Another Weekend Read, another conversation and I would just like to take a moment to acknowledge the warmth and generosity which embodies the spirit of our being. We can only ever gain our strength with a combination of several factors, all of which are rooted in the transparency of the path we are on together as we continue to explore our commitment to the remarkable research in our field, honouring the cutting-edge and pioneering ingredients which make such a difference to so many of us.

This very commitment is far from the domination of mass-market products and it could be said we are polar opposites given that these industrial supply chains are more connected to their balance sheets than our emotional health and wellbeing. I have always been very clear about our role, and I absolutely know that we will never achieve market share as such, it would be ridiculous to even think that we could achieve that, but if I were to dream, that dream would allow a far wider understanding of our intent and purpose, an intent and purpose driven by a passionate desire for the truth regarding our health and wellbeing.

In all of this, I have always believed that like-minded people really do find each other and in and of itself there is such a strength in that recognition with our defining mantra embracing the love and respect we continue to share. And perhaps, with a touch of creative visualisation, you could say that we reside in our very own bubble, a collective bubble where we are safely supported and protected in each and every moment of our lives. And that really matters.

And so February, a month where much support is needed for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I tend to talk about this twice a year, mostly because it is important to offer a pragmatic solution, but in order to offer that pragmatic solution, we need to understand this condition which impacts upon our mental wellbeing. SAD can affect any age and gender, although it is more common in women and symptoms include low mood, sleep disturbances, a lack of concentration, low levels of motivation and pessimistic thoughts, so let’s take a look.

The causal factor of SAD is not fully understood, but it is clear that it seems to be related to the amount of sunlight. The circadian rhythms of our bodies are regulated by the amount of daylight and of course during the winter months days are shorter with less daylight hours and it is this lack of daylight which appears to have an effect on the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus plays a key role in numerous and complex functions within our bodies including hormone cycles, sleep and wake-up cycle times, as well as our emotional state of being.

All hormonal glands communicate with each other using hormones as chemical messengers, we have always known this and an imbalance in any hormone can therefore have an impact on the body. With SAD, the hypothalamus, the adrenals and the brain are interlinked through a complex series of chemical reactions resulting in increasing our levels of melatonin, the hormone responsible for the sleep-wake cycle. In turn, this leads to a reduction in the production of serotonin, the mood elevating chemical in the brain, so it follows that SAD can detrimentally impact mood.

There are numerous treatment strategies for SAD, including light therapy and anti-depressants which are often prescribed if symptoms are severe, yet not all exhibit each of the symptoms of SAD and this milder form of SAD is often referred to as the ‘winter blues’. In this circumstance we recommend Magnolia Rhodiola Complex and studies have shown that potent extracts of magnolia can help to physically relax the muscles of our body, alleviating some of the symptoms of anxiety. Additionally, magnolia extracts have been shown to help reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is of equal importance.

It should also be noted that in times of stress the adrenal glands place a huge demand for B and C vitamins as both are required for the manufacture of the anti-stress hormones. With deficiencies creating stress in the adrenal glands, this results in increased cortisol production, but additionally, vitamins B and C have been shown to directly affect the neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin and dopamine, which are the nerve calming and mood elevating hormones, with evidence suggesting that both vitamins achieve balance by metabolising the chemicals known to cause anxiety and depression. Here we recommend Vitamin B Complex with Vitamin C.

In any health concern, it is important to look at contributing factors and given the above, these factors are not solely attributable to SAD, because they offer a fundamental solution to all forms of low mood and anxiety. And with Magnolia Rhodiola Complex being our bestselling supplement for the relief of symptoms associated with stress, anxiety and low mood, I am dropping the price of Magnolia Rhodiola Complex from £29 to £26 across the weekend, with the offer ending at midnight GMT, Sunday 2 February.
VH Editorial: Seasonal Affective Disorder; DoSe Magnolia Rhodiola Complex £26 for 60 Capsules; Vitamin B Complex with Vitamin C by Terranova £12.38 for 50 Capsules

I often repeat message and I think it is important to do so for several reasons, not least because in each and every moment we welcome new people into our way of being, but another reason is because it is a constant battle to receive recognition for the extensive clinical research which supersedes all that has gone before. I often write about this and I will write about this ad infinitum, mostly because I trust clinical evidence far more than commercially driven articles which so often fail to offer any form of objectivity.

