate and place in a moderately warm (275°F) oven or in a large pan of boiling water on top of the stove on a low setting for at least a couple of hours. Then remove, cool, stir well and strain. Once the infusion is ready, it can be kept stored in a safe and dry place, and used on the scalp four to five times a week, rubbed into the roots. If used regularly, the infusion will start showing results within a few days, when the greys will start disappearing gradually, as the hair starts becoming darker once again. Once this happens, however, one must remember that one can only use the infusion once or twice a week and not more, and that too for the purposes of maintenance. There are some people who vouch for the efficacy of sage in treating hair conditions; bald spots have filled with hair and at the very least, they have reported noticing an overall improvement in the tone and the texture and the colour of one’s hair. If one were to add about 3 tbsps. of either gin or rum to the infusion, it would keep longer.

Plant Parts Used:

Leaves, root.

Medicinal Use:

Sage can be used for all types of sore throats. This is because of the fact that sage has antiseptic and astringents as well as certain relaxing properties, and this is one of the main reasons why sage is used rather frequently in gargles. It is also used for treating and bringing relief to sore gums and canker sores. Sage is often described as a digestive tonic, and as a stimulant, and in Chinese medicine, sage enjoys a good reputation as a versatile nerve tonic, as it is used as a yin tonic for helping to calm and stimulate the nervous system. Sage is also an excellent remedy for treating irregular and light menstruation, and this is achieved by encouraging a better flow of blood. Sage is excellent for handling the various symptoms of menopause, as the herb is effective for reducing sweating, a primary indication of menopause. Sage, because it has a combination of tonic and estrogen effects, is deemed as an excellent remedy for reducing hot flashes while at the same time helping the body to adapt to the hormonal changes involved. Sage has also been used traditionally to treat asthma while the dried leaves of the herb can be included in herbal smoking mixtures for treating asthma.

Sage is considered to be one of the most valued herbs right through the ages. It is used by herbalists to treat a wide variety of conditions ranging from colds and fevers and other similar infections, and it is generally advised that sage must be taken at the first signs of any respiratory infections, like for example, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and catarrh. Sage also relieves tonsillitis. Since the herb possesses astringent and expectorant properties, this help expels phlegm from the chest and reduce catarrh. The airways can be disinfected by a simple process of inhaling the tea prepared with sage. Sage generally enhances the immune system and provides help in thwarting and preventing infections and auto-immune problems in an individual.

Sage has volatile oils which have the capacity to induce a relaxant effect on the smooth muscle of the digestive tract, and this is the reason why sage is known as a digestive remedy too. The volatile oils of sage, in conjunction with the bitters, prove to stimulate the appetite and improve weak digestion. Sage successfully encourages the flow of bile and digestive enzymes, and settles one’s stomach, sage relieves flatulence, colic, colitis, indigestion, and nausea. It also proves extremely useful in treating and relieving liver complaints, and worms. Antiseptic properties of sage are helpful in infections such as gastroenteritis. The herb is a tonic to the nervous system and has often been used to enhance strength and vitality in an individual. As mentioned earlier, sage has a stimulating effect upon the female reproductive tract and is often recommended by herbalists for treating female disorders such as delayed or scanty menses, menstrual cramps, infertility and lack of periods. The estrogen properties of the herb become very useful for treating menopausal problems, especially for night sweats and hot flashes. Since it is a fact that sage stimulates the uterus, it is no surprise that it can be very useful during childbirth, and for expelling the placenta after childbirth. Sage can also stop the flow of breast milk and therefore, it is excellent for weaning.

Sage possesses potent antioxidant properties, and this proves to be helpful in bringing about a delay in the ageing process and in reducing the harmful effects of free radicals.

