Before anything, I would just like to thank you for your emails last weekend and having written that the chosen song, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, would strike a chord, it most certainly did.  I have always believed that music not only helps the healing process, but it also offers an opportunity to relate to circumstantial issues shared by so many of us.  It is also in the acknowledgement of such issues that we are able to have the insight and understanding, which goes some way towards helping us to cope, knowing that we are not alone and we are not suffering in silence.  Recognition supports and recognition also allows an element of respite and comfort.

Recognition, the correct recognition, speaks volumes about intent and if we are to gain a balanced perspective, we need to talk about our own experiences, which in and of itself can be rather cathartic.  Intent also enables us to enable our core belief system without abdicating that core to those who harm us, thus disturbing our equilibrium.  We live, we learn, and we do that learning together because we are positioned to do so.  In so doing we are offered another opportunity, to enable our own health and wellbeing in safety and in trust, which is so crucially important.  Leaving no stone left unturned.  Between us.

So, we go where we need to go and I absolutely know that includes talking about any number of health issues that can lower our confidence and self-esteem, which is why I often write about hair loss.  I know I wrote about Superior Hair recently, but a few words here about Bamboo Extract, most especially because it has been out of stock for a few weeks because of raw ingredient issues yet again, but it is now back, so let’s take a look at this specific formulation, which can be taken as an adjunct to Superior Hair, or as a stand-alone.

Formulated to include a high strength silica, Bamboo Extract also includes Biotin, which is one of several vitamins that play a role in the growth of healthy, thicker hair.  Bamboo is rich in silica, which is an essential mineral for helping to maintain the health of the skin, ligaments, tendons and bones, as well as working to bind with other nutrients for deliverance to the scalp follicles.  Bamboo Extract is the richest known source of silica and it contains over 70% organic silica and is considered to be ten times more potent than horsetail silica.  That aside, silica enhances the function of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and boron, essential for normal bone development.

Although relatively unknown, the importance of silica should not be under-estimated, which is why I am going to refer you to Shabir’s article about this essential mineral.  In that article Shabir explains the role of silica in our bodies and how it can help support the health of our hair, skin and nails.  And having said all of that, I can only apologise if you have been on the wait list for Bamboo Extract as we welcome it back to us.
VH Editorial: Silica Supplements For Hair, Skin and Nails; Bamboo Extract £20 for 60 Capsules; Superior Hair £32 for 90 Capsules

Within the body of the above-mentioned article, Shabir states that silica stimulates fibroblasts that produce collagen type-1, which many of you may find interesting.  He also states that silica promotes the proper mineral balance between calcium and magnesium within the body, so taking that lead, I would now like to throw the focus on magnesium, which is another important mineral, required by every cell in the body.  Involved in over 300 biochemical reactions, magnesium supports muscle and nerve relaxation, energy production, hormone manufacture, bone health and numerous other processes, including the stress response.

I want to talk here about tension headaches, which are directly linked to stress levels.  Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and whilst for the majority these tension headaches are mild, for others the pain can continue for several days.  It is thought that the stress hormone, cortisol, causes the tightening of the muscles and nerves around the neck, resulting in reduced blood flow to the brain, although there are other factors that play a role in tension headaches, including hormonal imbalances, poor diet, sleep disturbances and, of course, a lack of magnesium.

Being the key mineral for relaxation, it is a given that we always recommend magnesium supplementation to be taken as an adjunct to specifically targeted supplementation and that would include Magnolia Rhodiola Complex, which is our bestselling supplement for anxiety issues, and of course Sleep Tight Plus for sleep issues.  When Shabir formulated Magnesium Complex, he ensured that eight forms of magnesium were included with each form providing the correct therapeutic strength to maximise their own primary benefits.  Optimised in efficacy, I am dropping the price of Magnesium Complex down from £22 to £19, across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Preventing And Treating Stress Headaches; Magnesium Complex £19 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 9 July); Magnolia Rhodiola Complex £28 for 60 Capsules; Sleep Tight Plus £26 for 60 Capsules

Vaginal dryness.  Vaginal dryness during perimenopause and menopause is one of the most common concerns associated with declining sex hormones and it is estimated that one in four women experience vaginal dryness during menopause.  Typical symptoms include itching, painful intercourse as well as urinary discomfort and the thing here is that vaginal dryness can occur several years before the onset of menopause and well beyond menopause.  Having established that declining oestrogen levels are responsible for vaginal dryness, the first supplement to consider here would be a safe hormone-mimicking supplement.  And that supplement is Sage Complex.   

