There is always a question about sitting and health. Now, recent events have found more people sitting for work or leisure but the question still remains, is sitting dangerous to our health? Before we jump into answering this question, let’s take a look at our bodies. The human body was designed to move. In the beginning, this was survival to keep away from predators and to aid us in the search for food. In many ways, our jobs required us to move for survival. Today though, we, as a species do not have to worry about trying to outrun a predator or gather food. We simply go to the store and with curbside pickup and online ordering, we now do not even have to walk around and “gather” our food. Instead, we can pay someone else to do that chore for us. Now since our bodies were meant to move, there are some safeguards put into place. This includes storing fat for energy for a quick getaway and a muscle called a heart. This muscle allows us to keep pumping blood through our bodies while we make the escape. While all these safeguards were created to protect us, they have not adapted to the change in times where we really do not have to move much to survive. This not only includes the basics of life but also our jobs, and leisure time. There are many more examples of how our active life has changed to one strapped to a chair, so let’s learn how this sedimentary lifestyle affects our bodies.How Sedimentary Lifestyle Affects Your BodyOn a normal day, one gets up from approximately eight hours of sleep and goes to the kitchen where one sits down. You drive to work or ride the bus and arrive at your job, where you probably sit for eight hours. You go home, cook dinner, sit on the couch to watch some entertainment or play video games and go to bed to repeat this process the next day. Now since you are not running around protecting yourself or gathering food, you are burning less of your fat reserves. This, in turn, means weight gain and obesity, which also leads to a cluster of issues such as increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the middle, and abnormal cholesterol levels. This cluster is also referred to as a metabolic syndrome. It is true that this is not the lifestyle of many but in several situations, the picture painted is very true for young and old. While some can envision a person over 18 having this lifestyle, more and more young people are going to school, coming home, and sitting in front of a computer screen or game system, which means they are in the same health boat that individuals are who work at desk jobs.Other Reasons Why Prolonged Sitting Is Bad For Your Health • It can weaken your legs and glutes • Your anxiety and depression might spike • Can lead to deep vein thrombosis • Significant stress on spinal structures as well as other joints, such as the shoulders and hips Beyond the problems listed previously, sitting for over eight hours a day increases your chances of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Related: The Best Natural Painkiller That Grows in Your Own Backyard How Can You Save Your Health From The Dangers Of Sitting? But what is one to do when so many jobs require one to sit? First, it has been discovered that 75 minutes of moderate exercise can counter many of the negative effects of sitting. Another approach to use is to lose weight. While exercise and diet can help you lose the weight you have gained due to sitting all day, certain herbs can aid you in this weight loss. This is especially true if you drink herbal tea throughout the day. One herb that is easy to make into tea is ginger. Drinking ginger tea throughout the day will reduce your appetite, increase metabolism, and burn fat. Another herb that will aid you in losing weight is cayenne pepper. While you may not want to make a tea with this herb, how about adding it to the food you eat throughout the day. As an example, add a splash to your eggs for breakfast. When eating lunch, cayenne pepper is tasty when mixed with a bit of low-fat mayo for a sandwich topping. You may think dinner can only mean some Mexican food and this is not the case. Consider adding some cayenne pepper to tomato juice for a pre-dinner drink. Beyond herbs, exercise is very important as noted previously but you do not have to set aside a full 75 minutes out of your schedule to meet this goal. It has been discovered that even bite-size or snack-size amounts of exercise can add up to 75 minutes, which really means there is no excuse. But how do you really fit in these tiny bits of exercise and still work? Before we move to some easy ways of reaching that 75-minute mark, keep in mind that these tips also apply to sitting on the couch or in front of the TV. Get moving after sitting for 30 minutes. In the business world, this can mean walking over to the water cooler or walking to the bathroom. While you are on the phone, consider taking the call standing up. Another idea that will keep you up on your feet is a standing desk. Due to more people working from home, these “standing desk” products are more available. If this is not a possibility, consider placing your computer on a high table or counter. While the list above is just a shortlist of suggestions, there are many other opportunities during your day that you can sneak in a bit of exercise if you just look. How about parking as far away as you can from your office or grocery store, which can give you time going up and coming back from the establishment. Or start a company walking program that occurs during lunch or after work. You can use the same idea when you get home. Get the kids away from the screens and have a family walk around the neighborhood. In a nutshell, if you just picked a few of these snack-size suggestions you would rack up 75 minutes a day in no time. There is also a downside to all this exercise and that is sore muscles. But as they say, no pain no gain, right. Well, that is true but you can easily make an herbal salve that you can rub on those sore spots.  What Happens If You Put Onions in Your Socks While You Sleep?

The Home Doctor – Practical Medicine for Every Household– is a 304 page doctor written and approved guide on how to manage most health situations when help is not on the way.

If you want to see what happens when things go south, all you have to do is look at Venezuela: no electricity, no running water, no law, no antibiotics, no painkillers, no anesthetics, no insulin or other important things.

But if you want to find out how you can still manage in a situation like this, you must also look to Venezuela and learn the ingenious ways they developed to cope.

About Dr. Maybell Nieves:

Dr. Maybell Nieves – head surgeon of the Unit of Breast Pathology and general surgeon at Caracas University Hospital in Venezuela, with over 10 years of experience in the operating room. She studied at the prestigious European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy.

