#natural medicine for heart disease

[cool-top-online-offers]

The Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy: A Deep Dive into Reversing Heart Disease

Hey there, Tumblr fam!

Today, I want to share a revolutionary program that's changing the game for heart disease: The Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy. This isn't your average cholesterol-lowering approach; it tackles the root cause of heart problems: oxidized cholesterol.

What's the big deal about oxidized cholesterol?

Unlike regular LDL (bad cholesterol), oxidized cholesterol is the real villain in plaque buildup, leading to heart attacks and strokes. This program goes beyond just lowering numbers; it focuses on reducing oxidized cholesterol and promoting its removal from your body.

So, how does it work?

The Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy rests on four pillars:

Diet: Ditch those oxidized fat sources like vegetable oils and processed foods. Embrace healthy fats like olive oil, butter, and coconut oil instead.

Lifestyle: Get moving! Regular exercise, stress management, and good sleep are key to optimizing cholesterol and boosting your heart health.

Monitoring: Track your progress with cholesterol level monitoring and plaque buildup assessments. This allows for personalized adjustments and ensures you're on the right track.

Holistic Approach: It's not just about cholesterol. This program promotes healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight management for long-term well-being.

Science-backed and success-driven!

This isn't just talk; the Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy is backed by extensive scientific research. And the results speak for themselves! People are experiencing:

Complete reversal of plaque buildup

Drastic reductions in cholesterol levels

Increased energy and mental clarity

Enhanced appearance and overall well-being

Ready to take control of your heart health?

The Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy offers a compelling and effective way to reverse heart disease and improve your overall health. Check out their website for more information and start your journey towards a healthier future!

#OxidizedCholesterol #HeartHealth #Cholesterol #Reversal #SuccessStories #HolisticHealth #Wellbeing

[great-and-small]

When I was in vet school I went to this one lecture that I will never forget. Various clubs would have different guest lecturers come in to talk about relevant topics and since I was in the Wildlife Disease Association club I naturally attended all the wildlife and conservation discussions. Well on this particular occasion, the speakers started off telling us they had been working on a project involving the conservation of lemurs in Madagascar. Lemurs exist only in Madagascar, and they are in real trouble; they’re considered the most endangered group of mammals on Earth. This team of veterinarians was initially assembled to address threats to lemur health and work on conservation solutions to try and save as many lemur species from extinction as possible. As they explored the most present dangers to lemurs they found that although habitat loss was the primary problem for these vulnerable animals, predation by humans was a significant cause of losses as well. The vets realized it was crucial for the hunting of lemurs by native people to stop, but of course this is not so simple a problem.

The local Malagasy people are dealing with extreme poverty and food insecurity, with nearly half of children under five years old suffering from chronic malnutrition. The local people have always subsisted on hunting wildlife for food, and as Madagascar’s wildlife population declines, the people who rely on so-called bushmeat to survive are struggling more and more. People are literally starving.

Our conservation team thought about this a lot. They had initially intended to focus efforts on education but came to understand that this is not an issue arising from a lack of knowledge. For these people it is a question of survival. It doesn’t matter how many times a foreigner tells you not to eat an animal you’ve hunted your entire life, if your child is starving you are going to do everything in your power to keep your family alive.

So the vets changed course. Rather than focus efforts on simply teaching people about lemurs, they decided to try and use veterinary medicine to reduce the underlying issue of food insecurity. They supposed that if a reliable protein source could be introduced for the people who needed it, the dependence on meat from wildlife would greatly decrease. So they got to work establishing new flocks of chickens in the most at-risk communities, and also initiated an aggressive vaccination program for Newcastle disease (an infectious illness of poultry that is of particular concern in this area). They worked with over 600 households to ensure appropriate husbandry and vaccination for every flock, and soon found these communities were being transformed by the introduction of a steady protein source. Families with a healthy flock of chickens were far less likely to hunt wild animals like lemurs, and fewer kids went hungry. Thats what we call a win-win situation.

This chicken vaccine program became just one small part of an amazing conservation outreach initiative in Madagascar that puts local people at the center of everything they do. Helping these vulnerable communities of people helps similarly vulnerable wildlife, always. If we go into a country guns-blazing with that fire for conservation in our hearts and a plan to save native animals, we simply cannot ignore the humans who live around them. Doing so is counterintuitive to creating an effective plan because whether we recognize it or not, humans and animals are inextricably linked in many ways. A true conservation success story is one that doesn’t leave needy humans in its wake, and that is why I think this particular story has stuck with me for so long.

(Source 1)

(Source 2- cool video exploring this initiative from some folks involved)

(Source 3)

[ahealthylife411]

Top 5 Benefits Of Ginger

[healthremedyhub]

🫀 Artery Cleanse: The Food Rebellion 🥗✊ #ArteryRevolution"

Listen up, Tumblr fam! 📢 It's time for a heart health uprising! 💖🚀

Forget Big Pharma 💊❌ - we're taking back our cardiovascular destiny with… wait for it… FOOD! 🍎🐟🥑

Behold, the 5 Horsemen of the Artery Apocalypse (but like, the good kind):

🐟 Swim against the current

🫐 Berry the competition

🫒 Slick moves only

🥣 Fibre? I barely know her!

🟨 Spice up your life (and arteries)

These rebel foods are here to fight the good fight against plaque, inflammation, and whatever else is clogging up your pipes. It's time to stick it to the coronary man! ✊💥

So grab your forks, Tumblrites, and let's start this delicious revolution. Your heart will thank you, your taste buds will worship you, and your doctor will be shook. 😱👨‍⚕️

Reblog if you're joining the Artery Rebellion! 🔁❤️ Let's make our hearts so healthy, they'll write sonnets about our cholesterol levels. 📜💕

#ArteryRevolution #HeartHealthRebellion #FoodFighters #NutritionNinja #HealthyHeartSquad #PlaqueBusters #EatTheRevolution #CardioWarriors #WellnessAnarchy #CleanArteryClub

P.S. This post pairs well with some light cardio and a dash of rebellion. Side effects may include increased energy, a smug sense of superiority, and the urge to lecture your friends about omega-3s. 😎🐠

Remember: In the war against heart disease, your fork is mightier than the scalpel! 🍴>🔪

[metalheadsforblacklivesmatter]

Heat Intolerance

This disability pride month I'd like to talk about heat intolerance. Because honestly although it's not the first health issue that presented symptoms in my life. It was the first time I was like "I don't think my body works right".

And honestly given disability pride month is during one of the hottest months in the year. It seems fitting. Especially because there's a lot of disabilities and medications that cause it.

What is heat intolerance?

Simply speaking it's the inability for the body to regulate it's temperatures especially in hot settings to cool itself down.

Why is awareness important?

Because gaslighting people or worse not providing them a place to cool down just because you "feel fine" is extremely fucking dangerous.

What are the medicines that can cause heat intolerance?

Antihistamines (Allergy medications) . Decongestants (Sudafed or any medication that has the D at the end of it). Stimulants (ADHD medications. Steroids. Caffeine.) Beta-blockers (blood pressure medications). Overactive bladder treatment. Psychiatric medications (including but not limited to medications for depression and anxiety). Pain relievers. Antibiotics.

What medical conditions can cause heat intolerance?

EDS (Elhers-Danlos syndrome). Autism. ADHD. Migraines. Brain/spinal-cord injury. Sensory processing disorder. Chronic fatigue syndrome. Endocrin problems. POTS. Menopause. Hypothyroidism. Diabetes. Heart Disease. Multiple sclerosis. Mental health disorders.

What should I do if I suspect I have heat intolerance?

Reduce time outside during hot months. Keep your electrolytes up. Drink plenty of water. Stay out of the sun whenever possible if outside. Be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Clothes that are best worn for heat intolerance. Loose lightweight breathable fabrics. Natural fibers. Long sleeves that protect from sunburn as sunburns will increase your risk. Light clothes that reflect light. Wide brimmed hats that shade the face and neck.

Cool. So what are those symptoms I'm supposed you be looking for?

Headaches. Excessive fatigue. Mood changes. Muscle cramping or weakness. Nausea/ vomiting. Rapid heartbeat. Excessive sweating or not sweating at all.

