Well, here we are, September, which is often considered to be a time of transition and preparation marked by the shift from summer to autumn.  Spiritually, it can represent harvest, reflection and new beginnings, yet in all of this there are the seasonal changes that can impact our health and wellbeing, so we are going to take a look at some of those changes today and we will begin with hair shedding.

Hair shedding is most common in the late summer and early autumn and this seasonal phenomenon is a normal part of the hair growth cycle where more hairs move into the telogen phase, the final, resting stage of the hair growth cycle where the hair follicle is dormant and hair doesn’t grow.  This phase normally lasts about three months with hair strands remaining in the follicle, eventually shedding naturally, enabling new hair to begin to grow.

On from this, a condition called ‘telogen effluvium’ occurs when a stressor causes too many hairs to enter the telogen phase prematurely, leading to excessive shedding and hair thinning.  Contributing factors can include physical stress, including severe illness, emotional stress, nutritional deficiencies, often caused by crash dieting, and hormonal shifts, but it is also thought that several medications, including beta-blockers and antidepressants, can also trigger this concern.

With that noted, the Fulvic haircare range has been formulated to target numerous hair and scalp conditions, whatever the underlying cause, such as hair loss, thinning hair and hair shedding, but it has also been formulated to help keep our scalps in optimum condition, which is really important.  Often referred to as The Elixir Of Life, Fulvic is a natural compound found in the nutritious layer of soil that helps plants grow, and it works in a similar way in our bodies at a cellular level, where it is capable of carrying more than sixty-five minerals and trace elements directly into our cells.

So, with four products in the range, three topical and one oral supplement, Fulvic Shampoo is a gentle, yet effective formulation which is loaded with Ioniplex^®, an ionic mineral complex that protects and enhances cellular health, as above.  Fulvic Conditioner is just that, a conditioner, and it is a conditioner that helps repair and strengthen chemically damaged hair, but that aside it can also be used as an intensive hair mask, and here I would suggest massaging it into your scalp and leaving it on for at least twenty minutes, allowing the actives to penetrate the hair follicles, which regulate hair growth.

The third topical product is Fulvic Mist and using a patented blend of humic-free Fulvic Acid, Butcher’s Broom, Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Marine Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid, this formulation helps to restore the body’s inherent ability to grow healthy hair, but it can also be used to strengthen nails and rejuvenate sparse eyebrows, given time, and time is important because expectations must always be managed.

Fulvic Elixir is the fourth product, it is the liquid alternative to Ionicell, and being a potent, multi-purpose supplement it can be taken to combat nutrient deficiencies by enhancing the absorption of the vitamins and minerals in our body.  Once again this is a patented humic-free Fulvic Acid formulation and loaded with Ioniplex^®, a Fulvic ionic mineral, it supports the topical products, but its role is far greater than promoting hair health, because often termed as ‘nature’s miracle molecule’, it also helps support our immunity and after writing last weekend that there are several adjunct products which support Daily Immunity, Fulvic Elixir is one of those products.

I know I am biased, but I honestly wouldn’t write the words I write about products if I didn’t believe in their efficacy and having used all four products for almost two decades, I totally and utterly depend on them.  And yes, of course I have tested other haircare products, it goes with the territory, but I always return to Fulvic, so with an invitation to join me, Fulvic Shampoo drops from £25 to £20, Fulvic Conditioner drops from £25 to £20, Fulvic Mist also drops from £25 to £20 and Fulvic Acid Elixir drops from £30 to £25, because it’s remarkable and rather a lot of us can’t live without it, per the reviews.
VH Editorial: The Elixir Of Life; Fulvic Shampoo £20 for 240 ml; Fulvic Conditioner £20 for 240 ml; Fulvic Mist £20 for 120 ml; Fulvic Elixir £25 for 480 ml (offers end at midnight BST, Sunday 7 September)

In this next section, we continue to talk about the seasonal transition and preparation, but with a specific focus on changes in mood and energy.  It is well established that shorter days and less daylight can disrupt the body’s internal clock and alter brain chemicals, which in turn impact mood, sleep and energy levels.  Less daylight leads to lower levels of serotonin, melatonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, the neurotransmitters that control our emotions.