And so NAD+ Generator, which has been formulated with the clinically evaluated RiaGev™ which outperforms NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide). NMN has been extensively written about for several years, but it has been shown to be an inefficient way of increasing NAD+ levels and as levels of NAD decline with age, we need to supplement those levels to support numerous age-related disorders, essentially because NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme involved in fighting cellular ageing and enhancing the energy levels required for cell repair and regeneration, whilst also sustaining our metabolic rate.

I think the best thing to do here is to refer you to Shabir’s article, which I have linked below, where you will find references to the evidence-based clinicals supporting our stance. Support is, and has always been so incredibly important to us, so by way of further support with every NAD+ Generator bought across the weekend, we will automatically include the travel size NAD+ Generator (15 capsules), which has a value of £16. And that is that, until the next time I write about a clinically evaluated compound superseding all else, which is coming this month. And I can’t wait.
VH Editorial: Are NAD Supplements Beneficial; DoSe NAD+ Generator £32 for 30 Capsules + NAD+ Generator (15 Capsules) Free (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 2 February)

Right, let’s move on and having thrown the focus on eye health last weekend, I want to throw the focus on ear health this weekend, but most specifically I want to talk about loss of hearing and Omega-3’s, which is rather interesting. As we age, many people experience hearing loss, which can, in some cases also lead to tinnitus. There have been several studies across the past decade which have reported conclusively that the consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce hearing loss in an ageing population.

Omega-3 fatty acids are known to be important for the health of the body as part of a balanced diet, but the body cannot manufacture Omega-3 and it has been evidenced that there is a relationship between hearing loss and Omega-3 intake. The Blue Mountains Hearing Study, carried out in Australia, was a population-based study which spanned five years.

In this study approximately 3000 participants filled out questionnaires from which their Omega-3 intakes were calculated and were given a hearing test at the start of the study and then five years later, where it was shown that those who ate oily fish twice a week or more had a 42% lower risk of hearing loss, compared to those who ate fish once a week. There is not a simple answer as to how much Omega-3 we need daily, but for balance we recommend Life and Soul’s Omega-3 Daily Fish Oil to supplement Omega-3 intake, which drops in price from £31.95 to £28.50 and is in line with evidenced research.
VH Editorial: Loss Of Hearing And Omega-3’s; Life & Soul Omega 3 Fish Oil Daily Capsules by Bare Biology £28.50 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 2 February)

Following through, and having mentioned tinnitus above, Plantago Tincture has also been found to be useful for the treatment of tinnitus. Plantago lanceolate, or English plantain, is a common weed which is composed of numerous compounds including mucilage, tannins, zinc and silicic acid. Plantago displays anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, astringent and demulcent properties and it is frequently used to help alleviate catarrh, sinusitis and many concerns affecting the nose and throat. The full lowdown on tinnitus, which is a Latin word meaning ‘ringing’, is linked below.
VH Editorial: What Is Tinnitus; Plantago Tincture by A. Vogel £12.99 for 50 ml

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote pretty extensively about cold hands and feet, referencing poor circulation. We have always recommended Diosmin Plus for poor circulation, essentially because we believe it to be best-in-class in its genre, but of course there are topical solutions which can be used either as an adjunct to Diosmin Plus or as stand-alone products and given that we will always acknowledge and endorse ground-breaking new products, I have two new products to share with you, both from Margaret Dabbs.

Those two products are ThermaSulis™ Warming Hand Cream and ThermaSulis™ Warming Foot Cream featuring Thermolat, an advanced, safe warming agent that delivers a soothing sensation of warmth. This makes them ideal for relaxing cold, tired or numb hands and feet, helping to improve circulation, whilst simultaneously providing deep hydration. These two products are particularly relevant for those living with Raynaud’s phenomenon, a condition that affects up to 20% of the adult population worldwide and an estimated 10 million people in the UK alone, but of course we can all benefit from the comfort of warmth at this time of the year. Bravo Margaret Dabbs.
ThermaSulis™ Warming Hand Cream by Margaret Dabbs London £18 for 75 ml; ThermaSulis™ Warming Foot Cream by Margaret Dabbs £18 for 75 ml; DoSe Diosmin Plus £28 for 60 Capsules