When should I do to the doctor?

If you suspect you have heat intolerance you can go to your PCP to discuss what medications you may be on and what you can do about it. Otherwise, please go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of heat stroke.

This is good information and all but why are you making this post?

To raise awareness. Not just for the people that have it but weren't aware of what it was called. But for all of the idiots that tried to gaslight me when I was in school because I was like "I don't think this is normal. Every time we do our mile run outside I vomit all over the place but other kids aren't doing that."

Also because people always blame me for over heating if I wear long sleeves or pants. I always like to take notes from what people in the middle east wear because they literally live in the excessive heat and spend long hours in the excessive heat. Often in clothing that covers most of their body. They've gotta know what they're doing, right?

I have some type of xenophobic comment about why people from the middle east cover up

Shut the fuck up 😊

-fae

[inkintheinternet]

Alternative Medicine and Placebos

By Arjuwan Lakkdawala

Ink in the Internet

In my previous article I had continued with how to help the immune system improve and navigate around risks. I had specifically focused on unhealthy food, and food contamination. 

To have a rounded view on immune system care, and disease treatment overview, I had to focus next on Alternative Medicine.

The various methods of Alternative Medicine will be discussed here because it is publicised by its practitioners as effective in the treatment of many noncommunicable diseases.

What makes this an issue of concern is the unfortunate phenomena of ever increasing statistics of noncommunicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. 

Heart disease being the leading cause of deaths worldwide.

It is very surprising considering how much health and fitness awareness has been made in this era. So why are diseases that appear to have links with lifestyle and eating habits surging.

According to research on the Internet many people are turning to Alternative Medicine that offer "holistic approaches to disease treatments and prevention."

Many names come into this like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC/ Oriental Medicine) which includes Acupuncture and Tai Chi.

Other methods are Cupping which is traditionally practiced in the Middle East, herbalism, naturopathy and homeopathy.

So I researched Alternative Medicine to learn what the science says about its methods and effectiveness.

In my research I found that the original understanding of what is considered ailment and treatment in ancient medicine was based on the interpretation of physical symptoms. It was often connected to spirituality and the elements. This psychology and method to decide what could be appropriate treatment was the furtherest thing from science.

India's Ayurveda and the Chinese TMC both have almost the same idea that people got ill when there was imbalance in the body.

Both ancient methodologies of medicine and treatment  have massage as a component. Here it is extremely important to note that many people don't know that an untrained hand can result with a stroke or paralysis of the brain. Especially in neck massage therapy and massage of the back where the spinal chord can get affected.

In addition massages by not properly trained professionals can cause nerve damage.

Also there is very little research done on massage, and the few studies that there are have weak evidence of benefits, and most state that even pain relief is short term.

We must not confuse massages with physiotherapy which can be very helpful in restoring movement after an injury, ailment, or disability.

The question of the credibility of the institutes that give licences to practioners of Alternative Medicine, also arise when considering how little research has been done on the techniques, remedies, and treatments of Alternative Medicine compared to Conventional Western Medicine.

"Ayurvedic medicine contain herbs, metals, minerals, or other materials that may be harmful if used improperly or without the direction of a trained practitioner."

Naturopathy is an interesting take in Alternative Medicine, because its practitioners do engage in some forms of conventional tests and perhaps treatment.

"What Naturopathic Practitioners Do

Naturopathic practitioners use many different treatment approaches. Examples include:

Dietary and lifestyle changes

Stress reduction

Herbs and other dietary supplements

Homeopathy

Manipulative therapies

Exercise therapy

Practitioner-guided detoxification

Psychotherapy and counseling.

Some practitioners use other methods as well or, if appropriate, may refer patients to conventional health care providers."

If I were to dissect the list above it would go basically like this in my opinion:

Healthy food and exercise.

Emotional well-being 

Herbal remedies and probably vitamins.

Placebo 

Massages

Aerobics 

Again healthy food

As stated.

Considering the above we can take note that psychology and basically healthy food and exercise is at its roots.

This brings up the subject of placebos. According to several research homeopathy is placebo based.

Nacebo is when a person might have detrimental effects on health, because of negative expectations of treatment or pregnosis. Placebo is when a person might get better thinking they have taken medicine that is a guaranteed cure or improvement.

There is much debate about this apparent mind over matter issue. 

Important things to note here is 1. Diet does seem to be at the root cause of many noncommunicable diseases, and therefore a healthy diet and lifestyle change like incorporating exercise may help prevent a good deal of noncommunicable diseases. 

2. Stress which effects the heart  can cause many diseases. 

Common effects of stress

"Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes." - Mayo Clinic.

So as far as prevention goes it does seem that good dietary and lifestyle advice can be prescribed by a certified Alternative Medicine practioner.

However, in the case of the onset of diseases like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease and many other it seems that any dependence on Alternative Medicine will be futile and only conventional medicine can give realistic results. Many hospitals are considering the inclusion of Alternative Medicine as complementary treatment and it is called Integrative Health.

Biomedicine is at the forefront at effective treatment of diseases. Even homeopathy practioners and NDs (Naturophatic Doctors) admit that in a health emergency biomedicine is indispensable.

Ancient medical practices which are at the roots of Alternative Medicine date back 3,000 years, and it has taken hundreds of years for medical disciplines to evolve from these and become scientific and evidance based.

Asclepiades, was a Greek Physician "who first made the distinction between diseases 'curable' acute and 'non-curable' chronic." He also pioneered in the humane treatment of mental disorders.

Through a microscopic perspective we live in a hostile environment. It is a great mystery, and scientists have struggled to understand how our immune system developed to protect us from microorganisms.

It is possible that agriculture and the domestication of animals had major effects on immune system development. 

Alternative Medicine has nothing as effective as biomedicine in the treatment of diseases. Be it autoimmune or infectious. The holestic approach of Alternative Medicine which is diet, exercise, and lifestyle are effective in prevention.

Emotional well-being plays a major part in quality of life. Therefore counseling when there is emotional distress may be helpful.

Arjuwan Lakkdawala is an author and independent journalist. Her Twitter/Instagram is @Spellrainia 

Copyright ©️ Arjuwan Lakkdawala 2023

Sources:

Asclepiades Of Bithynia

Greek physician

Written and fact-checked by 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior

By Mayo Clinic Staff

PMC Vaccines A Biography

A Brief History of Microbiology and Immunology

Steven M. Opal

Wiley Online Library

Integrating homeopathy and biomedicine: medical practice and knowledge production among German homeopathic physicians by Robert Frank

Versus Arthritis

Manipulative therapies: chiropractic, osteopathy and manual medicine

NHS Physiotherapy

NIH National Center For Comolementary and Integrative Health

Massage Therapy for Health : What the Science Says

Science Direct

Synthetic Hormones

What Are Endocrine Disrupters and Where Are They Found?

Philippa D. Darbre, in Endocrine Disruption and Human Health, 2015

Autoimmune conditions: root causes and how to prevent them Samantha Gemmel Nutritionist

The Qunt

Did You Know a Simple Neck Massage Could Lead to a Stroke?

An untrained hand on your neck can cause a lot of damage and even result in paralysis.

DR CHANDRIL CHUGH

National Cancer Institute

WebMD

What Is Naturopathic Medicine?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on February 21, 2021

NIH National Library of Medicine

WJM Western Journal of Medicine

West J Med. 1982 Jun; 136(6): 546–551. 

PMCID: PMC1273970

PMID: 7113200

Holistic Medicine: Advances and Shortcomings

James S. Gordon, MD, Research Psychiatrist, Chief

What is Biomedicine?

Download PDF Copy

By Morgan Rustidge, MScReviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.

CDC About Global NCDs

ACS

Biological/Biochemistry

What is biochemistry

NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Naturopathy

WebMD

What Is Naturopathic Medicine?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on February 21, 2021

PMC Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine

The Bell Tolls for Homeopathy: Time for Change in the Training and Practice of North American Naturopathic Physicians

David H. Nelson, Jaclyn M. Perchaluk, ND, [...], and Martin A. Katzman, MD

NIH National Cancer Institute

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Chinese Medicine

Cancer Research UK

Why people use complementary or alternative therapies

Johns Hopkins Medicine

What is Ayurveda?