Dr. Maybell is known for developing new, ingenious methods of treating patients after Venezuela’s economy collapsed and hospitals and pharmacies ran out of medicines, supplies, electricity and running water.

The methods she developed and pioneered are now studied and applied in conflict zones all over the world.

Many of these protocols and procedures do not require medical assistance as they are specifically designed to be self-applied. That makes them extremely valuable if the medical system cannot be depended on, like during long term blackouts.

You can find some of these methods below! As you read them, you can easily understand why they are so useful and why every household and family should have them close by. She co-authored the book with Dr Rodrigo Alterio and Claude Davis.

Here’sjust a small glimpse of what you’ll find in
The Home Doctor: Practical Medicine for Every Household:

This book is a unique guide for the layman that you can use when help is not on the way or to manage common ailments that don’t require seeing a doctor.

Let me show you just some of the things you’ll find inside the Home Doctor:

10 Medical Supplies You Need to Have in Your House

These supplies are not expensive and should still be available, but they tend to run out fast.

In case you haven’t realized it yet, most of the medical supplies and pills we take for granted come from China and India. This supply chain is vulnerable and can be interrupted by something like an EMP.

One of the 10 supplies you should have in advance is a painkiller called Naproxen, which is over the counter and more powerful than others like ibuprofen for example.

The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make
in a Blackout

In Venezuela, electricity has turned into a rare and unpredictable commodity. They don’t have it all the time, and blackouts have become a normal part of daily life.

Inside the Home Doctor, you’ll also learn about the biggest medical mistakes you can make in a blackout and what to do with important medications that require refrigeration, like insulin or Humira.

How to Recognize a Heart Attack

and What to Do Next

Look at its four distinctive symptoms: first, chest discomfort that feels like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, and pain in the middle of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes.

The second symptom is discomfort or pain in one or both arms and your back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

The third symptom is shortness of breath.

The last thing you need to watch out for is breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, and lightheadedness.

These don’t all come at once, but if you see even one or two, it’s time to call 911.

Another step you can take to improve your chances before the ambulance arrives is to chew on an aspirin and pour a vial of nitroglycerin under your tongue. But you need to have these two items at home beforehand.

What Happens When You Take Expired Medications

No country in the world has had to use more expired medication than Venezuela.

Dr. Maybell and other doctors were able to see what happens firsthand, and it’s almost guaranteed to surprise you: most medications you have in your medicine cabinet are good for years after their expiration dates; which medication is safe to take after its expiration date and which ones are not.

So, pay close attention to this chapter before you throw away your so called “expired” medication.

The Only 4 Antibiotics People Should Stockpile

Modern antibiotics are lifesavers. Without them, a simple cold can quickly turn into a deadly pneumonia, an infection in a small cut can become life threatening.

I’ve selected to stockpile a 4 different antibiotics for just this reason and I want to show you how you can do the same… legally, without a prescription.

They contain distinctive substances that act very differently, so while it could happen that you stumble upon a bacteria that is resistant to one of them, the chance it can withstand all four is very slim.

Antibiotics will become priceless in times of need once they become scarce. Having these 4 at home for you and your family is at least as important as having food stockpiles. But under no circumstance should you take them without consulting a doctor first.

The Best Natural Painkiller That Grows in Your Own Backyard

Another thing you’ll discover is the best natural painkiller that probably grows in your own backyard.

This is the painkilling plant that many in Venezuela turned to after they couldn’t find relief at the pharmacy anymore…and it grows all over North America as well.

An Ingenious Way to Stockpile Prescription Medicines, Including Insulin

I’ll also show you how to deal with shortages of medicines such as insulin, which some people need to take every day.

A friend of mine from Texas found a workaround and is able to get all the insulin he needs daily and even extra to stockpile.

His ingenious method is completely legal and safe. You could start using it immediately not only for insulin but also for some other medicines that are notoriously hard to stockpile.

How to Quickly Recognize a Stroke and

The First ThingYOU MUST DO IMMEDIATELY Afterward

When dealing with a stroke, time is of the essence, and every second counts. If you act quickly, most of the time your body can recover completely.

Alternatively, many people end up partially paralyzed or worse. Inside the Home Doctor, I’ll show you the fastest way you can recognize it and the one thing you must do immediately to improve your chances.

What Happens if You Take the Wrong Probiotics

I’ll also show you the only probiotics you really need to keep in your medicine cabinet.

Probiotics are microorganisms that live inside your gut and influence your metabolism and overall health.

They can even trigger allergies. Their effects are so widespread that you don’t want to have the wrong probiotics and risk messing up your gut flora. I personally know people who gained a lot of weight taking bad probiotics.

A good probiotic, on the other hand, can make all the difference: It can improve your digestion, help you get rid of gas, absorb the maximum amount of good nutrients from the food you eat, and take care of both diarrhea and constipation.

A Simple “At-Home” Method for the Flu and Other Respiratory Issues

During the flu season, a lot of people end up in the hospital with a high fever, coughing their lungs out.

So one of the things I want to give you is a simple protocol to deal with it at home if going to a hospital is off the table.

