Hello and as I welcome you to another Weekend Read, I want to take a moment to talk about managing expectations.  In this specific instance I am drilling down to talk about products, although heaven knows I could write an entire thesis about managing the expectations of life from both a philosophical and psychological viewpoint, such as it is.  I would be taking your lead on that in response to your views and opinions about the things that matter most to us, upon which we are overwhelmingly aligned. I’ve always thought that there is a great comfort in knowing that we are able to communicate on so many different levels.  And so that’s what we do. 

As far as products are concerned, I have always been pragmatic about managing expectations.  I know that I write about this often, but it is important that we are not swept into a place where unsubstantiated claims and paid-for initiatives dictate any given consumer response.  I absolutely know that not every product will work for everybody, but if we are in this space, then surely discernment is key and ‘knowledge itself is power’ as quoted by Sir Francis Bacon, published in his work Meditationes Sacrae (1597).  It is thought that he wanted to transmit the idea that having and sharing knowledge is the cornerstone of reputation and influence.

Read into that what you will, but the reputation of any given product must surely be based upon efficacy and if we are talking about supplementation, it is so often the case that it is only when we stop taking certain supplements, we are able to fully understand and realise the impact of such supplementation.  This is certainly true of Superior Joints, Hyaluronic Acid and Ionicell, and it is also true of Mega Probiotic ND, which is where I am going next.
Superior Joints £30 for 60 Capsules; Ionicell For Women £20 for 60 Capsules

As most of you know, I write about probiotics often and there are of course several targeted probiotics, such as Florassist Mood Improve, which I wrote about last weekend.  I think it is of vital importance to address specific needs, but it is equally important to take a broad-spectrum probiotic if you can.  But let’s go back to basics and say that probiotics are the healthy bacteria in your gut and it is believed that the older we get, the more vulnerable we are to unhealthy bacteria, which essentially means that our bodies may not absorb nutrients and many may experience constipation, gas or bloating as bad bacteria ramps up. 

I have no issue whatsoever in getting older, it honestly doesn’t bother me, but it would seem sensible, at any given age, to take probiotics as they can enhance immunity, help to break down food in the colon and they will also help remove acids and toxins from the intestines.  Mega Probiotic ND is our bestselling probiotic supplement, it contains eight strains of beneficial bacteria and its role in preventing an overgrowth of bad bacteria is important as scientists estimate that a good gut should contain 85% of the beneficial bacteria referred to. 

In recognition of the importance of probiotics, Shabir has written twelve articles on this subject, which you can find on the Mega P product page.  I think it is also worth saying that bacterial overgrowth within the small intestine is often considered to be a factor for many compromised skin conditions, including Rosacea, so it may be a consideration that the use of a broad-spectrum probiotic will help ensure that the good bacteria are kept at levels that prevent bad bacteria from thriving within the intestines. This makes total sense to me, so all that is left is for me to take the price of Mega Probiotic ND down from £22 to £18.  Across the weekend.
Mega Probiotic ND £18 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 24 July)

A quick intervention and update here on Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength, just because I’ve mentioned HA above.  As I’m writing this, we are about to hit famine territory, but I have also just been told that our consignment is in transit.  So although I’m holding my breath right now, it may well have arrived as you read this, but if it hasn’t, then it will be with us within the next few days.  All things being equal.     
Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules

And because all supplements are not created equally, I now want to talk about Vitamin B12 because further research has indicated the need to update our recommendation on which form of B12 you should be taking.  But first, it needs to be said that historically many experts believed that a B12 deficiency was solely associated with vegetarians since plant sources are mostly devoid of Vitamin B12.  However, that theory has largely been dismissed because it is estimated that a large percentage of us have sub-optimal levels of B12, so there is a requirement to supplement, most especially because Vitamin B12 is commonly referred to as the energy vitamin.

Being a co-enzyme, Vitamin B12 is required by the enzymes within our bodies to perform many critical functions in the body, which Shabir explains in full in his article, linked below.  Without getting too scientific, Cyanocobalamin is the most popular form of B12 used in supplementation, however Methylcobalamin and Adenosylcobalamin are the most active forms of Vitamin B12.  And so, with that said, I believe that if we are going to supplement with B12, and I promise you this isn’t a three-line whip, then we have to take the supplement which offers the most active forms of B12.  That supplement is B-12 Elite by Life Extension.