[ekkkkey]

there will be games! (chapter II)

summary: Cassandra, a quiet and loyal wife to the much older Senator Tiberius, accidentally attracts the unsettling attention of Emperor Caracalla at a lavish feast hosted by Senator Thraex...

warnings: 18+ minors dni, noncon, dub-con, non-consensual drug use, when the emperor is a bit insane, mommy issues, daddy issues, every kind of issues—this little shit has them all (he’s so cute)

word count: 5k words

chapter I

«No woman could feel safe if her beauty or name aroused the emperor's curiosity.»

-Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars (Caligula, Chapter 36)

⋆ ⋆ ☼ ⋆ ⋆

She didn't want to get out of bed, didn't want to leave their room, all she wanted was to go home. Not to their new villa in Rome, not even to her husband's old house. Cassandra longed for her childhood home, with her father and sisters, where she could always be the little girl.

"You're an early bird today," Tiberius said, waking and stretching towards her.

Her heart skipped, her palms sweaty with worry.

"Those who apologize properly deserve forgiveness, don't they, little bird?" - another voice, deceptively tender but promising nothing good, echoed in her mind.

Cassandra wrapped herself tighter in the sheet, licking her lips, hiding her body from her husband, not wanting his touch.

"I slept poorly. And I don't feel well. When will we return home?"

Tiberius got up, his brief morning tenderness replaced by his usual sour mood.

"When the games end. Not before. I've got business."

Normally gentle and shy, she never argued with him, but this time, she tossed the sheet aside and jumped up, chasing after him, desperate to talk face-to-face. Her hands shook. She pictured herself – pale, nervous, dark circles under her eyes, hair a mess, more like a madwoman than a loving wife. Ashamed of her sudden anger, Cassandra covered up again.

"I feel awful, I'm nauseous, could it be a child, Tiberius?" she tried to elicit some sympathy, pressing her hand to her stomach.

She couldn't stand another moment in the palace.

"Tell me, wife, what troubles you so much?" - he took a step forward. She had never truly feared him, but suddenly realized that after yesterday, both he disgusted her and she feared him. It was his fault! Everything that happened to her was his fault!

"I'm really not well."

"And where better than the emperor's palace to find a good physician?"

Realizing her words were futile, she slumped back on the bed's edge, and Tiberius knelt in front of her, resting his cheek against her leg.

"The emperor," he began, "Emperor Caracalla, he's ill. His mind is rotting, just like his body, so you won't find better physicians here. Should I call someone for you?"

Cassandra couldn't breathe, pulling away from her husband, standing up in a daze, not caring about her nudity. Even when servants walked in, she didn't cover up, lost in dark thoughts.

Emperor Caracalla's mind was afflicted by a disease? What kind of disease? She knew nothing about medicine and couldn't even guess. Did this make him more dangerous, or was his nature already cruel and violent? His smirking face flashed in her mind, his mood swings, his smile turning to a sneer...

Cassandra flinched when someone touched her from behind. She quickly scolded herself.

"Stop, he won't burst into your chambers while you're with your husband!" - she repeated, but she didn't believe it, if he wanted, he'd take her right in front of Tiberius, and no one would stop him.

She spent the entire morning trying to comfort herself, but her anxiety only grew. First, Tiberius noticed the purple bite on her skin. She managed to excuse it, saying he'd had too much wine and hadn't been gentle with her in bed. He believed her.

She was horrified again when the slave girls began to dress her.

"This isn't my clothing!" - the fabrics were too vivid and fine, and they...they smelled of aromatic oils and powder.

"Not yours, true, but we'll be here for some time, and until your clothes arrive from the villa, you need something to wear, don't you?" her husband murmured, looking at her like a piece of art. "You can't just walk around naked, can you?"

She would have preferred to parade through the palace entirely naked rather than willingly wear the clothes and jewels Caracalla had sent her, fully aware of how pleased he would be. Yet, the problem was, her nude debut would have left him equally pleased.

The stands were louder than ever, and only when they entered the imperial box did she understand why. The Colosseum was flooded!

They were late due to her distraction and sluggishness; if she had her way, they wouldn't have come at all, but there she was, seated behind Lucilla once again.

Despite the excitement of the ship battles, the clanging of metal, her eyes kept falling on the red-haired head before her.

Neither emperor acknowledged their arrival, too absorbed in the spectacle, and while Geta later gave her husband a nod of recognition, Caracalla didn't even turn around. Anger simmered in her chest. For him, last night was nothing, but for her...For her, it had haunted her all night and morning. All her thoughts were trapped in those wretched, humiliating moments.

Why did he seem to have forgotten while she, cursedly, remembered every touch? Remembered his hands were soft and hot, his scent sweet, almost intoxicating... And, of course, she remembered the bitter humiliation from his words, from how he touched her, and that Emperor Geta had watched it all.

Cassandra pressed hard on her palm where the wound was healing, trying to push away the memories. She wouldn't let him occupy her mind as well.

Yet, she couldn't relax, pandemonium broke out in the box when the ships came too close and an arrow hit the column between the emperors' chairs. The last thing she heard before Tiberius pulled her out was Emperor Geta's piercing scream.

The palace was buzzing with unbearable noise, the feast meant for evening had transitioned into the day, though the servants were not fully prepared.

Cassandra stood by a column, wine cup in hand. Her husband had left her again, off with General Acacius. The emperors were nowhere to be seen, nor were most of the Senate.

"How many do you think will be executed today?" she heard a quiet female whisper.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the emperor ordered all the gladiators on the field to be gutted," another voice answered, "you know how he is, insatiable!" A burst of giggling followed, and Cassandra stopped listening, embarrassed by the direction of their conversation.

She understood that for many, winning the emperors’ favor was a dream. But for her? She was a married woman who had spent her youth cultivating a sense of duty, loyalty, and responsibility. Why, then, had the gods abandoned her? Faithful and devoted as she was, they had thrown her to their earthly incarnations to be torn apart.

"More wine, domina?" a slave girl dutifully refilled her goblet.

The girl was young, dark-skinned, and beautiful, with large, intelligent eyes. Cassandra noticed the gilded collar around her slender neck and suddenly felt an invisible, soft, and hot hand squeezing her own throat. In a rush, she took a large gulp, wincing at the bitter taste, then handed the cup back.

"No more, thank you," she said, licking her lips nervously, knowing she wouldn't find peace in this cacophony.

"Are you not well, domina?" the girl asked, worry in her voice.

"I just...I need some time alone," she muttered quickly, stepping away from the column, only to stagger and clutch her head. What was happening to her?

"Do you want me to take you somewhere quiet, domina? You can rest and come back later," the girl didn't wait for an answer, guiding her by the elbow out of the room. Such audacity from a slave was unheard of, but Cassandra was too rattled and her head was spinning.

"Where are we going?"

They navigated past the throne room into a small, almost secretive chamber. The ceiling wasn't as high, the columns much less grand, the lighting dim and gloomy, and in the center stood a white altar, adorned with gold. In her parents' home, next to her room, there was a similar one, much more modest, of course, but dear to her heart, where she had prayed to her late mother.

"Wait outside," the words were both a sentence for her and an order for the slave.

She wanted to scream. Of course, he was here. No one was to be trusted, even the slave's kindness was a trap���cruel and painful. Was she truly nothing more than a prisoner here, a powerless plaything to entertain the young emperor?

Every time she saw him, he seemed like a different person. He was dressed in black and gold, with a golden laurel crown and an earring. Gold, gold, gold! She despised its gleam, for in it, she saw him.

Huddled against the wall, she stood frozen, afraid to move. The emperor did seem different this time—melancholic and contemplative. His pale eyes were unusually clear and sober as they met hers.

"What did you tell your husband?" His voice was different too: calm, measured. That made it all the more terrifying. Cassandra couldn’t read his mood from his face.

"Nothing, Caesar," she whispered, afraid to speak louder, as if his calm depended on it.

Caracalla turned to the altar, studying it as if seeing it for the first time. She held her breath, watching the golden laurel shimmer in the torchlight.