A Step-by-Step Approach to Deal With

Almost Every Skin Injury and Condition

In Chapter 3, Skin and Skin Appendages, you’ll find out all you need to know to manage conditions of the skin, such as corns, warts, athlete’s food, burns and scalds, dermatitis, fungal infections of the nails, insect bites and stings, abscesses, ulcers or open wounds…

You’ll also discover why you should put egg whites on second-degree burns, what over-the-counter medicines and creams to stockpile, and the exact process of cleaning, stitching, and treating an open wound at home.

The Unnoticed Symptom

That May Point to an Internal Inflammation

You’ll also learn about the little-known body signs that tells you if you have hidden inflammation inside your body at this very moment.

The 1-Minute Stretch

That Relieves Most Back and Neck Pains

You’ll find out how I deal with my back problems. Until I found this one-minute stretch routine, I often woke up like a hunchback and could barely walk to the bathroom. And it usually took me several hours to become functional again.

If this sounds at all familiar to you, you should learn this simple move.

A Natural DIY Antibiotic Salve Recipe to Keep Around

An antibiotic ointment is nice to have around when you need it.

The recipe found inside the Home Doctor aids in keeping a wound from becoming infected and help reduce scarring.

How to Perform a Complete Breast Exam at Home

A woman should know how to determine if there is anything wrong with your breasts. The earlier you catch wind of something, the better your recovery becomes.

That’s why I’ll show you a simple set of diagrams and instructions that you can follow to put your mind at ease. Dr. Maybell perfected this method while working for two years at the prestigious European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy.

How to Use Leeches Medicinally

Just Like Folks 100 Years Ago

Have you ever heard of leeches used as medicine? They are an extremely effective and easy-to-use remedy for preventing a wound from festering and speeding up healing, as long as you’re not squeamish that is. Another thing they’re good for is high blood pressure. Because they decrease the amount of blood flowing, they also lower the stress on your arteries.

An Ingenious Eggshell Remedy and 25 Others Made from Things People Usually Throw Away

I’m also going to show you 25 remedies made from things you usually throw away. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure as they say. For example, you can turn the eggshells you throw away into calcium pills that will be greatly appreciated in times of need or when food becomes scarce.

How to Take Care of Toothaches and Mouth Infections When You Can’t Visit a Dentist

Ever had a really bad toothache that just wouldn’t go away?

A dental infection can quickly become a nuisance, so you want to know how to take care of it the right way.

The Best Way to Tell if

an Arrhythmia Is Benign or Dangerous

Some changes in heart rate and rhythm are normal during sleep, physical activity, and moments of stress.

But other times, an irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, may be a serious problem, which, left untreated, can lead to cardiac arrest and stroke.

The way you decide if it’s time to call 911 is by looking at the symptoms of dangerous arrhythmia, which never appear for milder versions. These are shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheartedness, near fainting or fainting, and mild chest pain. If you feel your heart beating too fast or too slow and also experience at least a one of these symptoms, call an ambulance immediately.

How to Remove an Ingrown Nail

You’ll also discover how to remove an ingrown nail. In a situation where medical help is hard to come by, an ingrown nail can cause a serious infection if you don’t remove it.

Why You Should Always Keep a Stick of Gum Close by if Your Ears Start to Hurt

It’s simple really: when you chew the right kind of gum, you not only decrease pressure inside the ear by continuous jaw movements but also ward off ear infections. That’s because of a sweetener called Xylitol.

How to Know What’s Wrong if You’ve Got Abdominal Pain

I’ll also show you what to do if you’re experiencing pain in your abdomen. It’s called an abdominal evaluation, and you’ve probably undergone it before when going to a doctor for a check-up.

Inside the Home Doctor, you’ll have a complete diagram with nine sections of the abdomen that, upon palpation, should reveal where the problem is.

Are Your Migraines Hiding Something More Serious?

You’ll discover which two types of migraines are most common and the simple but essential things you need to do to identify which one you have and how to get rid of it.

Especially if it’s a recurrent one, like once a month, you need to read this chapter. This could also be a sign of something you shouldn’t ignore.

How to Deal with Injuries Caused During Social Unrest

You’ll also learn how to deal with typical wounds caused by violent protesters and rioters.

As a surgeon in Venezuela, Maybell dealt with probably more wounds like these than many doctors in other parts of the world during their whole career. We are no strangers to such events, either, so I say it’s best to be prepared.

What Doctors Do to Keep Their Immunity High

You’ll also discover how to keep your immune system healthy.

You’ll learn the things that doctors do to keep their immunity high after they come in close contact with sick people, things that you can also do at home to protect your family.

How to Use Salt and Oil for Tooth and Gum Decay

You’ll also discover the old mustard oil and salt remedy that people use to restore gums and remove plaque.

Salt acts as a mild abrasive that helps remove stains and brighten teeth. It also contains a natural source of fluoride, which is a bonus for your teeth.

On the other hand, mustard oil helps strengthen your gums and makes it easier to remove the plaque naturally.

The 10 Most Sought-After Bartering Items in Venezuela

I’ll also show you ten non-medical items you must stockpile now. A few months after Venezuela’s economy collapsed, these ten items became VERY precious and they could be traded for almost anything you needed—including medicine.