We often talk about how a lack of serotonin can affect mood and the same is true of norepinephrine, which acts as both a neurotransmitter in the brain and a hormone in the body, where it regulates the sleep-wake cycle.  As a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine plays a key role in the ‘fight-or-flight’ stress response, increasing alertness, heart rate and blood pressure, where the constriction of blood vessels can often lead to raised blood pressure levels, a subject I will cover later in this newsletter, but for now we are going to take a look at Magnolia Rhodiola Complex, our bestselling supplement for the relief of symptoms associated with stress, anxiety and low mood.

Looking at the compounds in this formulation, Magnolia bark extracts have been extensively studied and found to help physically relax muscles and nerves, as well as helping to reduce excess levels of stress hormones, notably cortisol.  Phellodendron contains natural mood elevating compounds, helping to control stress-related symptoms and it is noted as being one of the fifty most important herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Rhodiola Rosea, also known as Golden Root, is termed as an ‘adaptogen’, which means it helps achieve balance with the body, helping to reduce the degradation of mood-boost transmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine and endorphins.

Finally, Magnolia Rhodiola Complex contains L-Theanine, a unique amino acid which is found almost exclusively in tea plants. Research has demonstrated that L-theanine can create a sense of relaxation, often within thirty minutes of ingestion and it does so by enhancing the formation of another amino acid, which influences levels of dopamine and serotonin. Additionally, this amino acid helps to stimulate the production of alpha waves in the brain which helps create a deep state of relaxation, so with the compounds of Magnolia Rhodiola Complex discussed, it drops in price from £29 to £26, across the weekend.
VH Editorial: How To Combat Stress Effectively; DoSe Magnolia Rhodiola Complex £26 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 7 September) (Caution: Please do not take Magnolia Rhodiola Complex if you are taking prescribed antidepressants)

As we throw the focus on our energy levels, this is a huge subject matter because one of the most common health concerns is a lack of energy, which is not surprising because we all have phases of low energy.  We often use the terms tired, fatigue and exhaustion, but in medical terms they are very distinct, and tiredness differs from fatigue because although you may not feel it, the body still has some energy in reserve which it can tap into, and the symptoms of tiredness include weakness of the muscles, heaviness and impatience, which often leads to irritability. 

This is tremendously common, and most of the time tiredness can be addressed by resting for a few hours, allowing the body to recover, however if you are constantly tired, this may be indicative of what is termed ‘adrenal stress’.  The adrenal glands are mostly responsible for releasing hormones when under stress and stress in this case can be physical or hormonal, with the latter becoming more evident as we age and our hormone production declines.  With the adrenal glands producing higher levels of cortisol, insufficient amounts of the energising hormones and enzymes are produced, which can result in constant tiredness.

To counter this, we recommend Daily Energy, a supplement which has been formulated with a blend of energising herbs, such as Siberian Ginseng to ensure the adrenals produce their energising enzymes and hormones.  Maca root, Brazilian ginseng and Ashwagandha are also included in this formulation and together they provide a steady stream of energy from food-sourced ingredients, together with vitamin B1 and vitamin B6, the latter of which contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, helping to prevent the mid-afternoon slump.  Daily Energy drops in price across the weekend from £24 to £21.
DoSe Daily Energy £21 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 7 September)

Having written about the neurotransmitter dopamine, some words about the supplement Dopa-Mind because this is such an interesting product.  Dopamine, being a neurotransmitter, is a chemical found in the brain and is responsible for transmitting signals in between the nerve cells within the brain.  Dopamine affects our emotions, movements and sensations of pain and pleasure, and it is released in the brain when we have satisfied a craving, such as sugar or alcohol.  It gives the ‘feel good’ factor when it is released in normal amounts, however activities which fuel a rapid release of dopamine are often dangerous and can be addictive.

As we age, our levels of dopamine decline, often resulting in a loss of concentration and the sense of wellbeing, and in the extreme it can lead to clinical depression, so taking a look at Dopa-Mind, one of its key ingredients is a standardised extract of Wild Green Oat, also known as Avena Sativa, traditionally used to relieve the symptoms of anxiety, tension and hyperactivity.  Research has found that it also inhibits the production of the enzyme MAO-B, which destroys brain cells as well as dopamine.  In human studies, this specialised extract was shown to significantly improve concentration and brain function, with brain mapping showing a significant increase in brain theta waves which are responsible for focusing attention and signal detection, which is a vital process and often lost with diseases of the nervous system.