"Come closer."

His tone was pensive, his light brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. The moment she stepped closer, the emperor’s gaze shifted to her. It slid from her neck, lower, along the colorful tunic she wore.

"My mother used to wear this," he said. To her surprise, his right hand was bare of rings as he brushed the fabric over her chest lightly, almost tenderly. His eyes stayed locked on hers.

Though still afraid, it felt different from yesterday. Worse.

Why had he forced her to come here? Why had he dressed her in the clothes of his dead mother? Cassandra cast a desperate glance at the door, but he noticed immediately. The corner of his mouth twitched.

"She often came here," he continued, "prayed to the gods," his words were vague, her thoughts growing heavier, "do you pray often?"

"Yes, Emperor," she replied, though her mind was growing heavier, duller, as though lulled into a haze that numbed her fear.

"When was the last time?"

The conversation was bizarre, so unlike what had happened the night before. Feeling almost drunk, she answered without thinking, and that's when everything started to spiral.

"Today, when that arrow almost hit you," she said, breathing heavily, it was hot, like under the midday sun, "I prayed for the next one to hit."

Her tormented mind knew he would kill her now. That Caracalla would carry out his threats, destroy her and her family. But instead, he laughed.

Grinning, he patted her shoulder as if she’d told an excellent joke. Then the sharp pain of his hand striking her cheek brought her back to reality. He had slapped her! Tears welled in her eyes, her lips trembling, but she didn’t have time to cry. The emperor grabbed her face, squeezing her jaw painfully.

"You did drink it, didn't you? That wine they brought you?" Caracalla whispered, his voice low as he leaned closer, still holding her face. "Oh, you did! I can see it. Your dilated pupils, that empty stare, struggling to think straight, hard to control your tongue? I get it," in a mock tender gesture, he caressed the cheek he'd just slapped, "for those words, your pretty head should be on a spike outside the palace, shouldn't it? But you know the rules, if you apologize properly, I forgive."

With his thumb, he drew circles on her reddened cheek, moved to her lips, tracing their outline, forcing her to open her mouth by pressing down.

"You understand now, don’t you? The aphrodisiac in the wine you drank," he pushed his finger inside, making her lips encircle it, "I wanted to play differently, but..." his face twisted with anger, "everything went terribly wrong."

Her already rapid heartbeat quickened further, she whimpered helplessly, wanting to cry. He had made her take the drug and was now exploiting her helplessness, shamelessly tormenting her mouth.

"You should say thank you, shouldn’t you? Or did you enjoy last night more? Shall I call my brother?" he chuckled, once again reverting to his usual self.

Caracalla released her face but immediately pinned her against the altar, tilting his head up and gazing at her from beneath his lowered lashes, as if admiring her, smiling.

The torchlight reflected in his eyes, his tongue flicked between his red lips in anticipation. His hand caressed her shoulder, then he removed the pin holding the fabric.

"Did the old senator fail to notice that his dear little wife isn't really his anymore?" he sneered, his fingers trailing down to the mark he'd bitten into her skin the night before, pressing down, aiming to cause as much discomfort as possible. Caracalla's breath grew heavier, his eyes followed every flicker of emotion on her face, every slight movement she made.

"I told him it was his fault... that he drank too much..." The confession fell from her lips without thought, her mind too clouded to hold it back.

"Ah! How unfortunate, and once again, the Senate takes credit for the emperor's work! But you'll comfort me, won't you?" His lips were so close, she felt his hot, uneven breath, saw his pupils, as black as hers, the smeared shadows making his eyes feverishly gleam with madness. Her gaze only darted down to his lips for a moment... and he pressed against her, pulling her into a kiss.

His hands seize her waist, gripping and tormenting, not just her body but her very soul. If she could cry, she would, but there's no energy left, only his greedy, hot mouth. To her, a kiss was something far more intimate, far more sacred than carnal union, promising tenderness and love...And even that he steals from her, kissing her shamelessly, wetly, pressing so hard she feels his hardness against her thigh.

"Let's continue our lovely conversation," he pulls back, his mouth trailing down to her neck, kissing and biting, "tell me, did Tiberius ever get you this wet?" His hand slides between her legs, rubbing through the fabric. "Even once?"

"No," she whimpers, trying to close her legs.

"Keep acting innocent, and I'll call the Praetorians to keep your legs spread wide, is that what you want?" his rough whisper burns her ear, his earring brushing her lips.

Cassandra shook her head, public humiliation was something she couldn't handle.

"Good. Obedient and well-behaved, just as a respectable matron should be," he purrs, his hand lazily caressing, more relishing her embarrassment than her body, "if you want, you can call me your husband!"

His sharp laugh slices through the narrow room.

"Undress," he commanded, his laughter gone, "I'm not going to fuck you in my mother's clothes, am I?"

She thought after all the pain, the threats, the violence, he couldn't hurt her more, but each time, it still cuts deep. With trembling hands, she hurriedly sheds her tunic, then her undergarments, laying them out as treasures, while he watches. His gaze is fixed, nostrils flaring, Cassandra sees him stroking himself under his tunic. Her cheeks burn, her clouded mind finally grasps it - he's going to take her right here, in this holy place, before ancestors and gods. Her soul will be damned, even in death!

"Touch yourself, feel how wet you are," his voice is husky, breathless, "you should be grateful to me for that, shouldn't you? That's what I've been talking about."

Head bowed, she slides her fingers between her legs, horror dawning as she realizes he's right. But why? The drug? The notion that he aroused her with his aggressive kisses, his sharp bites, his lewd whispers, she dismisses in disgust. She didn't want him, she hated him!

Seeing her shock, Caracalla broke into a smile, fully aware of her thoughts. Abandoning his arousal, the emperor circled her nipple with his thumb, watching it harden under his touch.

"It's not surprising your husband doesn't stir your passions, look at yourself," his hand traces down her body, over her breasts, stomach, to her mound, pausing again between her legs, "you're more his daughter than his wife!"

His fingers gather her moisture, rubbing, making her despise her body's response.

"So, will you take your emperor?" he asks, not for permission but to keep the game going.

She can only nod, there's no other choice.

"Say it out loud," Caracalla whispers raggedly, pushing his fingers deep inside her. Now she understands why he took off his rings.

"Yes, Caesar, I'll take whatever you give me," with those words, the last vestiges of her pride are smashed, her genuine compassion and naivety destroyed.

He takes her with a sudden, harsh thrust, only to slow down to a lazy, almost indulgent rhythm. The air is stifling, hot; sweat drips down her thighs. The only sounds are the crackle of the torch, his ragged breathing, and the vulgar, wet slaps of skin meeting skin.

As if to disgrace her further, he grips the back of her neck, forcing her to look into his eyes as he picks up the pace again. Here he is—the protector and father of his people—bestowing his gifts. He's still clothed, no need to undress; the chain around his neck jingles with each movement, his crown slipping forward.

"Doesn’t this feel good, sweetling? Don’t you feel good?"

"Cassandra," she whispers, "my name is Cassandra."

He stops, looking at her with surprise, as if seeing her for the first time.

"Is it really that important for me to know your name, Cassandra?" he teases, playfully biting her earlobe. "Has the little wife fallen in love?"

How could he think that? Anger surges within her. Her attempt to claim some dignity crumbles! But her thoughts vanish as he thrusts into her sharply, fully, making her gasp and dig her nails into his shoulders. It’s the first time she’s touched him willingly. Her simple gesture spurred him on even more, forcing a quiet whimper from her as she buried her face in his shoulder.

"Next time your senator fucks you, think of me, little bird, understand?" his whisper turns into a moan. She's mesmerized by his parted red lips, his light lashes fluttering, his chest heaving. A few rough thrusts later, his grip on her waist loosens, and his seed floods within her.

He lets her go, adjusting his clothes, his breathing still heavy, but his gaze has changed. Having gotten what he wanted, Caracalla loses interest.

"If you're lucky, my seed will take root, and you'll give your husband an heir!" he chuckles, playfully flicking her nose as if she were a pet. "The wench will help you dress, don't forget, there’s a feast to attend!"