A Before-Bed Recipe to Sleep Like a Baby Again

You’ll also find out about some of the ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right now, which, when mixed the right way, can help you fall asleep.

If you are taking sleeping pills from time to time, even melatonin, you should try to replace them with this recipe instead as it’s natural and completely safe.

40 Interesting Home Reliefs from Our Grandparents That Could Help You

You’ll also rediscover 40 home remedies our grandparents taught us that doctors still use or prescribe. These have once again become very important for people who like try a more natural approach. For example, you can tackle some headaches using a potato, deal with bug bites using toothpaste, lower fever with vinegar, detox over night sleeping with half an onion in socks, make cough syrup from black radish, and many others.

The Antibiotic Plant That Saved Venezuela

Did you know there is a sort of natural “doxycycline” to be found as close as your own backyard?

The plant is called Usnea, and it’s popularly known as Old Man’s Beard. This wild plant grows all over North-America and once you gather some, I’ll show you how to turn it into an antibiotic tincture to greatly increase its potency and shelf-life.

Cabbage Wraps for Inflammation

Cabbage leaves are a great anti-inflammatory and contain compounds that can also draw out poison or pus from a wound and speed up the healing. This isn’t even a folk remedy. Dr. Maybell was taught this in medical school and confirmed it in her practice later on in life.

Why You Should Always Keep Some Listerine

in Your Medicine Cabinet

I’ll also show you why keeping a small stockpile of Listerine in your medicine cabinet can be a very good idea.

Listerine was invented in 1879 and was originally formulated as a surgical antiseptic. It was named after the brilliant British surgeon, Joseph Lister, who is still widely considered to be the father of antisepsis, the science of preventing infections.

In the hospitals of Venezuela, they used a lot of Listerine for different types of bacterial and fungal infections, wounds, gangrene, and diabetic foot.

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And even all of that is just the tip of the iceberg of what you’ll find inside the Home Doctor. This book is absolutely massive with over 300 pages filled with practical tips, precise diagrams, and step-by-step instructions that may allow you to stay healthy and help others in need.

With the Home Doctor, you can become a “home doc” yourself. Home docs are self-reliant people who take care of themselves and their families when the situation demands it. That’s what I wanted to achieve with this book—to empower normal people, to take care of themselves, their loved ones, and even their communities when doctors and hospitals are not available anymore.

If you decide to place a copy of the Home Doctor: Practical Medicine for Every Household on your bookshelf today, there are two additional gifts in store for you—all still free of charge for now.

Two Additional Gifts – Today for Free

The first one is called…

Wild Edibles You Can Forage for

or Find Around Your House

These are the lifesaving herbs that people in Venezuela ate when they couldn’t afford to buy food from the market anymore.

These plants grow all over North America, and I bet some are also growing around your house.

With this bonus, you’ll be able to identify wild edibles and take advantage of your backyard supermarket.

This gift is only available in Digital Format- the images are for visualization purpose only

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You’ll also receive a second gift called…

Natural Healing Secrets of Native Americans

In it you’ll rediscover the powerful natural medicines that natives relied on well before the dawn of modern medicine.

One day these plants will be worth their weight in gold. With this, you’ll never be short on medicine no matter what happens and will always have a way left to help yourself or a loved one in need.

The plants they used are still abundant in America, and all you need to know is how to properly identify them and turn them into the remedies that the natives used for hundreds of years.

This gift is only available in Digital Format- the images are for visualization purpose only

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60 Days Money Back Guarantee

You’ll have a full 60 days to try the Home Doctor: Practical Medicine for Every Household.

If at any time during those 60 days you are not COMPLETELY satisfied with this purchase, send me an e-mail, and I’ll give you back every cent. It’s as simple as that!

Also, if you use this book to take care of your current health issues and you don’t end up saving at least $37, I’ll send you a full refund.

No questions asked.

That’s my personal guarantee to you.

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THE NARCISSIST FAMILY FILES

By Julie L Hall on March 24, 2017 7:20 pmShare1924ShareShareShare

Although narcissists would never admit it, they are by nature dependent on other people for their emotional survival. If they were loners, many lives would be spared immeasurable misery. But the narcissist actively, persistently pursues others to obtain “narcissistic supply,” or the attention, status, and reassurance s/he needs for emotional survival. The narcissist as human parasite takes a heavy emotional and physiological toll on her/his supplier “hosts.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a parasite as follows:

“A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Parasites can cause disease in humans.”

Parasitism isn’t just about “feeding,” however. Scientists have uncovered many parasite-host relationships in which the parasite actually alters the brain and behavior of its host to make it assist in fulfilling vital parts of the parasite’s life cycle. A certain type of tiny wasp, for example, injects its egg along with chemicals into a ladybug. The egg hatches and consumes the nutrients that the ladybug ingests when it eats, essentially devouring the ladybug from the inside out. When the wasp larva is big enough, it squirms out of the ladybug and wraps itself in a cocoon beneath it. Immobilized and half dead, the ladybug is still programmed in essence to protect the larva by thrashing its body around if threatening insects approach. Once the larva-turned-wasp hatches from its cocoon and flies away, the ladybug typically dies.

