Once again, it is a Bank Holiday weekend, so let’s take things easy over the next three days as we roll into the summer months together.  And perhaps we should use this time to reflect upon the year to date, recognising that so many things have changed, and will continue to change, including our own circumstances.  In many ways, I just don’t recognise the world we are living in, it is somewhat alien to me and if we are to uphold our basic values, such as decency and respect, then we must retain those values in order to be that difference and to make that difference. 

But of course, there are those changes which impact all of us and it seems that I cannot write a newsletter without caveating it in some way, shape or form.  Most of those caveats are across supply and demand, as evidenced by an increasing number of wait lists, which can be so very difficult to manage.  Expectation is high, and I completely understand and acknowledge those expectations, so a few things to say here.

To a certain extent, wait lists are often used as a marketing ploy to manufacture an artificial demand for any given product, but we can see straight the way through that and any number of artificial marketing initiatives, including paid-for awards, which often attempt to manipulate the market in favour of the conglomerates.  This does of course impact SMEs, niche brands and products considerably, but notwithstanding that, we stand our corner and we absolutely must do that in order to support the innovation and survival of cutting-edge and pioneering products.  So, let’s do the specifics.  And I’ll start with Magnesium Complex, which we launched last weekend.

The first thing I need to do is to thank you for your response to Magnesium Complex, which was overwhelming.  Together with Shabir, I am so grateful that you continue to recognise and acknowledge the formulations which are based upon extensive research and clinicals.  It was of particular importance that eight forms of Magnesium were used in this formulation and that each of the Magnesium compounds provided their individual primary benefits at the correct strengths for therapeutic optimisation, increasing Magnesium efficacy as a whole, rather than as a singular part of any given equation.  These are the things that really matter.  And more on that soon.

For now, Magnesium Complex did flip into pre-order status last weekend, as I thought it would, but thankfully we are fully stocked for the foreseeable future and all things being equal I would like to keep it that way across all of our products.  The challenge here is that many vitamin manufacturers have gone into liquidation, which puts an onus on existing manufacturers to keep up with extreme demand, and very often the struggle to do so is very real, thus the very real wait lists.  These things are out of my control, and I’m sure you can understand that, so in recognition of the bumps along the road, I am maintaining the introductory price of Magnesium Complex across this weekend too.
VH Editorial: Magnesium Supplements: Benefits & Side Effects; Magnesium Complex £19 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Monday 29 May)

A mention here too for the Darling products.  Last weekend I wrote that we were expecting a delivery earlier this week and that each of those wait list orders would include the D-Neoprene pouch upon fulfilment.  That latter statement still stands, but as I am sure so many of you will have seen in the news, the severe flooding in the Emila-Romagna region of Italy has resulted in loss of life and the displacement of thousands of people; it is thought to be the worst flooding in Italy for more than a century. 

The Darling headquarters and factories are based in that region, so although our delivery has been delayed, it has left Italy and should be with us very soon. Of course, our thoughts are with Darling and all residents of that region, but this also impacts the dates I gave to you across the currently out-of-stock items, but further updates soon. *Saturday morning update*. We received our order last night at 6 pm and it was too late to amend the newsletter, but most products are now back in stock and we are working our way through all pending orders.
Darling Products (Vegan)

Returning to supplementation, we have launched many of our own formulations over the years and we are far from finished because there are more to come over the next few months, but in this moment I would like to throw the focus on Daily Energy.  We all have phases of low energy, most especially when we feel stressed and in those circumstances we often find it difficult to cope with the pace of life, which is further compounded by a lack of sleep in so many instances which, in turn, compromises our energy levels.  So, to coin a phrase, what’s the solution?

Daily Energy brings together a blend of adaptogens which, combined with natural energy boosters, helps to sustain energy levels throughout the day.  It is particularly effective if you experience mid-afternoon slumps, which so many of us do, and its ingredients include Ashwagandha, Maca, Siberian Ginseng and Suma.  Daily Energy is safe to use on a daily basis, but it can also be used periodically to help boost energy after an illness or a bout of low energy and mood.  And that is what really matters here.