OTHER MEDICAL USES:

Abscess

Denture problems

Ovulation pain

CULINARY USES:

Sage can be used to season foods such as gravies, poultry, pickles, stews or soups. It is a fact that garden sage will help and aid digestion; therefore, it is a wise idea to use the herb when cooking fatty meats such as pork, duck or sausages. Sage can also be used for lending a zest and a tang when preparing vegetarian dishes such as lima beans, eggplant, and onions, and in omelettes, tofu, cheeses or tomato recipes. One must, however, remember to use the herb rather sparingly, because the flavor and the aroma can very easily overtake and overwhelm the actual taste of the foods being cooked. Ground garden sage can be added in small quantities to savoury biscuits or muffins that can be served with fish or chicken. Even the cooking oil that one uses can be flavoured with a few garden sage leaves to the oil. Commercially, sage can be used to flavor and season foods like soups, and sauces, meats, sausages, pickles, fried chicken, candy, cheeses, chewing gum, baked goods, vermouth or ice cream.

CRAFT USES:

It is possible to use dried garden sage branches into garlands and herbal wreaths.

Growing Sage:

Although sage is considered native to the Mediterranean regions, it can be cultivated all over the world, and it grows in the wild in a large number of places in the world. Garden sage will grow best when it is planted in well-drained, nitrogen-rich clay loam, preferably near a wall. This will provide a shelter for the plants during harsh winters. The generally tolerated pH range is 4.9 to 8.2.

Sage will thrive in bright and open sunlight, but the shrub will also tolerate a certain amount of light shade. Over watering must be avoided at any cost because this would stunt growth, and quietly kill the roots of the plant. The plant can be propagated by seeds, layering, and cuttings.

If one is using seeds, then these would have to be planted in the garden, to a depth of 1 cm (1/2 inch) or less, about 14 days before the last spring frost date. Seedlings will generally arrive in two to three weeks. Seedlings must be thinned to about 0.6 m (2 feet) apart.

If one has a favourite shrub and wishes to use this as cultivar, then it would be a good idea to propagate from cuttings taken sometime during early summer; seeds may not be able to produce the desired result. This is the best method for propagation from a cultivar: cut a sprig of new growth, about 5 cm (2 inches) from the top of the herb. Then remove all the leaves from the bottom, and put the end of the twig in wet sand to root, generally in one to two months. Branches can be layered by bending them over and then anchoring a portion under the soil to promote rooting. This method will produce new roots in about a month’s time. Typical garden sage will not grow too well indoors.

Once the flowers emerge, then one must take care to trim back the plants. This will prevent them from becoming much too woody and unmanageable, which in turn will produce poorer quality sage. They must be replaced every three to four years without fail, and one will then be able to enjoy excellent quality sage. The plant is inevitably susceptible to root rot and fungal diseases, and to infestations of slugs and spider mites, and this means that one would have to take care to avoid these infestations at any cost. During the winter, the sage can be offered protection by mulching well with leaves or straw.

Growing in containers:

Edible sage in its several different forms is considered to be an ornamental plant, and this can be used to the maximum advantage. In fact, sage can be planted in containers along with other flowering annual plants, and it can make a good companion for the other plant. On the other hand, sage can be planted on its own in an individual container, a 12-inch (30 cm) pot filled with a standard, soil-based potting mix. Purchased plants or rooted cuttings will prove to be the best bet when starting to cultivate the sage; using seeds is not a good idea. The plants must be kept evenly moist, but not excessively so. A balanced fertiliser must be used every month, and one must make the effort to pick the leaves of the sage frequently, as this will promote vigorous foliage production in the plant. If the plant seems to be quite hardy, then it can be taken indoors during winters. However, it must be kept in a brightly light location with cool temperatures. Although it is advisable to keep the soil dry, it must not be overly so, it must be slightly moistened at all times, and never allowed to dry out fully. Certain tropical varieties of sage can be grown all the year-round indoors. These plants will be able to thrive with 6 hours of natural sunlight from a window or 12 hours under artificial plant lights.

Research:

Research has been done to find out what gives the sage it’s antiseptic and carminative properties, and it has been discovered that it is thujone, contained in the volatile oil, that gives the sage its curative abilities. The herb contains certain estrogenic properties, which are considered to be partially responsible for its hormonal effect. This is why sage is capable of stopping the flow of breast milk, but one must remember that thujone taken in excess can become toxic and dangerous. Sage also contains rosmarinic acid, considered to be a phenol. This is known to be strongly anti-inflammatory while the volatile oil relieves muscle spasms and acts as an antimicrobial.