Sage Complex contains many traditional herbs such as Dong Quai, which is a widely used female hormonal tonic, Sage Leaf which has a rich content of hormone-mimicking compounds which also works on the hypothalamus, which is the temperature regulating gland, thereby helping to alleviate hot flushes and night sweats, and Hops, which aside from their anti-anxiety properties, provide compounds that have also been shown to help reduce hot flushing.  I’m not finished on this subject yet, but in order to be neat, I am dropping the price of Sage Complex down from £28 to £25 before I comment further on Turmeric supplementation.  Which I’m about to do.
VH Editorial: Sage Complex: The Hormone-Mimicking Supplement; Sage Complex £25 for 90 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 9 July)

Turmeric is one of the most researched ingredients in the world, yet it is rarely considered to be used in the context of vaginal dryness.  The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which displays potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.  Both properties quench inflammation in the soft tissues of the body, including the vagina.  When the glands that produce fluids in the vagina get inflamed, there is a further reduction in the amount of lubricant fluid produced, but in order to uphold efficacy, the correct supplementation should be used.

Research has indicated that the vast majority of turmeric supplementation contain very low levels of curcumin and are easily degraded by the stomach acids, which is the main reason Shabir formulated Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex.  Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex provides the correct therapeutic dosages of curcumin and curcuminoids allowing them to be retained in the body for longer periods of time, thereby offering greater potential for calming inflammation in the entire body, including the vaginal tissues.  And having taken down the price of Sage Complex, I will also take down the price of Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex from £26 to £23.  Onwards. 
VH Editorial: Overcoming Menopausal Vaginal Dryness; Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex £23 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 9 July)

I just want to say here that most of our individual bestselling supplements cover differing health concerns, which is just as well as there are only so many supplements we can take at any given time.  Magnesium Complex is one of those supplements as is Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex.  As such I am linking below Shabir’s article on Turmeric, the spice with health benefits because there are so many positive health benefits from this single supplement and I might as well do the same on Magnesium.  Backing it all up.  Essentially.
VH Editorials: Turmeric – The Spice With Health Benefits; Magnesium Supplements: Benefits, Deficiencies & Side Effects

If we are doing common health concerns, then acid reflux, heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are right up there.  Many people resort to antacids, which are not without side effects as they can often deplete the body of many vitamins and minerals, mostly referred to as nutrient malabsorption.  A natural alternative to antacids is Gentian, a herb which can help decrease the incidence and severity of these concerns and it is considered to be one of the best herbs for digestion as it enhances the body’s natural digestion process, without working against it.

Gentian is a bitter herb, which is the precise reason it works as its bitter action allows the stimulation of salivary, stomach and intestinal digestive enzymes.  The Gentian supplement Shabir tends to recommend is Yarrow Complex, which contains wild-crafted Gentian extract together with a combination of other herbs including Yarrow, Centaurium, Dandelion, Melissa and Angelica.  Angelica contains volatile oils that have an anti-inflammatory action on the digestive system, also easing colic, wind and reducing flatulence.
VH Editorial: Try Gentian Tincture For Heartburn, Acid Reflux & GERD; Yarrow Complex by A. Vogel £11.99 for 50 ml

Weight Gain. This is not a subject I particularly like talking about for many different reasons, but I understand that it is an issue and that moderate solutions should be acknowledged.  So, I will let Shabir do that acknowledgement by way of an article about Yacon Syrup, which can help moderate weight loss if used in conjunction with a healthy, balanced diet.  Yacon Syrup can also be used as a natural alternative to chemical sweeteners, which are somewhat controversial at the moment.  In fact, they have always been controversial, so with that said I am dropping the price of Yacon Syrup on both sizes for the interim, as listed below.
VH Editorial: Can Yacon Syrup Help You Lose Weight; Organic Yacon Syrup £6.49 for 170 ml (drops from £7.49); Organic Yacon Syrup £13.99 for 425 ml (drops from £15.99)

As I’ve often written, launching a new brand or a new product is never easy, but more than that the outcome is relatively unknown because no matter what, it either resonates or it doesn’t, it’s as simple as that.  One brand that certainly resonated was Peep Club and its bestselling product, the Heated Eye Wand, an innovative device which was created to help soothe, hydrate and restore dry, tired eyes.  On from that we launched the upgraded Heated Eye Wand Pro and the Heated Eye Wand Pro Nickel Free.

Sitting alongside the Heated Eye Wands, are a range of topical products, including the Instant Relief Eye Spray, which has been clinically proven to relieve dry eye symptoms such as redness, irritation, watering eyes and heavy tired eyes.  Instant Relief Eye Spray has been out of stock recently, but it is now back and by way of yet another celebration, if you buy any of the Peep Club products, with the exception of the Reusable Velvet Bamboo Pads, we will automatically include Instant Eye Relief Spray, which is worth £15, as a gift.  This is a limited edition offer and as such there is only one gift per customer.
Peep Club Products

We are on a roll, so let’s do Fulvic.  And we are going to do Fulvic Body Lotion, but we are going to do it with a twist.  As so many of you know, Shabir formulated each of the Fulvic products. Fulvic Body Lotion was specifically formulated because we wanted to create a body lotion which incorporated two breakthrough skin technologies which delivered intense hydration to dry skin, helping to prevent loss of tone, elasticity and firmness, and it certainly does that with its repairing and regenerating properties.  The devotion to this product is very real.  And now the twist.

