The Secret My Mother-in-Law Spilled with a Laugh
The first time it happened, it seemed harmless. My mother-in-law, Delphina, was laughing at her friend Rosabel for not knowing what paprika was. I smiled, stirring the stew, cheeks burning — I didn’t know either. Later, when Rosabel left, Delphina turned to me: “You should know these things. You embarrass Darian when you don’t.” Her words stung. The next day, I went to the library and studied spices. Learning gave me back a sense of control.
But when I stopped by Darian’s office to surprise him, I learned he’d left with a woman named Keira. That night, he came home smelling of perfume that wasn’t mine. Days later, his phone buzzed with a message: “I miss you already. —Keira.” When I confronted him, he admitted it. Delphina appeared in the doorway, ordering me to stay for his reputation. In that moment, I realized I wasn’t his partner — just a prop.
I left. My mother welcomed me, and slowly, I rebuilt. I took cooking classes, joined a café, and my paprika chicken became a bestseller. For the first time in years, I felt proud. One day, Delphina walked into the café. She froze when she saw me behind the counter, smiling and confident. She left without a word.
Months later, Darian appeared, saying Keira had left him. He wanted me back. I shook my head. “I’ve already found what I needed.” What began with humiliation over a spice ended with freedom. I found my own strength — and never looked back.
X-Ray Reveals Hundreds of Gold Needles in Woman’s Knees
A 65-year-old woman in South Korea discovered the surprising cause of her chronic knee pain: hundreds of tiny gold acupuncture needles embedded in her joints.
She had long battled osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that wears down cartilage and bone, leading to stiffness and pain. When conventional treatments like anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers upset her stomach, she turned to acupuncture for relief.
Her therapy involved a controversial method in which gold needles are inserted and left in the body, supposedly to provide ongoing stimulation. Some practitioners believe this can reduce pain for arthritis patients.
But according to the New England Journal of Medicine, the practice can be dangerous. Experts warn that leaving foreign objects inside the body often triggers inflammation, infection, or abscesses as the immune system tries to fight them off.
Dr. Ali Guermazi, a radiology professor at Boston University, explained that embedded needles can also complicate imaging tests. “The human body wants to expel foreign objects,” he said, noting that scar tissue can form around them, obscuring X-ray details.
He also cautioned that patients with embedded metal face added risks during procedures such as MRIs, since the needles could shift and damage blood vessels. Despite these dangers, the technique remains relatively common in some parts of Asia.
While acupuncture itself has gained popularity worldwide, the scientific evidence for permanent implants like gold needles is weak. Still, many patients seek it as an alternative when other options fail.
In the U.S., a 2007 NIH survey estimated more than 3 million adults and 150,000 children had tried acupuncture. Cases like this highlight the importance of approaching alternative therapies with caution and ensuring proper medical oversight.