But what also really matters is that we continue to support you as best we can with cutting-edge supplementation, so I’ll continue to walk my talk on that and in so doing, the following.  If you buy Daily Energy across this long weekend, we will automatically include the travel size of our bestselling supplement, which is of course Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength.  This travel size contains 15 capsules, which is worth £17.50 and I suppose I could say that we are keeping it in the family, the VH family.  In order to be equitable, there is only one gift per customer as this is a limited time offer and we need to be able to share as widely as we can.  That’s a given.
VH Editorial: Enhancing Energy; Daily Energy £20 for 60 Capsules + Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength (15 capsules) Worth £17.50 (offer ends at midnight BST, Monday 29 May)

I recently wrote about the health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), with a product recommendation.  That recommendation was for Higher Nature’s Apple Cider Vinegar, but no sooner had I written those words, I was told that the product had gone to product heaven, so it no longer exists.  So, let’s do it again, and as we do so I would like to introduce you to Willy’s Organic Live Apple Cider Vinegar with Live Mother from 300-year old orchards.  The Mother is the probiotic beneficial bacteria found in raw, unfiltered and unblended pure Apple Cider Vinegar and it also contains free-radical fighting antioxidants to help reduce the acidity levels in your body.

Willy’s ACV is a bit of an ACV hero actually, not least because as the demand increases for natural ferments, such as ACV, Willy’s are able to rescue acres of old bitter-sweet orchards which have been disregarded as cider makers favour sweeter apples to fuel the rocketing demand for sweet, sugar enhanced ciders. Willy’s ACV has its own unique taste and the recommended dose is 25 ml, preferably taken in the morning before you eat anything. It can be diluted in a smoothie or taken straight and amongst its many attributes, scientists have found that ACV helps improve digestion and it may aid weight loss if taken in conjunction with a healthy, balanced diet.

A few things left to say and the first thing to say is that I love the glass bottle, the second thing is that it is sitting in my kitchen as you would expect, and the third thing is that in a limited edition offer, if you buy Willy’s ACV we will automatically include Willy’s Turmeric, Black Pepper and Honey ACV Shot (60 ml), which is a unique blend of 48 wild apple varieties and is a fun way to get your daily shot.  The shot can be bought as a stand-alone product.  Finally, I am putting a link below which will take you to a recipe for a Sparkling Elderflower ACV Mocktail, which I think you might enjoy.  So, let’s embrace Summer Mocktail Parties, with optional extras at your discretion.  Such as a straw.
VH Editorial: The Health Benefits of ACV; Willy’s Organic Live ACV £10.55 for 1000 ml + Willy’s Turmeric, Black Pepper and Honey ACV Shot Free (worth £2.65 whilst stock lasts); Willy’s Turmeric, Black Pepper and Honey ACV Shot £2.65 for 60 ml; Sparkling Elderflower ACV Mocktail Recipe

Right, before I get carried away with Mocktails, and I’m thinking Fulvic Elixir Mocktails here, I need to tell you that Ingenious have just launched their Ingenious Active Refill Pouch.  Ingenious Active is £65 for 100 Capsules and the Active Refill Pouch is £60 for 100 capsules, so that’s a saving of £5 if you buy it in a pouch. This sits alongside the Ingenious Beauty Pouch where the saving is the same.
Ingenious Active Refill Pouch £60 for 100 Capsules; Ingenious Beauty Pouch £55 for 90 Capsules

I often talk about the A. Vogel tinctures because they really do help so many health concerns, but I don’t think I have ever written about Viola tricolor, so I will do so now.  Viola tricolor is an extract of fresh wild pansy flowers and it is often recommended for compromised skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, acne or blemished skin and dermatitis.  It is also used for non-specific skin conditions in specific situations such as very sensitive skin that flares at the first sign of trouble, poor circulation reducing blood flow to and from the skin and in instances where skin requires a healing boost after chicken pox, sunburn or mosquito attacks.

Having just mentioned chicken pox, these drops are perfectly safe for children from the age of two upwards at a dose of one drop per year of age, twice daily.  The adult dose is twenty drops in a little water, twice daily and Viola has a long history of traditional use, particularly for stubborn skin complaints.  As ever, there are no overnight fixes here, but it is thought that improvements in skin may be seen within two to four weeks, unless a condition has been present for a long time, which means that more healing time is required.  A neat little product with a number of benefits, the RRP of Viola tricolor is £11.99, but I’m dropping that to £10 across the weekend.
Viola tricolor by A. Vogel £10 for 50 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Monday 29 May)