The Narcissist as Human Parasite

Understanding narcissism through the lens of parasitism explains the narcissist’s reliance on others as a means of supply. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) suffer from a destabilized identity and sense of inferiority rooted in childhood attachment disruptions. Narcissists attempt to adapt by projecting a superior persona. But they are always seeking the validation they did not receive at crucial developmental stages. Their incomplete sense of being compels them to seek identity and self-worth externally, either by aligning with high-status people/things or by devaluing and dissociating from those who either threaten their false persona or who somehow in their eyes lower their status.

Like most parasites, narcissists rarely kill their hosts (although malignant ones may subject them to extreme violence). But like the mind-altering variety of parasite, the narcissist works to control the “brains” of her/his suppliers through a wide range of manipulations, from bullying to projecting, denying to gaslighting, guilt-tripping to silent-treatment. The narcissist continuously orchestrates the “reality” around her/him by enlisting others in supporting her/his delusions of grandeur and punishing and/or rejecting them if they do not comply. To the narcissist, her/his spouse questioning an opinion s/he has declared as patented truth or her/his child not making the soccer team are potential humiliations, to which s/he may react with scorn or rage. In the parasitic narcissist’s eyes, both situations weaken the desirability of sources of supply, and thereby threaten her/his sense of well-being.

Are You a Narcissist’s Host?

Narcissists have an instinct for finding and attaching themselves to potential hosts. Such people in some way offer narcissists status while also enabling their harshly self-serving world-view and behavior.

A host may confer status to the narcissist in many ways, including by being well-liked, good looking, wealthy, famous, or professionally accomplished. The host also enables the narcissist by directly or indirectly being complicit in the narcissist’s distorted reality and abusive behavior to protect her/his false face. In this sense, the enabling host is like the mind-altered ladybug, serving the needs of the narcissist, often at its own expense.

Are you functioning as a kind of host for a narcissist? Here are some ways to tell if you’re in a relationship with one:

1. They demand inordinate attention and admiration.
2. They react with retaliatory rage or sulking punishment if you disagree or argue with them.
3. They don’t apologize or take responsibility for their behavior, no matter how inappropriate or hurtful.
4. They lack interest in or compassion for your feelings and needs and project their bad behavior onto you.
5. They display an inflated sense of entitlement and cause a scene or react bitterly if they feel snubbed or victimized.
6. You feel like you’re constantly vulnerable to attack and/or criticism.
7. You find yourself regularly placating and avoiding confrontation.
8. You feel it is unsafe to freely express your feelings or opinions around them.
9. You are emotionally and physically hypervigilant to potential conflict.
10. You feel isolated by the relationship.

Helpful? Buy me a coffee.

Julie L. Hall is the author of The Narcissist in Your Life: Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free from Hachette Books. She is working on a memoir about life, and a few near deaths, in a narcissistic family (read excerpt). 

Need support? Julie provides specialized narcissistic abuse recovery coaching to clients around the world.  

Related Articles by Julie L. Hall

• The Narcissistic Family: Cast of Characters and Glossary of Terms
• Healing a Sense of Foreshortened Future in Adult Children of Narcissists
• The Narcissist’s Caretakers: Caught Hook, Line, and Sinker
• What the Narcissist Fears Most
• Narcissist Parents Are Hurt Machines to Their Children
• Identifying the Covert Narcissist in Your Life: A Checklist
• Understanding Narcissistic Rage and Why It’s Not Your Fault
• Setting Boundaries with Narcissist Parents
• The Dos and Don’ts of CoParenting with a Narcissist Ex
• How to Protect Your Children from Your Narcissist Spouse
• Why Narcissists Will Never Love You and It’s Dangerous to Love Them
• Horrid and Shocking Things Narcissists Say and Do
• The Overt Versus Covert Narcissist: Both Suck
• Seven Things Narcissists Will Never Do
• The Hidden Trauma of Neglect in the Narcissistic Family
• Enabling the Narcissist: How and Why It Happens
• How Narcissists Torture Others and Believe They’re Right to Do It
• Seven Sure-Fire Ways to Spot a Narcissist
• Maddening and Bizarre Things Narcissists Do Explained
• Behind the Narcissist Mask: The Bully, Coward, Liar and Fraud
• Why You Should Not Feel Sorry for the Narcissist
• Adult Children of Narcissists Face Trauma-Induced Health Risks
• Raised by a Narcissist? 11 Healing Things to Do for Yourself Right Now
• What Raging Narcissists Break: A Real-Life Damage List
• The Dilemma of the Golden Child in the Narcissistic Family
• Narcissism 101: A Glossary of Terms for Understanding the Madness
• The Narcissism Disease Cluster in Families and How to End the Cycle
• A Daughter’s Story of One Hell of a Narcissistic Mother
• The Narcissist Parent’s Psychological Warfare: Parentifying, Idealizing, and Scapegoating
• Raised by Narcissists? Why You Can’t Afford the Wrong Therapist
• 4 Insidious Ways That Narcissistic Abuse Isolates the Victim
• It’s You and Me Baby: Narcissistic Head Games
• How and Why Narcissists Are Highly Skilled Abusers
• The Strength of the Scapegoat in the Narcissistic Family
• Life in the Fun House: Narcissistic Mirroring and Projection
• The Paradox of the Narcissist’s Unrequited Self-Love
• A Golden Child Story of Guilt in the Narcissistic Family
• 9 Best of the Worst Narcissist Mothers on Screen
• Understanding the Narcissist’s Disrespect, Envy, and Contempt