Onwards with another new product and this time it is from Temple Spa. Clear To Me is an ultra-lightweight, fast absorbing serum which has been formulated with skin-clearing ingredients and Mediterranean botanicals including salicylic acid, vitamins A, B3 and C in the form of microencapsulated retinal, niacinamide and Kakadu plum, together with willow herb, olive and date oils, antioxidant vitamin E and zinc. This serum should be used after cleansing and before moisturising, but it can also be applied directly to blemishes and other areas of concerns, with a recommendation that it should be used at night for best results.
Clear To Me by Temple Spa £50 for 28 ml

Staying with Temple Spa, the monthly treats have returned and for the month of February we throw the focus on Exalt Firming Neck Gel, an advanced formulation to help tone and firm the look and feel of the neck and bust area. Ingredients include Mediterranean red pepper, grapeseed, olive and oats, together with the plant-based Cellactive-Form Complex containing mangosteen and proteins to support and firm the skin. Exalt is one of Temple Spa’s bestselling products and as we drop the price of Exalt from £46 to £34, saving £12, confirmation that this offer will end at midnight GMT, Friday 28 February.
Exalt Firming Neck Gel by Temple Spa £34 for 50 ml

Let’s talk about Fulvic, and it really isn’t difficult for me to talk about Fulvic because I am forever writing about it and I am not sure whether it is just me, but whenever I write about the things I really love, I smile at the computer, so I’m smiling as I write this. And I was smiling when I was having a conversation with a VH Addict recently because she asked me why, when I recently wrote about Fulvic Elixir, I hadn’t mentioned that Fulvic Elixir helped to increase libido.

There is something rather wonderful about feedback, and although anecdotal, let’s recognise that anecdotal evidence and it looks like this. I am dropping the price of Fulvic Elixir from £30 to £25 across the weekend, but additionally with every Fulvic Elixir bought, we will automatically include Fulvic Elixir (120 ml), whilst stock lasts, and I’m not sure that I want to write anything else here, other than to say that we are all different and our experiences differ too, so I am just going to link Shabir’s article on Fulvic Elixir below and leave it there.
VH Editorial: Fulvic Acid – The Elixir Of Life; Fulvic Elixir £25 for 480 ml + Fulvic Elixir 120 ml Free (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 2 February or whilst stock lasts)

Nearly at the end, but some words about the OatSoak products because although many of us think of oats as a simple breakfast staple, their benefits are numerous. Colloidal oatmeal has been used for centuries to help alleviate skin irritation and childhood illnesses such as Chicken Pox and a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology highlighted that colloidal oatmeal possesses significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant active which help reduce redness, swelling and itching.

I think the OatSoak products are amazing, but just to say that all of these products are now back in stock and it is completely my fault that I under-estimated the demand for their Natural Intensive Balm, I should have known better because so many of us have dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin. One more thing to say here and although many of you may have seen it, Lara jumped on Instagram earlier this week and had a ‘Blue Peter’ moment with two glasses of water, a packet of OatSoak and some porridge oats. Stirring the narrative.
VH Editorial: Relieve Chicken Pox Itch Naturally: The Soothing Power Of Oats; OatSoak (Feed Your Skin) £7.49 for 100 grams; OatSoak (Feed Your Skin) £19.99 for 500 grams; OatSoak Natural Intensive Balm £7.99 for 60 ml; OatSoak Gwenyn Gruffydd Honey Lip Balm £3.99 for 10 ml

And into the Saturday only treat we go, and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include the Margaret Dabbs Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Serum Pen (15 ml)*, formulated to help keep nails strengthened and protected, it also helps to treat fungal infections and with the product details linked below, that’s three products from Margaret Dabbs on one newsletter.
Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Serum Pen (offer ends at midnight GMT, Saturday 1 February)

Finally, as we hold hands in the safety of our bubble, let us never forget that the truth binds us, heals us and supports each and every one of us, and nobody ever has the right to burst our bubble. This Is Me. This Is Us.
This Is Me by The Greatest Showman Cast; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x