Well here we are, on the other side of Black Friday and into December we roll, but before anything else some words about our interpretation of Black Friday, which transformed itself into a celebration of some of our bestselling products.  If we were to help make a difference across that period of time, then that difference had to be real and that difference had to be meaningful, otherwise there was just no point in doing anything at all.

Of all the products offered, it goes without saying that Hyaluronic Acid was our bestselling product, but I didn’t expect Fulvic Shampoo to be our second bestselling product, yet it was. Our entire ethos is based upon sharing and it has never been about how many products we can sell, but how many lives we can make a difference to by formulating and recommending cutting-edge and pioneering products.  And I had a moment, an emotional moment, because less is more and by taking less, we were able to share more, with the correct intent and purpose.
Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules; Fulvic Shampoo £25 for 240 ml

That intent and purpose is of course ongoing and it is important to say that we will continue to support each of you as best we can, whenever and wherever we can.  Let me also say that all things being equal, we have two big launches scheduled for January, which will change everything again.  One will be at the beginning of January and the second will be towards the end of the month, the latter of which we will grow throughout 2024, which will be rather exciting. 

But we are in the here and now, and in the here and now I have a new product to launch, so please allow me to introduce you to the Breathe Patches from Ross J. Barr, who is of course regarded as one of the country’s leading and trusted acupuncture and TCM specialists.  The Breathe Patches have been created to help ease the difficulties associated with various breathing and respiratory conditions and they are infused with a special selection of traditional herbs and oils, such as Japanese Honeysuckle, which has long been used to positively support our health and wellbeing.

Japanese Honeysuckle is joined by Skullcap and Gardenia which have been used for centuries to help clear heat, dispel mucus, relieve coughing and support the immune system.  Additionally, the grounding, comforting scents of Patchouli and Magnolia serve to relax and calm both mind and body.  The patches are really easy to use and they can be placed on your chest or your back, whichever is most comfortable.

The Breathe Patches are quite large and the natural fragrance of the herbs is really strong, which makes them ideal to use if you have a cold and you have difficulty breathing because you are bunged up.  Placed on your chest, the herbal fragrance will help clear the nasal passages and because each patch will last between eight and ten hours, they are ideal to use while you are sleeping, most specifically because the herbs have sedative properties, which really do help you to fall asleep. But of course their primary use is for respiratory concerns, such as allergic rhinitis, and other breathing difficulties, and this is where they come into their own.  Clever patches. 
Breathe Patches by Ross J. Barr £15 For Five Patches

Staying on subject, many of you will have seen that Shabir recommended the Cisca Saltpipe for respiratory concerns on the most recent What’s The Solution.  Just to say here that studies show that more than 75% of the UK population suffer from respiratory disorders such as asthma, allergies, sinus problems and bronchitis, so it would make total sense that we should cleanse our respiratory system regularly. 

Salt is known for its healing properties and the Cisca Saltpipe is manufactured in one solid piece of ceramic, making breathing through the device easy.  The Cisca Saltpipe has CE medical registration and unlike most other devices, it does not require refills and the crystal salt inside the pipe will last up to five years based on daily usage.  To wrap, it would appear that we have another marriage made in heaven as the Cisca Saltpipe can be used during the day and the Breathe Patches can be used throughout the night, which I think is rather neat.   
The Cisca Saltpipe £32

If we are talking about being neat, then last weekend wasn’t neat at all because the Eye Rescue Lidstick went out of stock and onto a wait list yet again.  The Lidstick is becoming a legend in its own short lifetime, which is quite something really, but it is a product which serves a dedicated purpose and that purpose is to help protect and soothe our eyelids and the delicate skin around our eyes.  The Lidstick was specifically formulated for those with dry eyes, sensitive eyes or inflamed or dry eyelids, but it also comes into its own for those of us who sit in front of computer screens for long periods of time, which is why I use it in the morning as well as before I go to sleep.