B-12 Elite provides the most active and absorbable forms of B12, Methylcobalamin and Adenosylcobalamin, in a lozenge form which ensures that these nutrients are absorbed straight into the bloodstream, avoiding the problematic gastric route.  I suppose the bottom line here is that it is far better to take a supplement that delivers two forms of bioactive B12 rather than one form.  So as we now recommend the heavily researched B-12 Elite, I will tell you that B12 is also responsible for the manufacture of melatonin, the sleep hormone.  Keeping it neat.
VH Editorial: Are You Getting Sufficient B12; B-12 Elite by Life Extension £12 for 60 Lozenges

And I will continue being neat, as I tell you that we also recommend Vitamin B12 for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).  The exact cause of RLS is still not understood, but after extensive research it is thought that certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies do play a role in this neurological disorder which causes an awkward sensation in the legs accompanied by an uncontrollable desire to move the limbs for relief.  So as Shabir does the lowdown on RLS, in his article linked below, I am pulling out two salient products, aside from B12, which can help address this common health concern.  One is a supplement and one is a topical product.

I’ll begin with Diosmin Plus which, in its role as a circulatory supplement, is often recommended by Shabir for RLS.  Diosmin Plus contains powerful circulatory herbs and extracts, including Gotu Kola, Ginger and Horse Chestnut to enhance the flow of blood in the entire body, which in turn helps to oxygenate tissues providing them with vital nutrients to ensure healthy muscle and nerve function.  A cautionary note: please do not take Diosmin Plus with blood thinning medications such as Warfarin and Heparin as they will contra-indicate.  

The topical product is Magnesium and this is the mineral which is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions within our bodies.  With specific reference to nerve function, and used in a topical form, Magnesium helps to alleviate the uncomfortable sensation of RLS when sprayed onto the limbs.  Another cautionary note here in that you may experience some redness when first applied, but it is thought that this occurs if we are Magnesium deficient, and most of us are, so this is perfectly normal.  That’s it, other than to say that Diosmin Plus drops in price from £28 to £23 and Pure Magnesium Oil Spray drops from £12 to £10.  Onwards.  And into a crisis.
VH Editorial: Restless Legs Syndrome; Diosmin Plus £23 for 60 Capsules; Pure Magnesium Oil Spray £10 for 236 ml (offers end at midnight BST, Sunday 24 July)

And it’s a famine crisis because there is a delay in the manufacturing of Mrs White’s Unstung Hero, which just happens to be one of our bestselling summer products.  We expect it to be back in stock within the next three weeks, but there is a solution, other than going onto the inevitable wait list.  And that solution comes in the shape of the 100 ml travel size version, which comes in an aluminium bottle.  It is light and indestructible, which makes it perfect for travelling, plus it is allowed on the plane.  In fact, many of you may prefer this to the glass bottle.  Let’s see what happens, because I may well keep it as a permanent fixture on our site.  I’ll take your lead.
Mrs White’s Unstung Hero Mosquito Repellent Travel Size £15 for 100 ml; Mrs White’s Unstung Hero Mosquito Repellent £20 for 250 ml (wait list)

If we are talking about taking your lead, I would just like to refer to the last Weekend Read where I wrote that I have always been fascinated with ancient wisdom, together with products sourced from that wisdom, which often tend to be simple and pretty straightforward.  I went on to introduce you to The Heritage Store’s Rosewater With Glycerin Mist, which I dropped in price from £10.99 to £8.  I am keeping this product at £8 because your response was amazing, and whilst I know that many of you will have bought this because we were heading into the heat, I also know from your response that heritage products carry a nostalgic sense of comfort. 
Rosewater with Glycerin Mist by The Heritage Store £8 for 237 ml (drops from £10.99)

So let’s load on the comfort as I now introduce you to another product from the range.  That product is Rosewater Cleanser, a milky wash that hydrates the skin without over-drying.  Formulated with the Heritage Store’s signature Rosewater, it is joined by nourishing Grapeseed and Squalane.  Squalane is a fatty molecule and it is also an antioxidant which helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier.  Everything is coming up roses because Rosewater Cleanser sits alongside the Rosewater and Glycerin Mist rather well, so we cleanse first and then we mist.  And as I drop the price of Rosewater Cleanser from £12.49 to £10, let me just add that I see no reason why we can’t use the Rosewater mist as a body mist too.  No restrictions needed.
Rosewater Cleanser Gentle Milk Wash by The Heritage Stores £10 for 118 ml

One more product in this section and it’s Zam-Buk Antiseptic Ointment.  Zam-Buk was formulated in 1903 and was famously endorsed by Harry Houdini, who used it to soothe his wrists after his escapology feats.  It was the first important first-aid medicine for preventing infection from cuts and abrasions, but with the invention of penicillin and other antibiotics, it disappeared for a period of time.  I’m not entirely sure when it made a re-appearance, but I do know that we have listed Zam-Buk for over twenty years.  Of course it is totally brilliant, and with that said I need to tell you that I am completely besotted with the tin.  Tins equate to childhood memories.  In my mind.
Zam-Buk Antiseptic Ointment £3.99 for 20 grams

If I may, I want to step aside from products at the moment.  At least one in four of us suffer from anxiety or depression during each year in England, and ongoing statistics will probably show an increase in these numbers.  I often write, and lead, on this subject, mostly because it is so important to understand all mental health issues in order that we may help and support wherever, and however, we can.  At the same time it is only in the acknowledgement of the acute nature of mental illness, that we are able to offer coping mechanisms, which may go some way in helping to ease the mind.

