Frequently Asked Questions

General

1. Why should I take my herb capsules or supplements with meals?

   The presence of food in the stomach stimulates the production of acids and enzymes that are needed for digestion and proper absorption of nutrients. It doesn’t really matter which meal you take them with or if they are taken before or after a meal. 

2. Why do some tablets have a speckled look?

   Speckles may be visible in some tablets and are due to the natural plant materials or ingredients. Providing the product is still within its expiration period and has been stored according to label directions you shouldn’t be concerned.

3. Why is there sometimes a colour variation in capsules from bottle to bottle?

   Herbs are a natural plant material and therefore colour variations may occur from batch to batch. Don’t be alarmed as Nature’s Sunshine’s strict Quality Assurance methods ensure each herb undergoes a microscopic evaluation to determine and validate exactly which plant species and plant part is being used before it goes into the capsule or tablet.

4. I’m a vegetarian and don’t like to take gelatin capsules. How can I still get the benefits of what’s in the capsule?

   Nature’s Sunshine gelatin capsules can be twisted open and the contents made into a tea, or sprinkled on food for those desiring not to swallow a capsule. We also have a range of vegetarian tablets and capsules.

5. I found a bottle of herb capsules in the cupboard and the use by date has expired. Can I still take them?

   Encapsulated herbs generally carry a 5 year expiration while concentrated herbs, standardised extracts and vitamins and minerals are generally 2 years unless specified otherwise. Complementary medicines, while natural, are considered ‘medicinal’ and should be treated the same as you would any medicine i.e. the bottle should be used up and not stored for any great length of time. Stability testing determines the expiration dates on our products, ensuring the active ingredients are present at the end of the product’s shelf life. It is recommended that if a product is past its expiration date then the product should be disposed of.

6. How should I store my product?

   As the label suggests, all therapeutic goods should be stored under 30 degrees C, in a cool, dry place. Our products are all packaged to protect against moisture and light, ensuring product integrity.

7. What does SynerPro mean?

   Nature’s Sunshine uses an exclusive excipient cruciferous vegetable base of Broccoli, Cabbage Leaf, Carrot Root, Red Beetroot, Rosemary, Tomato and Turmeric to further enhance the product’s therapeutic value. So when you see the word SynerPro on a product label you can be assured the vegetable base is included in the formula.

8. I have heard some products contain Excipients. What are these?

   Excipients are mostly used in the tableting process as manufacturing aids. For example a tablet coating is an excipient - without it a tablet may prove difficult to swallow. Another example might be a lubricant which is needed sometimes to prevent a tablet from sticking to machinery. Some people think excipients are harmful but this is not the case. A quality tablet requires excipients to be used and we use the finest excipients that are known to be safe and meet our strict quality control requirements.

9. Can I give herbs and supplements to my children?

   In Herbal Medicine an adult is considered 12 years of age and can therefore take the adult dosage recommended on the label. The general rule of thumb is that the dosage should be halved for children aged 6-12 years unless the label specifically states ‘Not recommended for Children’. For children aged under 6 years it is always wise to consult a professional health care practitioner before administering herbal medicines, particularly when dealing with sedative or laxative herbs.

10. I am lactose intolerant. Can I take your herbs and supplements?

    Yes you can. Herbs do not contain lactose. Some products such as probiotics or digestive enzymes, where a starting material may involve lactose, should be avoided. It is a labelling requirement that products containing Lactose should be stated on the product label.

11. Can supplements be used while I’m on medication?

    This will depend on the medication. Some herbs will interact with medicines. It is always best to check with your Doctor or Pharmacist if on medication before taking a herbal medicine or supplement.

12. Can I pick up my order from your office?

    We do have a click and collect option available weekdays when you place your order online.

13. When can I expect to receive my goods?

    Orders placed prior to 12.00pm Mon-Fri will be dispatched the same day where possible, orders placed after this time will be dispatched the following business day. Our couriers aim for overnight delivery in the North Island, and 2-3 day delivery in the South Island however this can not be guaranteed. Please allow extra time for rural delivery. 
    Although every effort is made to deliver goods on time, we cannot be held responsible for the late delivery of goods once they have been handed over to the third party agent. Should your goods arrive late, please accept our sincere apologies.

14. I am not getting emails from you, what can I do?

    To ensure that you receive emails from us please add:  hello@nutricom.co.nz to your safe senders list, address book or contact list.

15. Are Nature's Sunshine Products Organic?

    Nature’s Sunshine Prod­ucts is committed to offering only the world’s highest qual­ity herbs and supplements made from pure, natural sources. Our own extensive farm audits and raw material testing processes ensure that our herbs meet organic standards. Where are product has been certified organic status this will show on the product label.