Images courtesy of Gilles San Martin, Creative Commons, and BeatWalker, Wikimedia Commons. Share on Facebook Tweet Follow us

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26 Signs Your Golden Child Brother Is a NarcissistMay 15, 2022In “The Narcissist Family Files”

President Narcissist and His “PostTruth” AmericaJanuary 2, 2017In “The Narcissist Family Files”

The Narcissistic Family: Cast of Characters and Glossary of TermsJanuary 26, 2017In “The Narcissist Family Files”NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDERTHE NARCISSIST AS HUMAN PARASITEUNDERSTANDING NARCISSISM THROUGH THE LENS OF PARASITISM

9 Comments

1.  AlisonMarch 25, 2017 at 7:50 pmI was falling down in public with low blood sugar. The EMTs who came to help me told him I needed food. He refused to help me get any food and told me I had “humiliated” him. He drove me to his house, dumped me at the curb and then I went to get something to eat.Reply
   •  Julia HallMarch 25, 2017 at 7:58 pmAren’t they swell? I felt a little guilty about using the leech image, but not guilty enough to refrain. Narcissistic trauma is the gift that just keeps giving.Reply
2.  paulApril 12, 2017 at 8:49 pmGreat stuff Julia, but I didn’t see anything about the dehumanizing aspect of “stealing” our earned title of victim for themselves, fabricating and/or projecting their abusive behavior onto their victims.Reply
   •  Julia HallApril 13, 2017 at 8:52 amHi Paul. Thanks for writing. Yes, projection is one of the most insidious forms of narc abuse. I talk about it in other articles, such as this one: It’s You and Me Baby: Narcissist Head Games.Reply
3.  SteveJune 14, 2019 at 5:27 pmYou are right that innumerable people would be spared, as well as the knock-on effects for society, if these parasites were never born. They tend to lack the happiness and creativity of people with warmth and energy, so survive by leeching off them. I once met a narcissist / psychopath called Sayalay Anuttara who exhibited all these traits. Manipulative and spiritually dead, but trying to use religion as a way to control others, and further her own name. These people are sickening.Reply
4.  PeelingMyClementineJuly 23, 2019 at 8:56 amDamn. This is so descriptive of my personal situation. And I do refer to her as a parasite. She takes and takes, never gives unless it’s to bring herself some recognition. Everything I earn becomes hers, and she expects it, demands it, and is never grateful for it. She is now in the process of destroying everything I have worked for, my reputation, my life. Evil people.Reply
5.  SGAugust 22, 2019 at 10:19 amHow long ago was that Steve?Reply
6.  KellyOctober 7, 2019 at 6:25 amGeez pAuL u ever made an error in judgement like what really happensReply
7.  KellyOctober 7, 2019 at 6:27 amWhat about what u or your family peeled off her or put her thriugh.Reply

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Slippery Elm

POSTED MARCH 11, 2022 BY ANN MARIE IN ALL ARTICLES, BACKYARD PLANTS, HOUSEHOLD REMEDIES, PLANT OF THE WEEK6

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) is a deciduous tree that grows in a cold climate. It is also known as the red elm because of its reddish-brown inner heartwood. But what earns its popular name is the slippery and gooey mucilage found in its inner bark. This substance is used as an ingredient in most lozenges and suppositories. Slippery elm mucilage is also an excellent binder that can hold unleavened bread together. More than its medicinal value, the wood of the slippery elm also makes durable timber. It is used in boats and canoes because it remains strong even after a long time underwater.

The slippery elm tree also provides attractive foliage making them likable trees in parks and gardens. They are an excellent addition to winter and shade gardens, and they can attract butterflies and songbirds. On a separate note, collecting slippery elm barks can eventually kill it. This hounding overharvesting issue enlists it as an endangered tree. Thus, foraging for its bark is regulated and considered illegal in national and protected forests.

The slippery elm graces the forests of North America for many centuries and is a family to American elm. It is used as an herbal remedy for throat and stomach problems. Physicians during the American Revolution have used it as a poultice for gunshot wounds. Early American settlers also chew the slippery inner bark substance for quenching their thirst. The mucilage later gives it its name as a distinction from the American elm.

Where Is Slippery Elm Found?

Slippery elm is abundant in central and southern North America. It spreads over Maine and Florida and is also found in Texas and North Dakota. Some states in the United States and Canada may also grow a lower number of this hardwood. They particularly thrive in temperate forests and cove forests in low mountain regions.

Related: The Complete Map of Edible Plants: Find Out What You Have in Your Area! (Video)

How To Identify Slippery Elm

A medium-sized tree with a long trunk and spreading branches describes the slippery elm. It has a reddish-brown trunk with rough outer bark. But what sets it apart from other elm trees is its slimy inner bark.