We are doing the very best we can to keep up with the demand for the Lidstick, which isn’t easy, but we are getting there, wherever there is.  As I wrote last weekend, I don’t use eye products because I find them disappointing, but I believe the Lidstick changes everything, as pioneering products do, and if this £15 eye product really does change everything, well that would be quite something to behold. Let’s rock that change.  
Eye Rescue Lidstick by Peep Club £15 for 2.2 grams; Starter Dry Eye Kit (Heated Eye Wand PRO + Eye Rescue Lidstick) £80; Starter Dry Eye Kit - Nickel Free (Heated Eye Wand PRO Nickel Free + Eye Rescue Lidstick) £80

I’m not really sure where to go from there, but we have to go somewhere and that somewhere is where I tell you that we didn’t include Fulvic Conditioner in our Black Friday offers and now I feel bad that we didn’t, most especially after Fulvic Shampoo was the second most-wanted product, as I mentioned above.  There really is something incredibly special about each of the Fulvic products and it all began with the Fulvic haircare products, so across this weekend, or whilst stock lasts, when you buy Fulvic Conditioner we will automatically include another Fulvic Conditioner free, which is worth £25.  For the balance.
Fulvic Conditioner £25 for 240 ml + Fulvic Conditioner 240 ml Free (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 3 December)

Right, let’s talk about the thyroid gland, and I want to talk about it because the British Thyroid Foundation estimates that one in twenty people suffer from thyroid disorders, which include hyper and hypothyroidism. For the purposes of this section, I want to throw the focus on hypothyroidism, which means that your thyroid is under-active. The thyroid gland is one of the largest hormonal glands and it manufactures, stores and releases thyroid hormones into the bloodstream.  The two main hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), regulate many bodily functions and any reduction in these hormones invariably has a detrimental impact on these functions.

There are several causal factors associated with hypothyroidism, including mineral deficiencies, but most specifically, Selenium and Iodine are required for the manufacture of thyroid hormones as they regulate hormone release.  Both these trace minerals are known to be deficient in our diets and Shabir takes an in-depth look at hypothyroidism in his article linked below, where he recommends Thyroid Complex to help protect and support the thyroid gland.
VH Editorial: How An Underactive Thyroid Affects You; Thyroid Complex by Viridian Nutrition £22 for 60 Capsules (drops from £24.70 for the interim)

Staying with health concerns, Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and the loss of the co-ordination of muscle movements, which are vital for daily activities.  We begin to lose muscle mass from the age of thirty and by between 3-8% per decade, which then accelerates from the age of fifty, which is why Sarcopenia commonly affects people who are in their sixties and beyond.  A natural process of ageing, incidences of Sarcopenia occur as the body’s ability to produce muscle cells is far slower than their breakdown.

Because Sarcopenia affects muscles, tendons, ligaments and the nerve cells that are associated with strength and mobility, it can affect balance and movement.  Other causes of Sarcopenia include chronic inflammation, which leads to lost muscle mass and not getting sufficient vitamins.  Studies have found that there is a strong link between inadequate protein and the intake of vitamins B12, C and D.

In his article, linked below, Shabir takes an in-depth look at Sarcopenia, as well as talking about the recommended daily protein intake for adults over the age of fifty and the protein-rich foods which help support those recommendations.  In so doing, he also recommends Pea Protein Powder, a plant-based protein or any of the Whey Protein Powders from Lamberts, which come in three different flavours, Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate.
VH Editorial: What Is Sarcopenia; Pea Protein Powder by Lamberts £21.95 for 750 grams (drops from £23.95); Whey Protein Vanilla by Lamberts £35 for 1 kg (drops from £39.75); Whey Protein Strawberry by Lamberts £35 for 1 kg (drops from £39.75); Whey Protein Chocolate by Lamberts £35 for 1 kg (drops from £39.75)

Several months ago we launched Daily Gut by Jerms, which shot to instant fame when Shabir and Trinny were discussing it together on one of their live videos. Daily Gut is an advanced 4-in-1 gut health powder delivering probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, organic superfoods and vitamins for optimal digesting and overall health.  As we all know, gut health is extremely important and if our gut is not functioning optimally, it can affect many aspects of our health.  Each spoonful of Daily Gut powder helps to increase the good bacteria needed for a healthy gut, which can only be a good thing, and a 20% discount on Daily Gut is also a good thing.  Consider it done.
Daily Gut by Jerms (20% discount ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 3 December)

