An Update from Jo

Welcome back to our first newsletter of the year. Sending so much love to you if you or your family and friends have been affected by recent weather events in our region. We always offer free 10 minute consultations in the shop to make up Bach Flower remedies which can be great support for those going through emotional upheaval and grief. First Light Trauma Essences are also available. We can also make up Homeobotanical blends after a quick chat which are great support for an exhausted or run down physical body.

Have you heard of The Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility New Zealand Charitable Trust? They are excited to announce that Reclaiming Health, PSGRNZ's massive paper, has been launched. It includes reform recommendations (Chapter 12), and has received widespread acclaim. An open letter has been sent to NZ members of Parliament and key senior officials. All the information is accessible on PSGRNZ's website and on Substack. Thanks to one of our lovely customers Jodie Bruning for sending us this info, including links, to share with you all. There is a lot of information here and for those short on time, the three page summary is a great place to start. 

Just a reminder we will be closed this week on Friday 6th February for Waitangi Day. We look forward to supporting you with your health and wellbeing needs again this year.

Our Vision

At Bethlehem Health Shop, we support ethical suppliers and sell quality, researched products. We offer sincere advice from our team of caring, trained staff.

Thank you so much for supporting your locally owned Community Health Store.

• Tints of Nature Hair Colour Range - 15% off
• Speick Range of Mens Deodorants - 20% off
• Rainbow Henna powders - 20% off
• Introductory offer on the Codeage and Trace Minerals Range - 10% off
• Weleda Skin Food Range - 20% off
• Weleda Skin First Aid Range - 15% off
• Boody Basics, Loungewear and Sleepwear - 20% off
• Buy 2 Wotnot Natural Baby Sunscreens and get a FREE 45g Wotnot SPF50 Zinc stick
• Spend $59 or more on Herb Farm products and get a FREE Uplifting May Chang Body Lotion valued at $36
• Spend $69 or more on Living Nature and get a FREE Daily Protect Facial Lotion SPF20 valued at $62
• Buy any TWO Holistic Hair products and get a FREE trial size Herbal Finishing Rinse Concentrate or Salt of the Earth Volumising and Texturing Spray
• Purchase TWO or more full size Giovanni Products and get a full size Nutrafix Hair Reconstructor
• Buy any TWO Hanami Nail products and get a FREE 9ml Rescue Me Nail Oil
• Buy any TWO The Patch Remedy products and get a FREE pack of 30 "Happy" patches

All of the above specials and offers are only valid while stocks last.

• Hemp Farm Gut Health Powder 500g - Hemp Protein and whole NZ Blackcurrant Powder
• Slow Habits Natural Perfume Sprays - Gypsy Wave, Peach Noir, and Warm Ember 
• Southern Glow Whipped Tallow Cream - Unscented, Manuka Honey and Beeswax, Vanilla, Lychee & Guava
• The Remarkable Chocolate Company Bark - Dark Choc Caramel & Spicy Ginger, Dark Choc Chia, Cherry & Coconut, and White Choc Strawberry Matcha Latte
• A couple of new additions to the So Bath Salt range - Active, and Uplifting
• Buds Kids Nail Sparkly Nail polish Milky Way, Mini Nail Files and Fruit Nail Stickers
• Hanami Nail Polish for Adults - 4 new colours
• Prolife Coldeze - Honey and Lemon flavour

New products will be added to our website as soon as we can. If you want to purchase these online before we get a chance to do this, please call us to order over the phone instead on 07 576 9442

New in store are the Codeage and Trace Brands.  The Codeage range includes fermented daily multi’s for Men, Women and Teens, more information on these below. 

Codeage Women's Fermented Multivitamin+

Comprehensive all-in-one formula designed for women, including essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K2, biotin, folate, iodine, CoQ10, selenium, lutein, zinc, magnesium, omega-3, pantothenic acid, copper, manganese, potassium, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, boron, and calcium.

This daily multivitamin for women contains a variety of additional beneficial ingredients such as organic amla berry, boron, camu camu, chia seed, turmeric, reishi mushroom, holy basil, sage, ashwagandha, and more. It also offers probiotics, digestive enzymes, and activated trace minerals.

Codeage Men's Fermented Multivitamin+

Codeage all-in-one men's multivitamin supplement includes essential vitamins A, B6, B12, and C as well as vitamins D3, E, and K2 (MK-7).

This multivitamin for men also offers minerals and nutrients such as biotin, folate, iodine, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, omega-3, lutein, and phosphorus, plus zinc, selenium, copper, niacin, and activated minerals.

Codeage daily vitamins for men supplement is enhanced with real whole foods, vitamins and fermented herbs, including boron, thiamin, riboflavin, chromium, molybdenum, pantothenic acid, organic ginger, beet, cordyceps, and reishi mushrooms to provide added nutritional benefits.

It also features probiotics, a digestive enzyme blend, organic turmeric, black pepper powder, and CoQ10 to elevate this formula further.