Across the years, several studies have shown an improvement of cognitive repair when supplementing with Wild Green Oat extract, and Dopa-Mind has been formulated to the exact strength used in those studies.  Furthermore, low levels of dopamine can often lead to a loss of energy, low libido, mood swings and depression, difficulties with concentration and a lack of motivation.  With Shabir’s article on improving brain function linked below, I am dropping the price of Dopa-Mind™ from £35 to £32, holding that price for the interim.
VH Editorial: How To Improve Brain Function; Dopa-Mind™ by Life Extension £32 for 60 Tablets

And, as promised, we are now going to talk about high blood pressure, except all I am going to do here is link you to Shabir’s in-depth article, where you will read that high blood pressure is often termed ‘silent killer’ because unless you are aware of the symptoms of high blood pressure, you wouldn’t necessarily know that you actually have high blood pressure.  Two product recommendations here from Shabir, the first is Hawthorn Berry from Viridian Nutrition, and the second is Cardio-Peak™ from Life Extension.  And that’s a wrap.
VH Editorial: High Blood Pressure; Hawthorn Berry by Viridian Nutrition £15.05 for 60 Capsules; Cardio-Peak™ by Life Extension £19 for 30 Capsules

Right, let’s move on to other things, and because we are in September, there is a new offer from TEMPLESPA.  Palm Balm is an intensive hand cream formulated for dry hands and is packed with a multivitamin cocktail of Mediterranean essential oils, including Lemon, Lavender and Bergamot, together with Aloe Vera and Jojoba.  Helping to replenish lost moisture, it keeps hands hydrated, creating a protective barrier against free radicals. Palm Balm is normally £20, but when you buy two, the price becomes £30 for the two products, saving £10.  This offer ends at midnight BST, Tuesday 30 September.  And then it will be October. 
Palm Balm by TEMPLESPA £30 For Two Palm Balm (75 ml Each)

Last weekend I wrote about some new products from Neom, but I forgot to write about one of their products and actually I keep forgetting to write about it, so rather belatedly please allow me to introduce you to their Pro-Vitamin D3 Dry Body Oil.  This is a lightweight, fast-absorbing formulation enriched with pro-vitamin D3 and five nourishing botanical oils, infused with the natural Great Day fragrance of Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon.  Leaving skin soft and smooth, it can be used daily, or whenever your skin needs a boost and it drops in price, whilst stock lasts, from £35 to £31.
Pro-Vitamin D3 Dry Body Oil by Neom Wellbeing £31 for 100 ml

The final fling, and after writing last weekend about Margaret Dabbs and her exceptional products, let’s continue this weekend and if you spend £20 on any products from Margaret Dabbs, we will automatically include her Crystal Nail File which is worth £16.  It is made of the finest, highest quality abrasive crystal and unlike traditional emery boards, this nail file will not wear out or damage nails and it’s a purchase for life, except I am not asking you to purchase it, I am gifting it, whilst stocks last.  There is only one gift per customer and if it fails to go into your basket, that will mean the offer is over. 
Margaret Dabbs Products

Into the Saturday only treat, and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include a set of Calm Patches (one pair)*.  Developed by Ross J. Barr, they contain a special selection of herbs to help support and maintain the relief of headaches, stress and tension.  Recommended use is one on each temple, with a word to say that these patches contain essential oils that provide a unique smell, eliciting a deeply relaxing olfactive experience.  Full product details linked below, but please avoid using for 48 hours if you have used any products containing retinol or skin peels.
Calm Patches

Going Back

What a time we are having and this is where I thank you once again for your emails of love and support, but mostly for sharing your own experiences and memories.  These experiences and memories form their own story, an innate story where we explore our sense of connection through music, yet it also allows us to tap into a narrative, a shared narrative, and quite honestly Saturday mornings will never be the same again because this entire section seems to have taken on a life of its own and I don’t really know where this is going, but that’s the fun part as we continue to celebrate the journey together.

