The Derry Mum Behind the Super Elixir

When exhaustion and aches left Theresa Killen feeling drained, the mum of three created her own natural health drink, and its growing popularity has taken even her by surprise.

 Mandi Millar reports

As Galliagh mum Theresa Killen (52) collapsed exhausted into her sofa after a day’s work, she thought, there’s got to be more to life than this.

And there was.

But in finding a way back from the fatigue that was draining her, she’s also managed to help others by creating a health drink whose popularity has gone beyond all her expectations.

“As a mum of three teenage girls, I was never done running after them,” says Theresa, who was also working full-time as a civil servant in Derry’s Jobs and Benefits office.

“But when I hit my mid-forties, I realised my energy levels were plummeting and I was plagued with aches and pains.

“Because I was busy, though, I just thought, well this is family life. I was getting home from work in the evening and collapsing into the sofa for the evening.

“The pains were so bad my sleep pattern was all over the place too, for I was waking up every time I turned because of the pain.

“A couple of years ago I just thought, this cannot be me for the rest of my life.”

Theresa knew her symptoms could be menopause-related but, in only her early 50s, she didn’t want to start down the road of tablets and medication.

“I’ve always tried to look after myself. My parents were Pioneers and don’t smoke; I don’t smoke or drink either and I don’t eat red meat,” she continues.

“I was never consciously into alternative health things but I think Covid was a wake-up call for me and many people.

“And the more I read about natural health remedies, the more I was convinced it could be for me.

“I kept seeing all these things that are good for you – blueberry, turmeric, cayenne pepper, Celtic salt – and I thought I’m going to have a hundred different things on my kitchen counter at this rate!”

Instead she started experimenting with small amounts of each, first making her own capsules, but when that proved too time-consuming she started using a blender to make a drink.

“Through trial and error, and using the feedback from my family who were the first guinea pigs, I was able to tweak the ingredients to get it just right,” says Theresa.

Fast forward a few weeks and she gradually realised her fatigue was lifting and the pains easing, so she was sleeping better.

“Instead of being fit for nothing after a day’s work, I was looking for things to do in the evening and thinking what the hell’s going on here – it was a complete flip from how I’d been!” laughs this enterprising mum.

As word spread around Galliagh, where the family lives, and at work, other people started asking for the product too and she was soon struggling even to find enough bottles.

“I was using old pickle jars and everything! Suddenly what started as something for myself and family was growing legs and I never had any intention of that,” admits Theresa, who was signposted then to Derry’s Foodovation, a centre for food development and technology at North West Regional College.

At this stage though Theresa admits she didn’t really know what she was starting, as the staff at Foodovation guided her through the process of launching her product, sourcing bottles and supplies, ensuring labelling met required standards and advising her on public liability insurance for customers coming in and out of her home.

“Next thing the environmental health people were at the door assessing my kitchen and within five days I had my five-star rating. I was thinking oh my God, how did I get to this stage!” admits Theresa, who calls her product The Super Elixir.

“A customer one day called it my ‘elixir’. I looked it up and liked the fact an elixir was a magic potion, so the name stuck.”

Now celebrating her first year trading, though she still works full-time too, this reluctant businesswoman says she’s still a way to go.

“The last 12 months have been a period of test and learn. For instance, some people didn’t like the bits in the drink, which are there because I use the seeds and skin of the fruit so there’s no goodness wasted,” continues Theresa, who’s producing up to 200 bottles a month.

“I’ve changed my blending process so it’s smooth and the balance of all the ingredients – spring water, lemon (9%), oranges (8%), turmeric root (5%), fresh ginger (5%), blueberries, vinegar from apple cider, organic honey, cayenne pepper and black pepper – really works now.”

Proof of that is the fact that business comes mostly through recommendation.

“The product’s effectiveness speaks for itself. My parents are in their 70s and are like spring chickens, another customer’s hairdresser noticed her hair was thicker after taking it and another said it reduced her period symptoms,” says Theresa.

“It takes about four weeks to start seeing results and you can’t expect much benefit if you drink this and then go boozing at the weekend!

“But so many women have come to me feeling like they’ve lost themselves, they’ve lost their wee mojo and they’re too tired to get it back.

“I think everyone should be taking some form of supplement and if this drink can’t help then it’ll certainly do them no harm.”

• You can WhatsApp Theresa directly through The Super Elixir page on Facebook.