Codeage Teen Fermented Multivitamin+

Codeage Teen Multivitamin+ is a comprehensive blend of over 25 vitamins and minerals designed specifically for teenage boys and girls aged 12 to 18. This formula includes essential vitamins such as A, B, C, D, E, and K, along with biotin, folate, calcium, omega-3, CoQ10, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and phosphorus, plus enzymes, probiotics, and organic whole foods.  

All multi’s are vegan, non-GMO, and free from dairy, soy, and gluten.*  

Better brain health through nutrition and supplements by Naturopath Claire George

"Part of my summer relaxation is having plenty of books to read.  And in natural health there is always more to learn!

One of my summer reads was The Better Brain: How nutrition will help you overcome anxiety, depression, ADHD and stress, by Julia Rucklidge & Bonnie Kaplan.  

These two women have pulled together a lot of their own, and other's research to build a compelling read on the role of multinutrients in brain health.  To save you reading it for yourself, these are my main takeaways from this book:

We can find plenty of research about the effect of single-nutrients on mental health, but it appears that individual nutrients may have been spotlighted simply for the simplicity of scientific research, despite a multitude being required for good health.  If we look at how our body works, it uses multiple vitamins and minerals in unison at each step of its intricate function; particularly in the brain.  Therefore, it makes sense to provide the brain with the range of at least fifteen minerals and fifteen vitamins that are all essential for functioning.

This range of vitamins and minerals are not only required for basic functioning.  They also allow the production of energy, the protection of DNA, fighting excess inflammation, and warding off the harmful effects of environmental toxins.  

With a changing environment affecting carbon dioxide and soil nutrient levels, our food may no longer provide us with the required levels or the range of these integral nutrients - even when following the healthiest of diets.  This is where a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement can help to support optimal function.  This is particularly important for those people that may currently have a higher demand for nutrients, including people dealing with chronic stress, those with genetic differences in metabolism, people with chronic inflammation or are on long-term medications, or pregnant women.

Interestingly, research outlined in the book showed that even those who showed ‘normal’ nutrient levels in blood tests still experienced clinical benefits from supplementing a multi-vitamin and nutrient.  This is unsurprising when we understand how the body works hard to keep nutrient levels in balance in the blood - and demonstrates that blood tests may not show us how function is being affected from lowered nutrient levels.  

The Better Brain highlighted promising results for the use of multi-vitamin and mineral supplements for improving emotional regulation; which is critical for problems with mood, anxiety, aggression, and irritability.  Multi-nutrients have also shown benefits for ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder in children, along with a reduction in medications for other psychotic disorders.  

What I found interesting was the flow-on effects to other areas of health through a wholefoods diet and multi-vitamin and mineral supplements.  This included improving stress resilience, better sleep, reducing addictions, slowing cognitive decline, improving recovery from brain trauma and reducing PMS symptoms.  

It is good to be reminded of the far-reaching benefits of the humble multi; for brain health and a range of other ailments.  Our range of high quality multi-nutrient formulas in the health shop have been chosen for their breadth of ingredients and optimal dosage for over-the-counter supplements.  Alternatively, you can access practitioner-only supplements when you have a consultation with one of our qualified naturopaths."

Formulated with 14 active natural ingredients chosen to reduce pain and inflammation,
Omrub is a vital companion for:

* Muscle & joint pain
* Back pain & stiffness
* Neck & shoulder discomfort
* Sprains & strains
* Sciatica
* Poor circulation
* Tension headaches
* Neuralgia, sore feet, and more

With Omrub, a little goes a long way. To get relief, rub some Omrub into the affected area for 10-15 seconds and then let the natural ingredients work their magic! As this is a professional-strength therapeutic muscle rub, Omrub does not recommend use during pregnancy, or on children below 8 years of age.

To enter the draw, reply to this email and tell us what you would like to use Omrub for?

Congratulations to Melissa Kelly who won the Harkers Herbals gift basket, and Ringakore Moana who won the Giovanni gift pack featured in the December newsletter.

Linda Hallinan’s Damson Shrub Syrup - Adapted from her Book:  Damson: From Hedgerow to Harvest

Shrubs are a concentrated, gut-healthy, sweet and sour natural syrup and are delicious added to cocktails, mocktails, sparkling water, salad dressing and more. This cocktail syrup is an old fashioned drink originally called  ‘drinking vinegar’’ and has had comeback as a sophisticated shrub.

Method:

Rinse, pat dry and slice damson in half.  Only use firm ripe fruit, discard any squishy ones.

Place the damsons in a glass jug and toss with sugar.  Stand until juicy then cover with apple cider vinegar (avoid white vinegar as it gives the syrup an unpleasant medicinal undertone).

Gently shake or stir the syrup a couple of times a day for a week.  You can steep damson for up to a fortnight but berry shrubs are best strained after a week.  After straining out the fruit, taste the syrup and adjust the sweetness or acidity by adding more sugar or vinegar to suit your palate.  

Bottle and store in the fridge.  Add a shot of shrub syrup to cocktails or serve over plenty of ice in tall glasses topped with tonic or soda water. 

Comments:   Eunice used Billington plums with coconut sugar and the shrub is delicious (photo above).  She is looking forward to using it in vinaigrettes.