So, as we share the chapters of our lives, this from a customer who did a paper round in the mid 60s in the Marylebone area of London, which included delivering papers to The Rolling Stones and the Small Faces.  She wrote that on one occasion she shared a lift with Marianne Faithfull to the top floor of a building where The Rolling Stones were staying and reading the words of her email, the song ‘As Tears Go By’ began to play in my head, which was recorded by The Rolling Stones and Marianne Faithfull. 

I’m linking both versions because I can’t decide which one to choose, and I’m also linking ‘All Or Nothing’ by the Small Faces in tribute, a song written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, which reached Number One in the UK Singles Chart on 15 September 1966.  But staying with ‘As Tears Go By’, I actually prefer the version by The Rolling Stones and the video link shows them performing this song on The Ed Sullivan Show, which I referenced a couple of weeks ago in an epic deep dive into the 60s, and on from that we are on a roll with another story. 
As Tears Go By by The Rolling Stones; As Tears Go By by Marianne Faithfull; All Or Nothing by Small Faces

The Rolling Stones first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on 25 October 1964 and closed that evening’s show with ‘Time Is On My Side’.  Mick Jagger had to sing over the shrieks of the raucous audience, who continued to scream all the way through Ed Sullivan’s announcement of the following week’s guests, following which Ed Sullivan supposedly declared ‘I promise you they’ll never be back on our show; it took me seventeen years to build this show and I’m not going to have it destroyed in a matter of weeks’.  Yet, unsurprisingly, The Rolling Stones were back on the show on 2 May 1965 performing ‘The Last Time’.
Time Is On My Side by The Rolling Stones; The Last Time by The Rolling Stones

Returning to the show on 15 January 1967, The Rolling Stones performed a set which included new tracks from their soon-to-be released album, ‘Between The Buttons’, beginning with ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and following through with ‘Let’s Spend The Night Together’.  Earlier that day, CBS and Ed Sullivan demanded that the lyrics of ‘Let’s Spend The Night Together’ be changed to ‘Let’s Spend Some Time Together’, issuing the ultimatum that ‘either the song goes, or you go’ and while performing the song, Mick Jagger rolled his eyes, sarcastically exaggerating the altered line. The quality of the video linked isn’t great, but we are talking 1967 and you can just about see the eye roll.
Ruby Tuesday and Let’s Spend The Night Together by The Rolling Stones

Their final performance on The Ed Sullivan Show was aired on 23 November 1969, a show which also featured the jazz legend, Ella Fitzgerald, singing ‘You’d Better Love Me’. Marking their final appearance, The Rolling Stones performed ‘Honky Tonk Women’ from their album, ‘Let It Bleed’.  And just one more thing here, the highest-paid artist to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show was Elvis Presley, who was paid a fee of $50,000 for his three appearances.  It was a significant moment in television history and helped cement Elvis’s status as a major star, but we’ll leave that for another time.
You’d Better Love Me by Ella Fitzgerald; Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones

Finally, let me end with another email, received from a customer who reported that she fell in love with Scott Tracey from Thunderbirds, but became heartbroken when she discovered that he was a puppet, which made me smile rather a lot.  Thunderbirds was created by the husband and wife team, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, and for the record I desperately wanted Lady Penelope’s pink Rolls Royce, which was driven by her chauffeur, Parker, with the number plate FAB 1.
Thunderbirds Theme Tune

Well, that set me off and I researched FAB 1 only to discover that nobody knows who owns it.  The original FAB 1 registration was assigned to a white Jaguar XJ6 after it was issued in 1946, it was later acquired by the broadcaster Chris Evans in 2012 for £75,000 but was apparently sold by him to an unknown buyer.  How upsetting, I really want to own that number plate because I would put it on a shocking pink coloured coach and go on tour, stopping to collect each of you at specified and dedicated locations as we cruised along singing our songs.  Holding that vision, because a girl can dream, I would be Lady Penelope and Shabir would be Parker.  Obviously.

I’m leaving it there before I get totally carried away, which is not difficult, but actually I have already got carried away (sorry, no discipline whatsoever), so all that is left is for me to thank you once again for your emails, because whatever the subject, they are amazing, you are amazing and we are VH (Very Happy).
VH Playlist; Happy Together by The Turtles

Have a wonderful weekend.

With love

Gill x