Despite the fact that we have reviews on our site, I receive many emails about specific products which are nearly always accompanied with a story.  And this story is about Fulvic Acid Mist and how it healed a ‘hole’ in a customer’s face, her words, not mine.  The hole stemmed from a spot and having read that I spray my skin with Fulvic Acid Mist on a newsletter, she decided to do the same, purely and simply to enhance the health of her skin.  I think you can guess the outcome, over time, and totally unexpectedly, the hole in her face went through various stages of healing and finally disappeared, together with an undiagnosed skin lesion.

I absolutely know, and I have always known that Fulvic has wound-healing properties, but I have to caveat this by saying that this is one customer’s experience and it may or may not be a one-off experience.  Notwithstanding that, Fulvic Acid Mist is an exceptional product, not only for the integrity of our skin, but because it also helps promote the health and wellbeing of our scalps, with reference here to thinning hair and hair loss.  So, this is what we are going to do, if you buy Fulvic Body Lotion, we will automatically include Fulvic Acid Mist (60 ml), which is worth £12.50.  Fulvic Acid Mist first.  Fulvic Body Lotion second. On skin. Sorted.
Fulvic Body Lotion £20 for 200 ml + Fulvic Acid Mist 60 ml (worth £12.50)

Let’s do a new product and it comes from Margaret Dabbs.  Pure Nail Strengthening Treatment has been formulated to aid nail recovery, restore natural nails and support nail growth.  It contains Neonyca, a naturally derived Celery seed complex which is known to have deeply hydrating benefits.  It is joined by fatty acids and vitamins and it can be used as a natural finish to nails, a treatment on bare nails or as a strengthening treatment base coat under nail polish.  It works really for nails that break easily and it comes with a treat.  If you buy Pure Nail Strengthening Treatment, we will automatically include the Super Shiner Buffer, also from Margaret Dabbs, which is worth £9.
Pure Nail Strengthening Treatment by Margaret Dabbs London £16 for 9 ml + Super Shiner Buffer (worth £9)

As clever products go, this next product is really clever.  Green People have just released their Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent, which is a two-in-one plant-based formulation that hydrates and cools the skin after sun exposure, whilst also protecting against insect bites.  Infused with a fresh peppermint scent which has an undertone of citrus balanced with lavender, it is DEET-free and it helps protect the skin from midges, ticks, black flies, leeches and mosquitoes for up to four hours after one application.  Let’s launch this by reducing the price down to £14 from the RRP of £16.  And let’s do it for the interim.  In recognition of product innovation.
Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent by Green People £14 for 100 ml

Before we head into the Saturday only treat, I need to correct something I wrote on the last Weekend Read.  Launching Beam & Balance from Bare Biology, I wrote that this oral spray provides 400 iu of vegan Vitamin D3 balanced with 100 ug of K2 per three sprays.  I should have written that it provides 4000 iu of vegan Vitamin D3, but I left off a zero.  My error completely, but I type too fast at times and I didn’t spot the mistake when I was editing either.  Not too sure where my head was, somewhere in the clouds I guess, so I will keep this product at its launch price of £17.95, down from £19.95.  And I’m sorry.
Beam & Balance by Bare Biology £17.95 for 25 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 9 July)

And into the Saturday only treat we go and this week with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically add one of three different patches* from Ross J. Barr.  You may receive the Healing Patch, a pair of the Calm Patches or a pair of the Sleep Patches.  These gifts are selected electronically, so I am unable to differentiate between the three with specific requests, which I’m sure you can understand.  I’m linking below the Ross J. Barr products for further information.
Ross J. Barr Products

Finally, we each have our sensitivities and we are often overcome with emotion, in other words we are human beings.  As such, I will continue writing about the issues that affect so many of us, most particularly mental health issues.  We are health, we are wellbeing and we would be lacking in our duty and responsibility to each other if we were to ignore these issues.  That is something I will not do, because it matters too much, and although I am sometimes pulled up for taking this stance, I don’t really care because I’m going to do it anyway.

Let’s continue to rock and roll. On a Saturday morning.
All Right Now by Free; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x

 

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Prices and products advertised at times of sending and publishing are subject to change and availability.

*Free gifts will only be granted if the items purchased are physical products and your total basket value exceeds the required amount noted.  Saturday only treats are subject to change should the specified gift run out prior to your purchase and are only included in orders placed between 7.45am (GMT) and Midnight (GMT) on the Saturday the Weekend Read is sent.  VH Addicts membership is a digital product and therefore will be excluded from the basket value.  Some gifts are blocked from international shipping due to local limitations imposed based on the country destination.  If this is the case, we will replace the gift with one that is able to be shipped to your destination.