In this week’s Health Notes, Sarah reports how drawing, painting and simply doodling can help calm your brain and allow you to feel better.  I will leave you to read Sarah’s words, but she refers to a site called Medical News Today and an article on that site entitled ‘What to know about anxiety and drawing’.  Research has shown that engaging in some form of art will help to manage your own emotions, cope with stress and learn to relax.  And having campaigned with Sarah on many issues relating to our health and wellbeing, the campaign for a better understanding of mental health is absolutely vital.  Let’s draw a tree today.  The tree of life.  Perhaps.
Feeling Anxious, Get Doodling by Sarah Stacey

Right, let’s hit the beauty treats, and after my words above, let’s begin with a mood-elevating product.  That product is Beat The Blues Room Spray and in an extremely limited offer, if you buy the full size of Beat The Blues Room Spray (50 ml), we will automatically include the travel size of Beat The Blues (15 ml).  Beat The Blues is an alchemical blend of essential oils that help to create a peaceful and uplifting space.  Blended with Clary Sage, Rose Geranium, Tuberose and Petitgrain, I know that many of you use this as a fragrance, so in order to manage expectations here, if the gift fails to go into your basket, then I am sorry, but the offer will have finished.
Beat The Blues Room Spray £29 for 50 ml

Following on from that, I know that many of you are huge fans of Margaret Dabbs, I am too.  I totally respect Margaret as a person, and I totally respect the products she creates in line with the totally professional approach offered in her clinics.  So this is what we are going to do, and once again this is another limited offer and I honestly don’t know how long it will last.  With any Margaret Dabbs product purchased, we will automatically include her Pure Repairing Nail & Cuticle Treatment Pen (15 ml), which is worth £12.  It strengthens nails powerfully and will also help protect weak, dry and brittle nails, softening cuticles at the same time.  Voila.
Margaret Dabbs London

A word of thanks from me to you after I wrote about Fulvic Body Lotion last week.  I think it’s pretty obvious that I wanted to share its amazing ability to help conquer dry skin and I specifically mentioned ‘crocodile legs’ because I know it’s a big issue.  What is also a big issue is cellulite, but of course we all know that there isn’t a product available that will get rid of cellulite, so I do wish that brands would stop trying to claim this.  We are not stupid and quite honestly if brands can be duplicitous about one product, I do rather question the ethics of the entire brand.

That was a slight podium moment, but these things need to be said and I promise you that I’m not frightened to say them.  Anyway, if there was one product that I would choose to partner Fulvic Body Lotion to cover all eventualities, it would be Weleda’s Birch Cellulite Oil.  It is a natural massage oil treatment for cellulite, but let’s be very clear here in that it will help firm and tone skin and with regular use it will help improve the smoothness of skin. I think that’s good enough, given the reality of this common concern. 

So I am dropping the price of Birch Cellulite Oil from £27.25 to £23, but I will also include a free tube of Weleda’s Skin Food (30 ml) in another of those very limited edition offers.  For clarity and in transparency, if we run out of Weleda’s Skin Food, this gift will not appear in your basket, but we will still uphold the discount applicable to Birch Cellulite Oil.  Only one gift per customer on this.  We need to stay equitable.  Thanks.
Birch Cellulite Oil by Weleda £23 for 100 ml (+ Weleda’s Skin Food 30 ml free whilst stock lasts) (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 24 July); Fulvic Body Lotion £20 for 200 ml

Into the Saturday only treat we go, and this week I am doing something slightly different.  So with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include a product from Aromatherapy Associates.  I cannot be specific as to the product you will receive, because it could be one of three different products and as ever these gifts are computer generated.  However what I can do, as well as gifting you, is to tell you that until midnight BST, Sunday 24 July, which is tomorrow, I will do a brand promotion and will take 15% off all Aromatherapy Associates products excluding sale items.  If a product goes out of stock, we will still honour this offer if we are able to.
Aromatherapy Associates

As we come to the end of another Weekend Read, I will just say that I found myself in deep thought as I was writing about art therapy.  And when I wrote the words ‘let’s draw a tree today’, the album 'The Joshua Tree' came into my mind.  I have always loved The Joshua Tree, it is one of those epic recordings that captures a moment in time.  And as such, I lost myself in that music as I continued writing.  I have never shared a complete album with you before, but I am doing so now because you may wish to listen to the music and draw at the same time.  It is tremendously therapeutic and it takes us to another place.  Where life stands still.  If we allow it to.
The Joshua Tree by U2

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.