Caracalla leaves her, trembling, bare, and shattered. Tears finally come, and without strength, she slides down the wall, hugging herself. The worst is the sticky feeling between her thighs he left behind. If she were to conceive...

"Domina, you shouldn't sit like this, please stand, I'll help you," the slave girl who brought her here shows no emotion, no trace of sympathy in her eyes.

"Leave me!"

"Staying here is not an option, one must respect the dead," the girl nods at the inscription on the altar.

"Lucius Septimius Severus"

He had defiled her beside his father's ashes! Now, she lets her sobs escape freely.

⋆ ⋆ ☼ ⋆ ⋆

Hey! Thank you so much for the sweet feedback on the last chapter, I didn’t expect so many people to like my work, I’m really grateful! 💋 I promise the next chapter will be up faster (but it also depends on how this one does, your feedback means a lot to me and really inspires me).

[tonixe]

I dare you to do the darkest, dirtiest, most disturbing shit with Coriolanus peacekeeper

⤑ GRIM REAPER

A/N: I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE! UGHH, I love possessive coriolanus, he is so sexy when he has authority, man I love him.

WARNING: p in the v, non to dub-con, love bombing, gaslighting, fear, hitting, kidnapping, coercion, hair pulling, bondage, forced mudpie, oral sex (male receiving), jealousy, cum eating. *** coriolanus being possessive and obsessive.

PAIRING: Peacekeeper!coriolanus x district!reader

WORD COUNTER: 2.5k

Born into the district—born into a life of hardships and pain...you were luckily born to two parents, and though you weren't financially stable you managed to enjoy a happy with your family. You had 3 siblings you had to look after, and whenever your parents went off to work, life was stressful but every time you got to see their faces smiling you were also satisfied.

When you got older you got a part-time job, at the vendor selling food, it was owned by an old couple who graciously gave you the job, though it wasn't a lot of money you took to support your parents. They asked to take a shift that was deeper into the night, so you accepted the offer, needing the money. Holding yourself up at the cart, waiting as you called out for customers, feeling yourself getting tired as the second. Stretching your arms out, as you looked further into the night. The night there were more Peacekeepers out, inspecting the district, it slightly made you feel apprehensive at the armed men walking through the area.

Your eyes hesitantly look and watch their movements, brushing the dust off your aprons, fixing your hair as your hair stuck to your neck from the humid air. Hearing footsteps inching near you, as you looked up...you felt your heart dropping in automatic dread, at the blonde Peacekeeper in front of you. You cleared your throat before speaking up to him, "Could I interest you, Sir?" you asked, your voice quivering as you spoke just to keep a positive tone. You felt his eyes raking you. He nodded, "I'll have that" He pointed, as you nodded. His eyes looked at you as you wrapped it up, "Have I seen you before?" He questioned, you looked up at him, "I don't think so..." You smiled at him, as you quickly boxed it up. "Enjoy, Sir" You put your hand out gesturing for him to take the box, "Thank you," He said, taking the box from your hand, and you felt his rough hands against yours.

You watched as he took his leave...you finally got to breathe, releasing the pending oxygen in your lungs and exhaling through your nose.

From the simple exchange, Coriolanus found himself visiting you at your vendor stall. Though, your introverted nature, you reluctantly started talking to him. You told him little things about your life, but he was smart enough to connect the puzzle pieces that you told him and connect it back to your life. He found your coquettish antics cute...and after your shifts you found yourself spending time with him, and often the districts were hot and humid, spending time by the lakes.

His sky-blue eyes took the appearance of your disheveled form, but he found you still captivating—from your dress strap falling to your shoulder and your light dress sticking against your wet skin. He wanted to take a picture of you to save the memory...but Time after time, he found himself getting slowly addicted to you...his visits got frequent, and he would deliver little gifts or care packages to you such as medicine, food, or water. You were grateful for him doing this, but you didn't want to feel like a burden to him, at first you were hesitant to take the gifts but he would ensure that it was a gift for you.

You didn't think about the kind gestures he would do for you, but you would always thank him for what he did. Soon, his obsession with you was like a disease, it kept on spreading and spreading over time, every time he closed his eyes, it would be just you, even when he worked on his daily tasks, his mind would be infected with pictures of you. He would always prefer to be stationed somewhere near you, he would be observing you as you worked, he hated when you talked to other men that weren't him, and his obsession with you was unhealthy, It felt like he couldn't last a day without or seeing you, sometime he would show up unannounced with a bouquet of roses in his hands surprising you.

The first time it was a nice gesture, and you loved it but it started again and again, his presence was almost suffocating to you, and when he asked you the question, you felt fear of saying no to him. But you knew if you were to say 'yes' it would get worse, so you told him to give you some time to think about it, he nodded but you knew he was displeased.

You had a plan to just run away, but you knew sooner or later he would catch you, you shivered at the thought. Knowing that your family would be harmed in the invasion, your ear perked at the sound of the door, you dragged your feet to the door, opening it up. It was him, a bouquet of roses in his hands, his Arctic blue eyes staring at you. It was haunting, he cleared his throat before talking, "So..have you made your decision?" every word he said made your heart pump faster, your flight response ringing alarms through your body to run.

"Coriolanus..um" you stopped mid-way, looking at him in his eyes, "I do thank you for what you do for me, but—I barely know you, and I don't think we would..be good together" you finished your sentence, feeling an eerily feeling in your gut, "Why" that all he said, you looked again at him. It looked like a shadow was cast, his bright sky blue eyes that he looked at you with, were darkening as he spoke.

"For all I do for you, you choose to deny me" The volume of his voice increases, and you force yourself to look at him as he yells at you, he laughs for a short while, before grabbing your jaw, "I protected you, I have done everything for you" you eyes watered from his grip, "I think you should leave, Corio" you whispered, it felt like whip when you used his nickname in that sentence, he released your jaw. His hand was in your hair down, pulling you down, as you felt tears threatening to be produced, his rough hands pulling on your hair, making your scalp hurt, "Corio..please!" You exclaimed, he started to say something else, every word uttering from his word was like venom to an open wound. He threw down the bouquet of roses onto the floor

Your knee felt weak as you fell down onto the floor, hearing his footsteps receding, and the sound door being slammed closed. Tears dripping down from your cheek, the bouquet of roses on the floor, as the petals were scattered on the floor, it was some sick remember of Coriolanus. Days passed, and you saw roses on your doormat, every day it would happen, and you felt fear looming over you.

Every time the color would change from pink to a deep red, they varied every day.

But you went back to your job, selling at the stand to the deep of night, noticing the tie, you quickly packed the cart up for tomorrow and rolled it back to where the old couple resided. You sang to yourself as the wheels of the cart rolled against the broken concrete before you knew it, you felt a hand wrapping your torso, and something else like cloth suffocating you, you tried to scream, but it went deaf in your throat, succumbing to the cloth as you closed your eyes, fainting into the strangers hands.

Your eyes fluttered open, as your eyes wandered around your surroundings. You felt your legs numb, as you tried to stand up, but couldn't, looking down at yourself, rope wrapped around your body. You tried not to move from the friction of the rope hurting you.

Your ears perked at the sound of footsteps,. "Your finally awake, my dove" He walked towards you, taking a knee when he got a good look at you. His fingers caressed your cheek, "We were meant for each other, Y/N" He whispered, you started shaking when his hands lowered, and you turned yourself away from him before he withdrew from him. Before he grabbed you by your jaw, forcing you to look at him, "Do I scare you, am I that ugly that you don't want to love me, Y/N" You shook your head immediately, "Then why.." He growled, and you felt tears on your cheeks, "Don't try to use your crocodile tears on me, Y/N" He glared at you.

You looked away from him, as you sniffled, "Fuck, you don't know what you do to me.." he traveled his finger over your lip, parting it, as you stared at him. Before he kissed you, his tongue forcing itself into your mouth, you felt yourself crying more, as you bit down on his tongue. He withdrew from you, the trail of blood on his lips. His haunting chuckle echo in your ear, "You fucking bitch" He held his jaw. He stood up from the floor, looking away from him.

