How to Read a Herbal Supplement Label

A supplement label is the best place to start when deciding how a product is intended to be used. Read the entire label, including the serving size, full ingredient list, directions, warnings and storage information.

A quick checklist

• Serving size: check the amount per serving and servings per container.
• Ingredients: read both the active ingredients and other ingredients.
• Directions and cautions: follow the current package label and note any warnings.
• Storage: use the conditions shown on the label; for this product, refrigeration is required.
• Questions: ask a pharmacist or clinician if you are unsure how it fits your circumstances.

For aübe Lymphatic Drainage Drops, the supplied product details state 60 ml net content and a two-year shelf life under recommended conditions. Always use the batch's own label as the source of directions.

Keep the complete ingredient names

Write down botanical names and plant parts exactly as they appear. A leaf, berry or root description provides more information than a common plant name alone. When asking a pharmacist a question, a readable photograph of the entire label is often the easiest way to avoid leaving something out.

Our supplied formula lists six botanicals. You can read an introduction in Meet the Six Botanicals Inside aübe. That introduction does not replace the complete current label or establish quantities that have not been confirmed.

Compare like information with like information

A bottle's total volume, an amount per serving and a serving frequency describe different things. Keep them separate when comparing products. Do not assume that a larger bottle provides a larger serving, or that two products with similar names use the same instructions.

Check whether a claim relates to the finished blend or to one ingredient in a different preparation. An ingredient being studied does not automatically establish the same effect for every product that includes it.

Make questions easy to answer

Include the product name, current label, batch details and the exact point you want clarified. If you ask about interactions, bring your list of medicines and other supplements. If you ask about storage, describe what happened rather than requesting a universal answer.

Explore our pharmacist question checklist and our storage guide to prepare those conversations.