• Leaves. This deciduous tree bears green leaves that will turn yellow and gold in the fall. It is oblong-shaped with serrations and is a little uneven at the base. The leaves have a rough texture, owing to the tiny hairs growing on their surface that are stiff at the upper part and pale at the base.
• Flower. Slippery elm flowers bloom from February to around April. The flowers are not showy, appearing in a dense cluster and short stalk. They are greenish-red or rusty-colored, with fuzzy hair but without petals. These flowers bloom before the leaves appear in the tree in early spring.
• Roots. The root system of the slippery elm is shallow and spreading. In dry soils, however, it may grow itself a taproot. It may spread in an area ranging from 24 to 60 ft.
• Seeds. The fertile flowers of the slippery elm will give rise to round samaras. A samara is a dry fruit without flesh but with papery wings. Slippery elm samara is single-seeded. The seed is about 12 to 18 mm long, often yellow or cream-colored.
• Stems/Trunks. Slippery elm trunks are rough, with their bark lined with deep furrows. The outer bark can be gray, dark brown, or reddish-brown, while the inner bark is rust-red colored. It oozes a clear, viscous, and gelatinous mucilage with a pleasant and fragrant smell.

Slippery elm has no known cultivars, but it was hybridized. In the early 20th century, the slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) was hybridized with the Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) in the wild. As a hybrid parent, slippery elm produces limited cultivars. The most successful hybrid cultivars were Lincoln, Coolshade, Fremont Rosehill, and Improved Coolshade.

Related: Plant Identification Guide – 400 Wild Plants That You Can Forage For (Video)

How To Grow Slippery Elm

Slippery elm is an endangered tree, and though it is a beautiful ornamental, it is hard to find commercially. Some shade and natural gardens may still grow these trees, but they thrive mostly in the wilds.

Propagating a slippery elm is possible through seeds. A cut-down tree stump will also grow new sprouts and eventually a new tree when left alone. They are easy to grow, hardy and tolerant, and may live for up to 300 years. They often fare up well in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9. If you want to grow it in your yard, you will need ample space to accommodate its spreading roots in at least 24 ft.

Growing Slippery Elm From Seeds

Ripe slippery elm samaras that have fallen off are ideal for planting. Do not bother with removing the wings to avoid damaging the seeds. Airdry the seeds and stratify them at 41°F (5°C) for about 60 to 90 days before planting.

You may sow the seeds in a large container or directly into your garden. Once the plant has established itself and under favorable conditions, it should grow at about 3 ft per year.

Related: 10 Plants That You Should Never Plant Together (Video)

Slippery Elm Plant Care

The slippery elm seedlings are hardy and tolerant to weather conditions. But they will grow best in the following cultural conditions:

• Clay-loam soil
• Soil pH level 6 to 8
• Well-draining, moist, or occasionally dry soil
• Full sun and partial shade

The problem with growing a slippery elm tree is that it is prone to Dutch elm disease. It is a kind of fungal disease in the bark spread by the bark beetles.

They are not as susceptible to the disease as the American elm, but infestation may still lead to plant death.

Prevention of the Dutch elm disease in elm trees includes proper pruning and watering. Accordingly, watering the plants from April to around mid-August will help. By mid-August, you should stop watering and allow only a couple more soaking before winter. It will allow the tree to harden up and prevent bugs from hosting in its trunk.

How To Harvest Slippery Elm

The inner bark is the most essential part of the slippery elm tree. Harvesting it means scraping off a sliver of its bark. Eventually, though, this process will also mean the imminent demise of the tree. The best way of harvesting tree bark is from its lower pruned branch and not from its trunk. It does not only apply to the slippery elm, but all trees foraged for their barks.

According to The Herbal Academy, the ideal way of foraging for bark is from naturally fallen trees within a few weeks after it fell. It can be tricky and a little less hopeful, but it is an ethical and sustainable way of bark harvesting.

The next best way is finding a small and low branch for a sliver of its bark. Slice a knife deep down into its wood, and the bark will come off easily. Once stripped off, separate the inner bark from the outer one. You can harvest the sap or dry the inner bark for later use or if you plan to grind it into powder.

Harvest of slippery elm bark is best done in spring and early summer. It is the season when the sap production is at its peak that it flows out of the bark easily.

What Slippery Elm Is Good For And Natural Remedies Made From It

Ulmus rubra is an excellent herb for treating colds and other respiratory symptoms. It has an effective action against asthma and is used for the fast healing of wounds and ulcers. Slippery elm is often used in lozenges that help in alleviating sore throat.

Traditionally, the slippery elm was used as a thirst quencher for the early American settlers. Its powdered bark is sometimes made into a nourishing gruel or porridge for sick and weakened patients. According to medicinal folklore, a gruel of slippery elm can heal broken bones faster. It is also an excellent antacid that can relieve GERD and heartburn and treat many digestive issues.

Slippery elm helps stimulate the nerve endings to increase their mucus production. Its slippery gel and the increased mucus coat the mouth, throat, and stomach alleviating any inflammation. This action also protects the gastrointestinal tract from ulcers and hyperacidity.

Slippery elm is also known for improving bowel movement. Thus, it is suggested as a cure for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and ulcerative colitis. It is also an ingredient used in the making of suppositories.