You heard the sound of belt jingling, your eyes widening at the sight, of his cock in his hand, "Corio, no..please' you begged, your felt yourself crying more, his footsteps inching near you, he slapped his cock on your cheek, it was degrading. "Open," He said, and you felt your lips trembling at the size, "N-no" you whispered, and he repeated himself again, you turned away before he pried your lips open and forced himself into your mouth, making you gag. His hands were in your hair, as he dragged you against his cock, fucking into your mouth. Salvia dripping down from your chin, his groans ringing out in your ears.

"Fuck, you're doing so good, sweetheart" He looked down at you, as your tears filled your vision, he smirked looking at your vulnerable form, before he thrust himself into you. You felt his hot load going down your throat, "Swallow" He said, and you obeyed, The bitter taste coating your mouth, his hands caressing your cheek, "Good girl" he smiled at you. Before he released your jaw, your eyes looked down at the floor, before you heard him tucking himself into his pants.

Days passed,

He treated you with kindness, gifting you a rose, and caressing your back as you lay on his lap, but you managed to convince him to remove the rope around your body. He would braid your hair, comb it, and treat you like a doll. It kept on happening, you started worrying about your family if they were currently looking for you. "Coriolanus, can I visit my family, please" He stopped combing your hair, and he down at you, "Do you deserve it?" He asked, "Please" you begged, sitting up as you looked at him. He breathed out, looking away from you.

"I deserve it, you kidnapped me against my own will!" You stood and yelled, he just glared at you, as he stood up. His height towering over you, "You don't need them at all, I..can give you what you need. you don't need them" He yelled at you, grabbing your shoulder as he forced you to look up at him. "No, I never asked for you to do anything, you came up to me. You did this just to do it, Coriolanus" You yelled at him, finally using his full name instead of the nickname you gave me, you felt your cheek throbbing, his hand harshly hitting you, before he grabbed you by your shirt, "I will fucking kill you and your family if you leave me, Y/N..do you hear me" He lowered his voice, you were shaking. His eyes softened at you crying, before he held you not a hug and you held him, his hands rubbing your back, soothing you.

"Just not now, Y/N.." He whispered and kissed your forehead, you felt sick to your stomach. The next day, he apologized to you, and you were forced to accept, he covered you with kisses and love, and gifted roses.

A month passed still being caged by Coriolanus, but you got some freedom from him, but you weren't allowed to leave a tall. he had surveillance on you. He always reminds you that he loved you, did kind things with you, and surprised you with flowers like he always did. Red roses everywhere,

You stared at the window, it was fairly getting dark, and no signs of Coriolanus coming back. You wanted to escape but knowing the consequence would be horrible if you committed the act, before you heard stomping from the door, your eyes looking at the furious Coriolanus in front of you. "How many men, have you slept with Y/N" You got up from your feet, looking at him incredulously, "What are you talking about?" before you felt a sting on your cheek, "Don't play dumb with me" He yelled at you, "How many" He repeated himself, "I —none, I didn't do anything, Coriolanus" you sniffled, before he took a fist of your hair, pulling you towards him, "Don't fucking lie to me, Y/N" He growled, "I'm not lying, please" He hit you a second time, this time it was worse, feeling your nose bleeding from the impact. He started dragging you to the bedroom, where he forced you to sleep, throwing you onto the mattress of the bed, you heard him taking off his belt, forcefully tying up your hands above you.

"Coriolanus, please' you screamed, kicking your legs everywhere, "Please-please, stop" you cried as he got on top of you, taking off your pants and panties in the same quick motion. Aligning himself against, before you felt himself inside of you, it was painful, horrible. He moaned against you, as he forced himself into you and out, thrusting his hips against yours, you screamed at him, hitting him on his biceps to stop.

Your screams were deaf to his ears, as he fucked himself into you, his cock tearing everything inside of you, "Please" you heaved, hitting him, his sky-blue eyes staring at you. Time passed slowly, purposely you felt, before he cummed inside of you, you screamed for him to stop and pull out but he didn't. You lay there motionless, dried tears on your cheeks and naked in front of him, "Don't touch me" you cried, flipping to the side away from him. He called your name again, but you ignored him, holding yourself, you rolled yourself into a ball and cried to yourself until you fell asleep.

When you woke up,, you didn't see Coriolanus, you looked at yourself, your bottom still exposed, a reminder of at the ordeal that happened yesterday. You stood up, putting back your underwear and your pants, before walking out of the bedroom, rubbing your eyes still tired. There was something on the table, as you walked, it was a bouquet of fresh roses and a note attached to it with his handwriting.

You covered your mouth, and you fell to your knee and cried to yourself, knowing that he wouldn't let you go...the roses he gifted you are just a reminder of his torment.

[jalalandfamily]

Help jalal and my family 🚑🚨🇵🇸

To the warm hearted people remaining in this world who reads this my letter , and after suffering to be able to place this letter in your hands...

Hello my friend,

I am Jalal Ayyad, a Palestinian from Gaza, stuck in the Arab Republic of Egypt due to the war that followed the Gaza Strip.

There is my whole family in Gaza (My warm refuge that circumstances prevented us from) ..14 members , my mother, my brothers, my 4 sisters and their children , my 2 nephews and their mother . They are at risk at any time due to heavy bombing, and they also suffer from the difficulty of providing food and drink due to the scarcity of food resources resulting from the siege.

Even if these foodstuffs are available, they cannot buy them due to the extreme rise in prices. As you know, we have children as young as 4 years old, and it is natural for the child to have better care and protection from this terror, psychological pressure, and constant anxiety.

My family, who are now sheltering in a simple tent in the refugee camps in the centre of Gaza Strip , after they were displaced from our warm home, which was bombed and its traces and memories were erased from our neighborhood, Al-Shujaiya neighborhood in northern Gaza. After that, my family’s repeated displacements continued due to the horror and horrible events, from the north to the center, then to Khan Yunis, then to Rafah and now to the centre of Gaza Strip .. The areas of bombing and danger.. The forced displacement scenario is still ongoing, so where do people go ?!!! There is no safe place here that will protect my family and children from this horror.

Tim, my 5-year-old nephew, was so excited to go to school for the first time. He was eagerly waiting for this day, dreaming of playing with his friends and learning a lot of new things. But, as he was preparing for this important day, w:a,.r came and turned his life upside down.

Suddenly, everything changed. Tim can no longer go to school due to the difficult conditions left by the war. He found himself and his family living in an unsafe and turbulent environment...from a warm and safe home in the arms of his family and loved ones to a tent in the middle of this hot summer and the sounds of war that terrify him at night..

Despite this continues terror, Tim was exposed to the disease of jaundice, yellow eyes, laziness, sleeping a lot, loss of appetite and high body temperature..Because of the w.,a.r, there is difficulty in obtaining medicine, food, and drink for this disease. Despite all this, Tim remained determined to maintain his hope and courage despite the difficult circumstances he faces.

With your kind help, I hope that we will achieve Tim’s wish, which he dreams of so much.

I have been stuck in Egypt now for 9 months since the heinous war, amidst anxiety, fear, anticipation, and intense psychological pressure that no human being can bear. I lost my degree and my university was destroyed and turned into ashes. I have nothing I can do to save my family, relieve them, and pull them out of this horror. I do not even have a residence permit here nor a source of income that I can rely on.

I cannot get any news about my family to reassure my heart about them except only once a month and for a few minutes, interspersed with poor Internet connection, in light of the events whose scales change and increase in severity every minute.

I hope that every person who reads this message can influence my family's life and save them from this tragedy.

With your kind help, I will be able to provide them with food and drink expenses and meet their needs.

I am attaching for you some proof, represented by some pictures taken with a trembling heart of our neighborhood and our destroyed homes, which were taken at the beginning of the war, before the displacement and the entry of the occupation into it.

Thank you, dear reader, for reading my story and reaching this point. I hope you can help save my family from this tragedy. May God help all those affected, and I hope that no one will go through or experience this disastrous situation. Thank you all from depths of my heart .

Save my family from war, I have no hope but your help..

