Post-pandemic, it’s safe to say that most of us are more aware of our health than ever before. For many, this newfound awareness has led to a more holistic approach to health, with a focus on clean eating, regular exercise, healthy habits and good quality natural supplementation.
But taking the right supplements can be a challenge in itself – if you’ve ever walked down the vitamin and mineral aisle at your favourite pharmacy, you wouldn’t be blamed for feeling overwhelmed. Not only is the sheer volume of supplements available overwhelming, but it’s also really difficult to know which is best for you.
Not all supplements are created equal. While there are some really great ones on the market, there are also plenty that contain unnecessary fillers, colourants and artificial ingredients that don’t serve your health.
Our editor recently had the opportunity to try some products from The Herbalist, a South African supplementation brand that utilises the very best GMO-free ingredients to create natural remedies ranging from herbal and medicinal plant extracts. Their range includes supplements for supporting your immune system, sleep, cognitive health and support for combatting other health issues the body deals with.
Here’s her review:
“I’ve always been a big believer in supplements. While I follow a (mostly) healthy diet, I know that modern farming practices have negatively impacted the nutrients in our food, making good quality supplements essential. But beyond that, whenever I have a health concern, I always try to improve it with vitamins, minerals and other supplements before turning to pharmaceutical treatment.
I was eager to try The Herbalist products after learning that their founders have a passion for natural medicines and herbs, and that the ingredients present in these supplements are 100% natural.
I ordered online and the process was seamless. The Herbalist website was extremely easy to navigate and intuitive to use. The product offering is varied, but not overwhelming. They offer a selection of supplements to address overall concerns (to boost immunity, health and mental abilities, etc.) as well as more targeted supplements, such as ashwagandha.
After looking through the various options, I selected The Herbalist Immune Booster and The Herbalist Sleepy Caps. Making the purchase on The Herbalist website was a breeze, and I was really impressed with the way they kept me up to date. I received an order confirmation email right away and was kept updated on my parcel’s whereabouts via email and WhatsApp.
My parcel arrived two or three days after I placed my order and I received a few really helpful emails from The Herbalist filled with information on health and nutrition. All-in-all, the ordering process was a breeze and the customer service was fantastic.
Now on to the products… I like to take an immune booster during winter to protect my body from all the colds and ‘flu germs doing the rounds, so selecting The Herbalist Immune Booster was a no-brainer for me. It contains cancerbush, Echinacea, nettle and lemon verbena, and is intended to boost your immunity, act as a natural probiotic, fight inflammation, fatigue and congestion, as well as boost one’s mood and improve sleep.
People are always quick to ask whether a supplement works or not, and a lot of the time it is really difficult to say. What I can say with certainty, is that since I started taking The Herbalist Immune Booster, I have not gotten sick, which is amazing considering everyone in my household had a cold and I did not catch it from them. I’ve also been working extra-long hours and putting my body under strain with stress, which is almost always a trigger for getting sick. In addition, I’ve managed to maintain focus and energy to get through longer work days and have not had any digestive issues (which are so common with stress). While I can’t say that The Herbalist Immune Booster is the only reason for that, I certainly believe that it has been a big contributor.
The Herbalist Sleepy Caps were my other selection. While I don’t struggle with insomnia or any type of sleep disorder, I sometimes find myself waking up a few times a night for no reason and don’t always feel well-rested the next morning. Sleepy Caps contain valerian root, hops, chamomile, wild oats and passion flower, and was designed to help reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, reduce anxiety and help with restless leg syndrome.
I’ve never taken a supplement specifically designed to aid good sleep so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this one had me pleasantly surprised. I’ve been waking up less frequently during the night, I’ve been feeling restful when I get into bed and best of all, I’ve been falling asleep really quickly, even when I have a lot on my mind.
Knowing that these products are made from top quality natural ingredients, I was surprised to learn how affordable they are. Immune Booster costs around R119.95 for a month’s supply, and Sleepy Caps retail for around R259.95 for a month’s supply. Considering that some supplements cost several hundreds of Rands per month, The Herbalist is competitively priced.
I’m really happy to have discovered both of these products and I’m definitely planning to continue using them, and possibly even trying a few others from the range.”
Anien – Editor
It’s important to remember that supplements are designed to form part of a holistic approach to health which includes a healthy diet, exercise and healthy habits, and they are not a quick fix to better health. However, when you choose to follow a healthy lifestyle and incorporate good quality supplements like those from The Herbalist, it is possible to improve your overall health and address health concerns naturally.
Shop The Herbalist products online here.