Components of Sage:

Volatile oil (thujone -about 50%)

Diterpene bitters

Flavonoids

Phenolic acids

Tannins

Remedy Use:

Sage can be normally taken as an infusion, 200 ml (8 fl oz) daily. It can also be used as a mouthwash or gargle, 100 ml (4 fl oz), 2 – 3 times daily. The tincture of sage can be taken 2 ml (40 drops), two times daily.

Possible Side Effects and Precautions:

Although there is evidence to show that sage is perfectly safe for consumption, it is generally advised that drinking sage tea to alleviate an upset stomach may not be a great idea; the reason may be the fact that sage contains thujone. Even though the water in which the tea is boiled will only extract a minuscule amount of thujone, one must be careful to avoid taking it to cure an irritable stomach. Some people do use sage essential oil as an important ingredient in aromatherapy, but some experts do advise strongly against this usage. Nursing mothers and pregnant women must take care not to use sage for medicinal purposes. The reason is that the sage has a reputation for inducing contractions, and for drying up breast milk, and unless these effects are specifically desired, sage must be avoided. There are also reports that some individuals who have handled sage have developed dermatitis.

How Sage Works in the Body:

Sage contains antiseptic properties because of its primary ingredient thujone. This makes sage an invaluable remedy for gargling and for use as a mouthwash. Sage can also act as a mild digestive and circulatory stimulant. When sage is used for problems in the reproductive system, it can bring on the onset of a much delayed period, and for those women going through menopause and who suffer from hot flashes and sweating, sage can be used to bring excellent relief for these symptoms. Asthma herbal cigarettes also contain sage as the main ingredient; the component rosmarinic acid acts as an antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory element.

Applications:

Leaves:

INFUSION: To make an infusion, use a combination of 20 g leaves to 50 ml water. This will act as an effective tonic and liver stimulant, and can improve digestion and circulation in debility. The infusion can also be used for these disorders: to relieve night sweats at the time of menopause and to reduce lactation when weaning.

TINCTURE – Can be used to bring in relief in menopausal problems. Salivation can be a major problem for patients with the dreaded Parkinson’s disease, and tincture of sage can bring relief from this symptom.

COMPRESS – To treat slow-to-heal wounds, a pad soaked in the infusion can be applied to the affected areas to bring immediate relief and to start the arrested healing process.

GARGLE/MOUTHWASH – A weak infusion of sage can be used for respite from tonsillitis, sore throats, mouth ulcers, or gum problems.

HAIR RINSE – The infusion of sage can be used to restore colour to greying hair. It is also an excellent rinse for dandruff.

Root:

DECOCTION – This is generally prescribed for period pain caused by stagnation of the blood. The decoction of sage is also prescribed in Chinese medicine for treating coronary heart disease and angina.

Harvesting of Sage:

Young shoots of sage must be collected from near the tops of the plants. These can be used for drying before the mature flowers are produced. These young shoots must be tied in small bunches and hung in a warm area for them to dry out completely. Since the leaves of the sage plant are fairly thick, they can take a longer time to dry. Once they are dry, they can be crushed and then stored in airtight containers for future use. Sprigs of leaves can be frozen on a cookie sheet before they can be stored in airtight freezer bags for later use. On the other hand, the leaves can be frozen in ice cubes. Freezing is a good idea and must be done because it retains the flavor of garden sage better than the conventionally used drying method. One must remember to stop harvesting during early fall to allow the plants to maintain the essential reserves required to survive the winter.

Sage Stuffing for Pork or Fish:

2 Tbs. butter

3/4 cup onion, minced

2 cups breadcrumbs

1/4 cup beef bouillon

1 clove garlic, peeled and mashed

1 tsp. dried, ground sage

1/4 cup parsley, minced

1/8 tsp. allspice

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 egg

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and simmer the onions until translucent. Remove from the heat. In a mixing bowl, combine onion and pan juices with the remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread the stuffing along the cut between the pork ribs and the backbone. Tie the roast firmly with white string, and bake 1/2 hour longer than for unstuffed pork.

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