‏My family needs you, don't forget them

‏Donate and spread🙏🏻💔

[scientia-rex]

I also spend a lot of time trying to convince people to prevent problems, because prevention still works better than cures. Don't fucking smoke! I would instantly become the best doctor who ever lived if I could just convince all my patients to quit smoking. Avoid alcohol! Don't do meth! Don't do fentanyl! Things that are poisons will poison you in ways you understand, in the short term, but also ways you can't really understand until you've watched dozens of people die from it thirty years later, struggling to breathe from their COPD or weak and nauseated beyond bearing from their end-stage liver disease. I watched a man take 3 weeks in the ICU to die from what meth did to his heart. Your heart isn't meant to beat 145 times a minute for weeks on end. Your liver isn't meant to metabolize 5 shots of gin a day. You aren't going to be able to use denial and willpower to repair the damage your own habits did.

I drink a lot less now than I did before I went into medicine. Lot of different reasons, including that I'm older and more settled. But I can't look at it the same way I used to; I can't brush off as a "fun quirk" what I know is alcohol use on a level that risks withdrawal seizures if they were to suddenly stop, like some of my family members do, nervously asking me about their loved one's drinking when we're alone because beneath the jokes they know it's a problem.

If you're having more than one, maybe two drinks a day on average, over a long period of time, you are damaging your body in ways you don't understand. You're setting up a permanent heightened inflammatory state. Your heart cells don't like alcohol; Google "alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy." Your esophagus and stomach respond to incessant bathing in poison by first developing wounds and then cancer. Your liver, of course, doesn't like it. Your liver not only converts poisons to harmless substances you can excrete, it also makes your platelets, so your blood can clot. It makes albumin, a protein that's essentially for keeping water in your blood vessels and not letting it leach into your tissues. So people who are dying of liver failure are in pain and weak and tired and sad the whole fucking time! And the only solution, a liver transplant, will come with a lifetime of medication and specialist check-ups and the knowledge that if you fuck up and kill this liver, too, no one is going to be eager to give you another try.

I don't guilt-trip my alcoholic patients with liver disease. I don't guilt-trip my smokers with COPD. They chose to cope with substances for reasons, even if I disagree with their reasons, even if those reasons are opaque to me. They will suffer the natural consequences of those actions whether I guilt-trip them or not. I want them to continue to see me, I want them to be honest with me. Other people will lay enough guilt on them. And nothing I can say or do would ever compare to the physical and mental suffering that goes with those diseases.

But if you can prevent these diseases in yourself, prevent them. Quit smoking. Do it now. Your lungs are going to look better starting almost immediately, with positive changes continuing for many years. Drink less alcohol. Sure, it's fun, sure, it's a longstanding human tradition, but it is also unfortunately a straight up poison and your body knows that no matter how persuasively you argue about the obvious failure of Prohibition. You can't argue with a cell. You can't convince your kidneys that high blood pressure shouldn't damage them. They are a system; they do what they do; they existed long before prefrontal cortex existed to justify what we want to do but know to be harmful.



[frankingsteinery]

there are many interpretations on just what the “nervous fever, which confined me for several months” that victor experienced was, but i don’t think anyone has yet put forward the idea that it was based on hypochondriasis. (in general i will refer to this source, a practical treatise of hypochondriasis written by john hill in 1766, in regard to just what hypochondriasis is–it’s a very interesting read and i would recommend it!)

hypochondriasis (which now carries a different meaning–i am not referring to hypochondria i.e. abnormal anxiety/fear about one’s health) was a non-specific condition that encompassed many varieties of the “nervous illnesses” of the 18th century. the concept was derived from theories of bodily humors and was once considered a special form of melancholy resulting from an excess of black bile, or alternatively that it was an obstruction in the body caused by high emotion, among many other explanations–but in hypochondriasis, and in the 17-18th century in general, the idea that the health of the mind and the body were inherently linked was HUGE. while it’s not readily definable it was generally seen as the masculine equivalent to hysteria in females, which is thematically important in ways i’ll get into later.

in short, hypochondriasis: 

is caused by grief and/or “fatigue of the mind” i.e. intense, prolonged study or focus on one thing, particularly night studies

those who are educated, studious, isolated, sedate and inactive (not among nature), are more susceptible

typically begins and reoccurs in autumn months

results in self-isolation, depression, a “disrelish of amusements,” wild thoughts or overthinking on one subject, and a sense of oppression in the body

physically, it causes low appetite, heart palpitations, dizziness, confusion, night sweats, emaciation, convulsions, etc

fits of high emotion, excessive exercise, and shock can cause relapses, even months or years after the first event

is said to be cured by mild medicine, but no chemistry; but above all, it is cured by the study of nature, and hypochondriac people should get frequent air and exercise

the parallels to victor are rather blatant. the study of natural philosophy becomes victor’s “sole occupation,” and he describes being “animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm.” in the treatise, those subject to the disease are said to be those who have “greatly exerted [the mind’s] powers” and have ”determined resolution…intent upon their object [of attention]”. It’s also noted that “whatever tends to the ennobling of the soul has equal share in bringing on this weakness of the body.” 

it is this focus on creating new life, and later, this self-isolation, that results in his “cheek becom[ing] pale with study,” and his “person had become emaciated with confinement” and he “seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit.” it is to the extent that his eyes become “insensible to the charms of nature” and he neglects correspondence with his friends and family. he becomes “oppressed by a slow fever…and nervous to a most painful degree” and, like those with hypochondriasis, believes that “exercise and amusement would then drive away incipient disease.”

it’s also notable that the height of victor’s illness–directly after the creature’s creation–occurs, like in hypochondriasis, in autumn. during it, he describes many of the physical symptoms attributed to hypochondriasis: weakness, heart palpitations, dizziness, wild thoughts and paranoia, convulsions, etc. it’s only after henry’s care that he is able to recover, and in particular, after viewing a scene of nature:

I remember the first time I became capable of observing outward objects with any kind of pleasure, I perceived that the fallen leaves had disappeared, and that the young buds were shooting forth from the trees that shaded my window. It was a divine spring; and the season contributed greatly to my convalescence. I felt also sentiments of joy and affection revive in my bosom; my gloom disappeared, and in a short time I became as cheerful as before I was attacked by the fatal passion.

throughout the novel, these symptoms will reoccur (relapse) in times of high emotion, shock and stress–justine’s trial, the confrontation at the alps, during the creation of the female creature, etc. overall he meets the marks of hypochondriasis nearly down to a T.

and, returning to the idea that hypochondriasis is essentially the male equivalent of hysteria, which was only attributed to females at the time, this is relevant because frankenstein is a female narrative synthesized through a male narrator. by extension victor also meets many of the marks of hysteria. in general, the creature’s creation feminizes victor: victor remarks that he becomes “as timid as a love-sick girl” during his illness and describes his fever as “painfully nervous” and alternating between “tremor” and “passionate ardour.” during and after the creation process, victor exhibits what was then perceived as “feminine” emotional freedom–anxiety, weakness, self-doubt, fear, etcetera. considering this in-context that 1) victor’s labors allude to mary shelley’s own traumatic experiences with childbirth 2) this was written in a turning point in history where high-class men who had "nervous" senses/feelings were beginning to be seen as effete instead of stylish (they used to be thought fashionable because they were more in-touch with their senses than the lower classes or something to that effect), this all seems very intentional.

now, what do i think victor actually had (since humorism has, obviously, since been disproved)? a 2-for-1 psychotic disorder + whatever concoction of germs he acquired from sticking his hands in corpses for weeks on end combo. but that’s for another day!

[x-hyzenthlay-x]

Humans are fucked up/death worlders/space orcs because we invented the chainsaw to shove up a woman’s vagina during child birth. It’s barbaric to say the least and I’m sure aliens are probably MORTIFIED at all of the medical treatments we used to use or probably even still use to this day!

A lot of our medicine is dangerously close to poison and there’s a fine line between what’s helpful and what isn’t which I find to be fascinating. It’s intriguing how we went from natural remedies to artificially produced copies. It certainly helps remedy things like deforestation or the need for live animals. Like how certain types of venom from snakes and bees can destroy certain illnesses that would otherwise be a death sentence.