Related: Fertilize Your Gut? You Bet! Here’s How (Learn More)

There is little research evidence to back some of its medicinal properties. But the slippery elm is considered an effective herbal remedy for conditions like:

• Abscesses, boils, wounds, ulcers
• Asthma, laryngitis, sore throat, cough
• GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome
• Digestive problems
• Other respiratory problems
• Smoking addiction

What Parts Of The Slippery Elm Is Used For Remedies?

The mucilaginous inner bark is the most valuable part of the slippery elm used for remedies. Its leaves, flowers, and roots also make an important part in making infusions and decoctions. The inner bark that is harvested is sold either in its dried or powdered form.

Finely grounded slippery elm bark is good for tea and extracts preparations. Meanwhile, the coarsely powdered bark is ideal for use as a poultice. Today, slippery elm is marketed as a tablet, capsule, lozenge, or extract. Some manufacturers may add the slippery elm as an ingredient of nutrition drinks and some baby foods.

Related: My #1 Go-To Herb for Avoiding Influenza, Colds, and Severe Respiratory Illness (Learn More)

Slippery Elm Cough Drops

What You Will Need:

• Medium-sized mixing bowl
• Wax paper
• Tray or baking sheet

Ingredients:

• 1 cup slippery elm bark, finely ground
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 to 6 tbsp honey, as a binder

Steps:

1. Warm the honey in a syrup consistency.
2. In a bowl, mix slippery elm powder, cinnamon and honey to form a dough. You can add a little more honey if the mixture is too dry.
3. Line the tray with wax paper. Take a small portion of the slippery elm mixture and form it into small balls. Gently lay the slippery elm balls on the tray.
4. Leave the balls to dry for about 24 hours or longer if in a damp climate. Cover, if needed.
5. Cut wax paper into squares. Wrap the slippery elm cough drops with it.
6. Store them in an airtight container or an airtight bag. Label with the date.

How To Use This Remedy:

These slippery elm cough drops will last for approximately three weeks in the container. You can take one cough drop at least three times a day with a dosage not exceeding 3 tbsp in a day. The combination of slippery elm, honey, and cinnamon is perfect for treating sore throat and cough.

What Plants Resemble Slippery Elm

Feature	Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)	Beech Tree (Fagus grandifolia)	White Birch (Betula papyrifera)

Size	Up to 70 ft high; 2 to 3 ft in diameter	60 to 80 ft tall; 2 to 3 ft in diameter	50 to 70 ft tall; up to 2.5 ft in diameter
Leaves	Oblong; double-serrated; alternate; green to gold; hairy	Oblong; serrated; green//brown/gold; alternate; hairy; glossy	Oval; double serrated; green; smooth; hairy
Flowers	Green to red/ burgundy; dense cluster with short stalk; fuzzy	Green to white; male flowers in a globular cluster; female flowers in short spike	Green/brown, copper; greenish female flowers; long and brownish male flower
Stem/Trunk	Gray or brown; with shallow furrows and flat ridges; downy twigs	Thin and smooth gray bark	White, flaky bark; with black marks;
Scent	Sweet, maple syrup-like smell	No characteristic odor	Clean and sweet pine-scent

Showing 1 to 6 of 6 entries

Warnings And Cautions

Slippery elm may not be safe in pregnant and breastfeeding women and should be avoided for safety. Traditionally, it is an abortifacient, which can cause miscarriage and preterm birth. However, it is unclear whether the cause is in administering slippery elm vaginally, or orally.

The slippery elm is safe for children, but a health practitioner’s advice is needed for the dosage and administration of slippery elm supplements. Adults, especially those taking maintenance medicines for various conditions should also contact their health service provider. This herb may interfere with the absorption of some drugs and herbs.

When taking any supplements, even natural herbs, it is best to talk to your doctor. They can tell the possible interaction with your current medication or their potential side effects. Slippery elm does not have adverse side effects but it can cause allergies to people with product sensitivities.

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Home Remedies For Acid RefluxPlease Spread The Word – Share This Post

6 Comments

• DELTON T TOLLETT POSTED MARCH 11, 2022 12:20 PMThere is no mention of the use of tree sap. Is there no value to it?Reply
• J POSTED MARCH 11, 2022 1:07 PMOrganic Slippery Elm Bark Powder
  https://amzn.to/3pXhNuKGround Cinnamon
  https://amzn.to/35JwgU9Pure, Raw & Unfiltered Honey
  https://amzn.to/3CA05lMWax Paper Sheets
  https://amzn.to/3J4or9OResealable Clear Silver Mylar Bags
  https://amzn.to/37nZFDMReply
• DONNA MARSHALL POSTED MARCH 11, 2022 11:54 PMThank you this information was very educating. I now intend to plant as many as I can. Just need seeds or saplings. D.Marshall3/22Reply
• J POSTED MARCH 13, 2022 11:56 PMLol. Here ya go my friend!Slippery Elm seeds to plant
  https://amzn.to/36hEfYbReply
• SUSAN G POSTED MARCH 14, 2022 9:36 PMThank you so much. This is so timely as my S. Elm is blooming now. I’m needing to prune some rather large limbs. This is perfect timing. I wasn’t sure how to harvest it or prepare it until now.Reply
• KAREN T POSTED MARCH 16, 2022 7:29 PMWhen my pooch has an upset stomach he’s out munching elm leaves. Especially small newer ones. Animal can tell us a lot about nature.Reply

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