Frequently Asked Questions

The human body has an amazing ability to adapt to myriad changes. Sometimes, we need a little helping hand. Adaptogens are non-harmful, natural ingredients that support your mind and body to restore their balance.

These incredible herbs and mushrooms work with the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands to support the body and build resilience when times are tough.

In other words, they help your body find the “sweet spot,” so you can feel calm and energised at the same time.

Adaptogens have been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. And in the high-stress- environment of modern life, they’ve become more important than ever. You can learn more about adaptogens and how they work here.

Think of adaptogens as a thermostat. Their active ingredients work in conjunction with various systems in the body to help bring us back to the middle in times of stress, the way a thermostat regulates the temperature inside a house.

Different adaptogens work in different ways. For example, Ashwagandha is a non-stimulant adaptogen loved for its calming qualities whereas Lion’s Mane is used to improve focus and alertness.

Learn more about each of our adaptogenic ingredients and their properties.

We’re a big believer in the long-term effects of adaptogens. Like any supplement, it can take a little while for the full effects to build up. So, for each of our supplements, we always recommend starting by taking two per day* for a week, then adjusting up or down depending on your needs.

If you want to reduce the effects, only take one per day or space them out. If you wish to increase the effects (we recommend taking them for at least a week before doing this), increase the dose. It’s important to listen to your body and adjust the dose according to how you feel.

We recommend no more than four a day of any of our capsule supplements.

* Please note that our supplements are best taken at different times of the day, depending on their active ingredients and desired effects. Always check the packaging for the ideal times and doses.

This is a very individual thing. Some people will notice an effect from the first dose, others may need to take the capsules for a week or more before noticing a difference.

If you have been taking the capsules for a week and are not noticing any difference, it may be that you need to increase the dose to the slightly higher recommendation on the pack. We don’t recommend taking more than four capsules per day of any of our products.

We take every precaution possible to ensure that you receive the products that you ordered; however, we are not perfect and if you receive an item that you haven’t ordered, please send us an email (hello@the-herbtender.com) to report the issue within our 30-day confidence guarantee window.

Currently, we offer you two options:

• Full Refund: We ask that you send back the product in the same condition you received it, unopened and unused in its original packaging.
  
• Replacement Request: Return the item you have and once the return is accepted, make a separate purchase for the new item.

If the product is damaged during shipping, this must be reported to us via email (hello@the-herbtender.com) within our 30-day money-back guarantee window.

In the damaged item request please include:

• Order number
  
• Description of the product and damage
  
• Photos (if applicable)

Either a replacement for the product will be issued or a full refund. If you wish to receive a refund, please reference our Returns & Refunds Policy. If we issue a refund the amount will be credited to you within 10 business days after we have received the returned package.

If you wish to cancel an order, please contact our live chat, or email us (hello@the-herbtender.com) as soon as possible.

We will try our best to cancel the order and stop it from getting processed by our fulfilment centre - we process orders daily so that we can guarantee timely shipping.

Please note: we cannot cancel an order once it has already been shipped, you would have to return the package to us. You can reference our Returns & Refunds Policy for more details.

If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, please contact us at hello@the-herbtender.com.

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee return & refund policy. The product that you would like to return should be identified to our Customer Support team within 30 days of receipt.

For more information please see our returns policy.

Please Note:

• Currently, we do not ship internationally
  
• Refunds granted are for product cost only and do not include the original shipping cost paid by the customer.
  
• Shipping costs for the returns sent back to our fulfilment centre will be paid for by you
  
• If you paid with Shop Pay Instalments, please reference the Shop Pay Instalments Refunding an Order FAQ.

Once your order is placed, you’ll receive an email confirming your order. Once your products have been shipped, you’ll receive another email with your tracking number

Note: we do not send out our 14-capsule Discovery Pouches via tracked mail, only our 60 capsule Pouches and Jars, so you will not have a tracking number.

If you are a subscriber, the same process applies, except you won’t need to manually place your order.

Once your adaptogen subscription ships, you’ll receive an email with the tracking number. If you want extra support, feel free to reach out to the Customer Success team at hello@the-herbtender.com

Here’s the gist. Your subscription membership guarantees you the best possible price on your favourite blends. Subscribing also automates the reordering process, so your beloved adaptogens arrive at your front door before you run out.

You can modify, pause, or cancel your membership whenever you’d like by logging into your account. If you have any questions about your subscription, you can reach out to the Customer Service team by emailing hello@the-herbtender.com

For more info, head to our subscriptions page.

We, at The Herbtender, have strived to make all of our packaging as sustainable as possible. Our capsules are packaged in glass recyclable bottles or 100% plastic-free, compostable pouches. Our mailer boxes, stationery, etc. are also all recyclable.

For the full story read our sustainability journey.

All of our blends are 100% vegan and are certified free from:

• Animal products
• Dairy
• Soya
• Gluten
• Nuts
• Celery
• Mustard
• Sesame
• Lupins
• Sulphates

Absolutely. Many of The Herbtender community enjoy mixing blends for increased potency.

You may have heard the term ‘stacking mushrooms’ regarding our functional friends. The same applied to adaptogens. You can combine different blends to work together to achieve your wellness goals, such as Rise & Shine and Focus & Clarity, which are crafted for energy and mental focus.

We recommend taking those in the morning or afternoon. Or you could take blends that do different things at different times of the day such as Rise & Shine to get you going in the morning together with Doze & Dream in the evening to support deeper rest and relaxation.

You are your own Herbtender so you’re welcome to combine your favourite blends any time of day! Listen to your body. Learn what it needs and how it responds to our formulas.

We have designed a series of sets combining two or more of our products that go particularly well together. See our sets here.

Yes, we offer One Week Discovery Pouches to help you try our supplements.

We’ve also created The Discovery Set if you’d like to try our product before committing to full size jars or pouches.

Unopened, Herbtender blends have a two-year shelf life.

Once you have opened a jar, it should be stored in a cool, dry place and we suggest enjoying it within 90 days. You are welcome to keep them in the refrigerator, but it's not needed. These blends are gently dehydrated so their nutrients last a long time outside the fridge.

We advise you to consult with a herbalist or medical practitioner before taking our products if you are on prescribed medication. Even though our capsules are made from natural ingredients, interactions can sometimes happen.

To find a medical herbalist near you please go to www.nimh.org.uk and click on ‘find a herbalist’.

The Herbtender’s products are classified as ‘food supplements’ and are safe to take alongside other food supplements.

Each of our products is different and the specific instructions for each product can be found on the packaging. Some of our products are best taken in the morning or early afternoon; others are best taken in the evening or at night.

For best effect you should take these tablets before food, however, if you forget, you can simply take them whenever you remember.

Yes, all of our products can be taken long term. Often, we find that when people no longer need them, they begin to forget to take them.

If you find that happening, you can always stop taking them for a few weeks to see how life is without them and then decide whether or not to restart.

Learn more about the long-term use of adaptogens.

With the exceptions of Calm & Collected and Focus & Clarity, all of our products are safe to use while trying to conceive.

Once you are pregnant or breastfeeding, however, we recommend consulting with a qualified herbalist, medical practitioner, midwife, or lactation consultant before taking any supplements.

Yes, you can. All of our capsules are easy to split and you can then take the powder in any way you find easy. We recommend mixing it into a little water and then drinking that. If you don’t like the taste, you could add the powder to juice, yogurt or food.