Imagine telling an alien “oh yeah I just got stung by a swarm of killer bees and my body used it to cure me of Lyme disease”

They’re just standing/floating/sitting there like

😃 excuse me?

It’ll be even worse if you tell them we still use electric shock therapy to this day and insane asylums were still available up until like the 1980’s (technically the last one closed in 2015 and the mass closing of them only started in the 1980’s)

(Also the vagina chainsaw was last used in the 1980’s :’) and most women did not survive. Many were displayed on stage infront of an audience while being butchered without any anesthetic. I don’t recommend looking up the survivor stories. It’s truly heart breaking how little the medical field cares about afabs even to this day to be honest.)

Master list

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

Something y'all may need with family get-togethers for the winter hollidays coming up. Several studies have shown 500% increase in risk for cardiovascular episodes after a covid 19 infection, but not for vaccination. Call people out if they spread this bs.

By Chris Mueller

The claim: Studies show COVID-19 vaccine recipients are 500% more likely to die from a heart attack A Nov. 29 Threads post (direct link, archive link) makes a claim about the COVID-19 vaccine and its effect on the heart.

“Your chance of dying from a heart attack from that ‘vaccine,’ according to their own studies, is 500% greater than if you were unvaccinated,” reads the post. “This is state-sanctioned murder.”

It was liked more than 500 times in four days.

Our rating: False There are no studies that show COVID-19 vaccine recipients have a 500% greater chance of having a heart attack. Some studies show the opposite − that the shot is associated with a lower risk of heart attack.

COVID-19 virus linked to heart attack risk, not vaccine There are no credible news reports about a study saying COVID-19 vaccine recipients have a 500% greater chance of having a heart attack. The American Heart Association even recommends the COVID-19 vaccine to people with a history of heart disease and stroke, saying they are "at much greater risk from the virus than they are from the vaccine."

There are several studies that show the vaccine is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.

A study of nearly 46 million adults in England found that people who received the COVID-19 vaccine had fewer heart attacks and strokes than those who had yet to be vaccinated. The researchers examined medical records from the two years between December 2020 and January 2022.

“This England-wide study offers reassurance regarding the cardiovascular safety of COVID-19 vaccines, with lower incidence of common cardiovascular events outweighing the higher incidence of their known rare cardiovascular complications,” the study says.

Erin Faherty, a pediatric cardiologist at Yale Medicine, previously told USA TODAY that vaccination for COVID-19 is associated with a lower risk of heart attack.

"We have no evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine shuts down the heart or is associated with widespread heart failure," she said in February. "From the data we have, the risks of COVID-19 infection far outweigh the minor cardiac risk of vaccination."

Some studies have linked the virus – not the vaccine – to a higher risk of cardiovascular events. People who caught the disease early in the pandemic had double the risk, while others with severe cases had nearly four times the risk, according to a study supported by the National Institutes of Health published in October.

But a study of more than 8 million adults in Sweden found “full vaccination significantly reduced the risk of several more severe cardiovascular outcomes linked to COVID-19, such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure,” said Fredrik Nyberg, an epidemiology professor and one of the study’s authors, in a news release.

There is a “causal association between mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and myocarditis,” which is inflammation of the heart muscle, but cases are rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-check sources Nature, July 31, Cohort study of cardiovascular safety of different COVID-19 vaccination doses among 46 million adults in England University of Cambridge, July 31, Incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination American Heart Association, Oct. 9, COVID-19 Is a Coronary Artery Disease Risk Equivalent and Exhibits a Genetic Interaction With ABO Blood Type American Heart Association, Oct. 6, 2023, What people with heart disease should know about vaccines today National Institutes of Health, Oct. 10, First wave of COVID-19 increased risk of heart attack, stroke up to three years later USA TODAY, Feb. 14, No evidence COVID-19 vaccine 'shuts off' the heart, contrary to anti-Kelce post | Fact check Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed Dec. 4, Clinical Considerations: Myocarditis and Pericarditis after Receipt of COVID-19 Vaccines Among Adolescents and Young Adults

[healthremedyhub]

🍃 The Heartbeat of Nature: 5 Natural Remedies for a Healthy Heart ❤️‍🩹

Is heart disease weighing heavy on your mind? It's time to lighten the load and embrace the healing power of nature! 🌿💚

In our latest video, we'll guide you through 5 incredible natural remedies that can help protect your heart and keep it beating strong:

🧄 Garlic: This pungent superfood is a true ally, lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels with its powerful compounds. 🍒 Hawthorn Berries: Rich in antioxidants, these magical berries strengthen the heart muscle and improve blood flow. 🐟 Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Essential for heart health, these fatty acids fight inflammation and boost overall cardiovascular function. 🍵 Green Tea: A true antioxidant powerhouse, green tea supports healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure. 🌶️ Cayenne Pepper: The spicy wonder that improves circulation and naturally regulates blood pressure.

Drop a heart crystal emoji 🔮❤️ if you're ready to let nature heal your heart's rhythm!

#NaturalHeartRemedies #HeartDiseaseCures #GarlicPower #HawthornBerryMagic #Omega3Benefits #GreenTeaHealer #CayenneKing #HeartHealthy #NoMedications #StrongHeart #GoViral #NaturalHealing

Like, Reblog, and let us know your favourite natural heart remedy! We're about to start a heart-healthy revolution on Tumblr with these magical, nature-powered solutions. Get ready to let your heart beat to the rhythm of nature's healing touch! ✨

[imimprisoned]

Apollo/Apollon: God of Archery, Healing, Plauges, Music, Truth, Prophecy, Diseases, Sun, Light, and Poetry.

Offerings include:

1. music related objects ( art, dance, and poetry )

2. sports or competition related objects

3. your own art is highly recommended with Him

4. animals that He associates with are swans, wolves, lions, griffins, mice, crows and dolphins

5. laurel, cypress, apples, Hyacinthus, and frankincense

6. anything golden in color

7. depictions of the sun and other things related to sun and light

8. yellow and golden cakes

9. orange juice and other light colored sweet juices

10. yellow jasper and sunstone

11. sun water

12. bows and/or arrows

13. golden obiects/items

14. any musical instrument, specially stringed instruments (like lyres)

15. honey/honey cakes

16. wine diluted with pure water

17. depictions/imagery of wolves, dolphins, lions

18. laurel wreaths

19. olive oil

20. yellow, gold, or white candles

21. statues of him

22. laurel tree branches and/or leaves

23. divination items

24. the sun tarot card

25. your own art/poetry/music/pictures ( about him or anything you like )

26. naturally shed bird feathers

27. flowers like sunflowers, hyacinths, irises, larkspur
crystals/gemstones like yellow sapphire, sunstone, amber, citrine, tigers eye

Prayers to Apollo:

Joyful spirit, come to me

Rustling leaves of the laurel tree

Caress my spirit with your love

Music and lyrical sounds from above

Apollo the prophet, sit upon your throne

God of the lyre and navel stone

Eyes made of stars and hands made of gold

The heart of a wolf for futures untold

Oh patron God I invoke thee

As is my will, so mote it be.

2. Brilliant Apollo, giver of far-sight, swift are your arrows, sure is your aim.

In intellect, quick and rational thought, in science and medicine, healing and health, and always in beauty, music and art, in these we see you, great son of Zeus.

Matchless Apollo, archer without flaw, dream-granting friend of seeker and seer, patron of scholar and philosopher, we thank you for reason, for art's keen eye, for health for those ailing in body or soul.

Bright Apollo, we praise and honor you.

3. Prayer for motivation and inspiration

Oh Apollo

I praise thee

And come to ask for creativity In art, writing, and song I pray to prosper long

I'm here to ask for productivity To be efficient in school, work,

Among other things

I wish for a spark of inspiration

As you spark the sun above our heads

I pray to you for motivation

That insights greatness throughout the nation.

In the name of Apollo, Artemis, and Hecate With your siblings help I mote it be!

4. Prayer to move on

Oh Apollo

I call to thee

Give me the strength and wisdom to see I can move forward from a love and be

Powerful independent and free

By will of you, the sun, the sea

By your power So mote it be!

5. May Apollo surrond you with healing light, and Artemis bring you the strength of the wild.