Being in the midst of the hay fever season, I will tell you that our bestselling hay fever supplement to date is Triple Allergy Defense, a homeopathic tincture from Dr Nenninger.  It varies from year to year, but such is the efficacy of Triple Allergy Defense, I am really not surprised because it provides multi-symptom allergy relief from sneezing, runny nose, nasal and sinus congestion, itchy and watery eyes, headache and fatigue.  Quite a list, but it has been specifically formulated for year-round allergy relief and I think that’s really important, most especially for those of us who have many allergic reactions and often end up on a drip in A&E.  My claim to fame.
Triple Allergy Defense by Dr Nenninger £27 for 55 ml

Staying on the subject of hay fever, with their unique array of compounds, functional mushrooms may promote a naturally histamine-mediated allergic response, most specifically Reishi and Cordyceps.  Reishi, known as the Calm Mushroom, can aid the body’s allergy response and Cordyceps, known as the Performance Mushroom, helps to reduce inflammation.  We totally believe in the unique benefits of medicinal mushrooms and although I have just mentioned two specific functional mushrooms from DIRTEA here, Lion’s Mane remains the bestselling functional mushroom, closely followed by Mushroom Coffee Super Blend.  And the launch pricing structure is retained.  Basically, because I feel like keeping it that way.
VH Editorial: The Unique Benefits Of Medicinal Mushrooms; Reishi Mushroom Powder by DIRTEA £35 for 60 grams; Cordyceps by DIRTEA £35 for 60 grams; All DIRTEA Products

At the beginning of the year, I wrote about Intensive Anti-Ageing Hand Serum by Margaret Dabbs.  It was a treat actually, but a limited edition treat, and because it was limited, we sold through exceptionally quickly and if I remember correctly, I don’t think we made it half the way through Saturday.  This often happens, so we are going to do it again.  Loaded with Vitamins A and E, this formulation was created to help target age spots and to soothe dry hands.  It can be used as an overnight treatment and that’s all I really need to say other than we are dropping the price of Intensive Anti-Ageing Hand Serum from £30 to £15 and I hope the offer lasts slightly longer this time.
Intensive Anti-Ageing Hand Serum by Margaret Dabbs £15 for 30 ml (whilst stock lasts)

And because we are now in treat territory, if you buy any product from Ilapothecary with a value of £20 or over, we will automatically include the travel size Beat The Blues Spray (15 ml), which has a value of £8.50.  And just to make things even sweeter, I am lowering the price of the Deep Sleep Pouch from £52 to £40, there are three products in this pouch, details of which are linked below.  For total clarity, we have limited stock of the Deep Sleep Pouch and once again there is only one gift per customer.  So, if the gift fails to go into your basket, that means the offer is over.  And over is over.  And talking of being over, Big Little Lies is over, and I loved that programme.
Deep Sleep Pouch by Ilapothercary £40; All Ilapothecary Products

Back to it, and because we are on a bit of a theme about travel size products, let’s do the Fulvic Travel Trio.  The Fulvic Travel Trio contains three products, Fulvic Acid Shampoo (60 ml), Fulvic Acid Conditioner (60 ml) and Fulvic Acid Mist (60 ml).  Let’s go straight down the line here, essentially because these three products serve not only as a travel pack, but as an introduction to the Fulvic haircare range.  Either way, I am dropping the price of The Fulvic Travel Trio from £25 to £15, whilst stock lasts.  And if we are talking about travel products, just to say that Swoosh is now back in stock. 
Fulvic Travel Trio £15 (whilst stock lasts); Swoosh Instant Stain Removal Wipes £8.50 for Ten Individual Wipes

The final fling is a Temple Spa final fling.  The product is Sole Balm, it is a nourishing foot balm, it is the Temple Spa product of the month and as such the price of Sole Balm drops from £20 to £14 until midnight BST, Wednesday 31 May.  And that’s that. 
Sole Balm by Temple Spa £14 for 100 ml

Into the Saturday only treat we go and with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically send you De-Stress Muscle Gel (40 ml) from Aromatherapy Associates.  Formulated to help soothe and refresh worn out muscles, De-Stress Muscle Gel is blended with Lavender, Rosemary, warming Ginger and Black Pepper.  Amen.

Finally, all that is left is for me to share this song with you.  Featuring the incredible voices of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, it’s Summertime.  May the living get easy. 
Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong; 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.

Image Credit: www.willysacv.com