Earlier this week I sent out an update in an attempt to keep each of you fully informed about the ever-changing landscape, relative to each of us.  At that time I wrote that I would be changing the habit of a VH lifetime and I will not be writing a newsletter in the foreseeable future, but would instead send out weekly bulletins.

The first thing I want to do is to say thank you to all those who sent emails and called with words of encouragement, they mean so much because we are of course doing everything we can to help support you with products and guidance at this difficult time.  A call out here to Jonathan of Seed & Bean.  Having written that we all need chocolate, he was on the phone literally within three minutes of receiving my email telling me he was sending chocolate.  Retaining my humour through all of this, I burst out laughing and asked if he was sending chocolate to me or to the world!  Anyway, my thanks.

On a more serious note, I remain pragmatic and determined that we will get through this together.  For twenty years we have been fortunate enough to help look after the health and wellbeing of so many of you, and that of course continues.  It is a huge responsibility, we have always known that, and that responsibility extends to the words that I write.

I want to make it abundantly clear that the products I have written about, and will be writing about, do not prevent any of us from catching the COVID-19 virus.  Of course we recommend taking immunity supplementation, we always have.  These products serve to support, not prevent contagious diseases, but we take the view that we must do all we can to help strengthen our immunity at this time.

A word here about supply and demand.  We are living in unprecedented times and if I thought the wait list was extreme when Nigella wrote about Prickly Pear Seed Oil in The Sunday Times, this goes beyond the extreme across all supplementation.  For the most part I have kept wait list notifications on each of the most-wanted product pages.  I think it is better to do this than to give false hope that the products are in stock.  With such fast-moving circumstances, please forgive us if we are late to do this on some products, we are doing all we can.

That said, we are still receiving deliveries of some of the most-wanted products and we will be quietly working through all those orders and doing whatever we can to get these to each of you.  I will not be making any big announcements about stock arriving, save to say that another consignment of DermSafe has arrived, because that will only make the situation worse.  I am confident, all things being equal, that we will get all orders covered in time.  What I don’t know is the time frame, so please bear with us.  I will repeat here that our customer care team are under extreme pressure and our first priority is to help support and advise the people who need us the most, so with the best will in the world, please refrain from calling or emailing about your order, it will help an awful lot of people enormously.

Through all of this, so many are feeling anxious and we have been helping those who are having panic attacks.  At times of stress, the adrenals produce a variety of corticosteroid hormones, including cortisol.  These steroidal hormones suppress the effectiveness of the immune system by lowering the number of white blood cells being produced effectively, making the body vulnerable to infection.  It is all very well me writing that we must try and stay calm, but I understand the difficulty in trying to achieve that.  Deep breathing is helpful, but if you are in need of added support, we are recommending Magnolia Rhodiola Complex, which is our bestselling supplement for anxiety and stress.  For further insight, Shabir’s article is below.  Just to add, if you are taking prescribed anti-depressants, please do not take this supplement.
VH Editorial: How To Combat Stress Effectively; Magnolia Rhodiola Complex £28 for 60 Capsules

Sleep has always played an important role in the health of our bodies; a lack of sleep could adversely affect your immunity.  While we sleep peacefully, our bodies make specific protein compounds called cytokines, which target infection and inflammation.  If you have problems sleeping then we are currently recommending Cherry Night Powder or Herbal Sleep PM.  To add to this, I would recommend slapping on a Spacemask.  They have a tendency to ‘send you’.  Right now I would quite like to be sent to the production line of Daily Immunity.  I do wish they would hurry up!
Cherry Night £25.95 for 150 grams; Herbal Sleep PM £20 for 30 Capsules; Spacemasks £15 for Five Masks

Numerous studies have indicated a relationship between vitamin D and a healthy immune system.  Specifically, Danish scientists have found that the release of specialised T cells, which help destroy bacteria and viruses, are dependent upon adequate vitamin D levels.  A vitamin D deficiency inhibits the proper function of those T cells.  ‘The practice of self-isolation means supplementation of vitamin D is essential to help reinforce immunity’ writes Andy Thomas, Founder of Better You.  And for the record, I agree with him.
DLux 3000 Spray by Better You £7.95 for 15 ml

Most of you take Mega Probiotic ND, so our recommendation is to continue taking it at this time.  Once again, several studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of the L-acidophilus and Bifidobacteria species, showing that these strains appear to help enhance anti-viral activity.  Shown to help promote the production of the antibodies which help protect the body against infection, Mega P (as we call it) is a broad spectrum probiotic and contains eight strains of beneficial bacteria that are acid resistant.  More in Shabir’s article below.
VH Editorial: Probiotics: The Most Important Supplement For The Whole Family; Mega Probiotic ND £19.50 for 60 Capsules

In the absence of the newsletter, I would just like to say that I will be using these bulletins to bring you all the latest product launches, albeit they we will be spread out over the following few weeks.  For the moment, I have kept these off this bulletin because our health is paramount at this time.  That said, I have to tell you that I am not on a skincare holiday as it were.  I mean I don’t want to come out of this looking ten years older, so carry on and all I will say here is that this is perhaps where Neurophroline comes into its own.  If we are stressed, our skin is stressed, so my skincare product of the day, is of course Neurophroline as it has been clinically shown to help reduce cortisol levels in our skin.  Amen to that.
Neurophroline Serum £18 for 30 ml

And a treat.  Why not.  The aptly-named Brightening Anti-Pollution Mask from Aurelia Probiotic Skincare, is a rich and whipped face mask formulation to help replenish and purify the skin.  It boosts cell-turnover promoting brightness and hydration.  If you buy this Anti-Pollution Mask, you will automatically receive Aurelia’s hero product, Miracle Cleanser (50 ml), which is worth £17.50.  This will not show up on your invoice, but will automatically be sent.  Whilst stock lasts.
Brightening Anti-Pollution Mask by Aurelia Probiotic Skincare £58 for 60 ml (Miracle Cleanser £42 for 120 ml)

Right, I’m stopping now, lest this could actually turn into a newsletter, which wouldn’t be difficult because I have no control over myself when I’m writing, but a couple of things, because I can’t help myself:

As I write this, we are all fit and well here, so I want you to know that we will continue to do the best we possibly can under very difficult circumstances.  I have always believed that we must lead by example and I want to re-assure you that I can see right the way through fear-marketing, which continues unabated.  It is not in my nature to diss products, brands or people, but it’s all I can do to stop myself exploding with anger at the unscrupulous behaviour of some.  I just want to reiterate that there is not a product, in any category, that will prevent COVID-19.  If there was, the world would know about it, so please be vigilant and try and stay away from the dross, which would include the brand that asked me to do a media campaign on a product that they claimed will prevent COVID-19.  I deleted it.

Together with Shabir and the entire VH team, I want to thank you for your trust and loyalty, which at times overwhelms me, but I’ll refrain from getting too emotional, otherwise I’ll start writing reams on that subject and Shabir will have another one of his eye-rolling-moments; in any given day there are several of those moments, let me tell you.

Finally, I said earlier in the week that I would be supported by our editorial team and so I hope you enjoy reading Jo Fairley’s article, Small Pleasures, which I know many of you will relate to, including warming your knickers (read pants for the boys) on a radiator perhaps!
Small Pleasures by Jo Fairley

Please stay safe and have a restful weekend.
My thoughts are continuously with each of you.

Gill x

 

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