Let’s do skincare, and let’s make that Garden of Wisdom skincare, so two oversized serums for you, both of which contain 45 ml for the price of 30 ml.  The first is Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which really doesn’t need many words from me other than to say that it is one of our bestselling serums and the second serum is Super Bakuchiol Serum, which we launched as a natural alternative to retinol a few years ago.  Actually, not many words needed on that either because Shabir has written an article all about Super Bakuchiol Serum, which I have linked below.  Both are limited editions and once they have gone, they really have gone. 
VH Editorial: Bakuchiol, A Natural Alternative To Retinol; Super Bakuchiol Serum by Garden of Wisdom for VH £17 for 45 ml; Hyaluronic Acid Serum by Garden of Wisdom for VH £12 for 45 ml

Many years ago, and I think it must be at least twenty years ago, we created a community of like-minded people.  Essentially, many of those people were our core customers, the people who took more than a passing interest in their health and wellbeing and across the years the community has evolved and today, having grown up together, many of us are very close friends, which is probably one of the most important, and poignant, things here.  I am of course talking about the VH Addicts.

It is some time since I wrote about the VH Addicts on this newsletter, which is somewhat remiss of me, but if you become an Addict there are several benefits, the first being that you will receive an automatic discount of 10% across most of the products on our site.  There are one or two exceptions, but these are noted on each of the product pages where relevant.  This discount is especially beneficial if you buy products regularly, although in full transparency I cannot apply that discount to some of the offers I write about each week, but outside of that this discount is applicable at all other times.

And the other benefits, well I will begin by saying that each of our Addicts have unlimited direct access to Shabir for personal prescriptions, which I know have helped so many across the years.  Addicts also receive priority processing and receive a dedicated Addicts Bulletin, which I write every now and then.  The purpose of these bulletins is of course to stay close, but they also serve to inform our Addicts about new launches, wherever I can, and more often than not I will acknowledge the loyalty of our Addicts by offering additional discounts or gifts.

When we launched the VH Addicts, the cost of membership was £30 and it remains at that price for many different reasons, not least because I just don’t want to change the way we were and the way we are now.  There are those things in life which I believe to be sacrosanct, and the VH Addicts are sacrosanct.  I invite you to join us.
VH Addicts £30

Finally, I suppose this newsletter should really have been all about Christmas gifts, stocking fillers and anything else that goes with the territory at this time of year, except I didn’t want to do that today, so I will just link our seasonal gift guide below this.  Because we went early with all of our seasonal gifts, I don’t feel the need to write many more words other than to say that we kept our curation of gifts tight and I am so grateful to the brands who really have created some of the most wonderful seasonal gifts this year.  Thank you.  
Seasonal Gifts

And into the Saturday only treat we go and with every order placed for £35 or above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include the All Talk Travel Lip Balm (5 ml)* from TEMPLESPA.  The All Talk Travel Lip Balm is a super-rich lip balm which is blended with Mediterranean fruit flavours which help repair, condition and smooth dry, chapped lips, most especially at this time of year.  Product details listed below.
All Talk Travel Lip Balm

As we come to the end of another Weekend Read, I would just like to bring us all together with a song, and that song is The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell, chosen by a VH Addict as we continue to share the seasons of our lives with each other.
The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x

DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions and information expressed in this article and on Victoriahealth.com Ltd are those of the author(s) in an editorial context.  Victoriahealth.com Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or for any consequences arising from the use of the information contained in this editorial or anywhere else on the site.  Every effort is made by the editorial and content team to see that no inaccurate or misleading information, opinion or statement appear, nor replace or constitute endorsement from medical bodies or trials unless specified.  Victoriahealth.com Ltd accept no liability for the consequences of any inaccurate or misleading data, information, opinion or statement.  Information on Victoriahealth.com Ltd and in the editorials is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional.  You should not use the information on this website or in the editorials for diagnosing or treating a health concern or disease, or for the replacement of prescription medication or other treatment.

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.