Frequently Asked Questions

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Questions regarding the use of herbs:

Are there side effects I should be concerned about when taking herbs?
How many times a day can I take herbs?
Can I take more than one herb, or blend of herbs, at the same time?
When should I expect to see/feel results?
Should I stop taking herbs once I feel better?
If I want to treat more than one condition and want to treat both herbally at the same time, can I take multiple herbal formulas?
Can herbs be used along with prescription medicines?
Do I need to change the way I eat while taking herbal supplements?
Can children take herbs or herbal blends?
Is it okay to take my vitamins and herbs at the same time?
How do I make herb tea?
Can I continuously use one herb over a long period of time?
What is the best way to store herbs?
I have noticed that sometimes the color, smell, and even taste of the same kind of herb or herbal extract will vary when ordered at different times. Why?
I have trouble swallowing pills; how can I still use your products?
What are the vegetable cellulose capsules made of?
What happens to the capsule shells once they are ingested?

Questions regarding Viable-Herbal.com:

Where can I find information about specific herbs?
What are your shipping options?
What is your return policy?
Where can I find information about your company and its history?
Where do I go to order herbal products on your website?
I am uneasy about using my credit card on the internet. How do I know your website is secure?
I do not have a credit card. Can I pay with a check or money order?

Q: Are there side effects I should be concerned about when taking herbs?
A: Herbs are a natural source of food and work in harmony with your body when taken properly. There are some side effects associated with certain herbs and, therefore, it is important to practice moderation and follow dosage instructions, and read any warning or contraindications associated with herbal remedies. When taken properly, herbs are a very safe complement and/or alternative to synthetic medicines.

Q: How many times a day can I take herbs?
A: Unless otherwise directed, you can usually start with one capsule twice a day for most commercially available herbs. Then, as you start to see and feel the results, you may increase slightly or decrease slightly depending on the desired results. When using herbs as a tea, one or two cups a day is usually sufficient.

Q: Can I take more than one herb, or blend of herbs, at the same time?
A: Yes. Just be sure to read the dosage instructions and any warnings associated with the herbal products. Remember to use moderation. If you start taking multiple herbs at the same time, you may notice the desired results, but will not know if only one of those herbs is responsible. It's best to start gradually.

Q: When should I expect to see/feel results?
A: Everyone is different and their bodies will react differently because of that.  Results depend on many factors, including your current health condition and how often you take the herbs. Many people have seen results within a week, others several weeks. Depending on the severity of the condition you are treating, it may take even longer.

Q: Should I stop taking herbs once I feel better?
A: A good rule is to continue using herbs in moderation. This will help you to continue to feel better and what better way than naturally? Herbs work best when used regularly throughout your life to support your body's overall health every day.

Q: If I want to treat more than one condition and want to treat both herbally at the same time, can I take multiple herbal formulas?
A: Yes, most herbs and herbal formulas can be taken together. Viable Herbal Solutions suggests that you start with your most serious ailment first; then look to herbs as a food to build the body back to health.  Remember to follow dosage instructions and read any warnings associated with any new treatments, and it is always advisable to consult a physician before dealing with any serious medical problems or ailments.

Q: Can herbs be used along with prescription medicines?
A: Herbs and plant extracts can usually be taken along with traditional synthetic medications.  It is strongly advised, though, that you seek the advice of a physician who understands the benefits of herbal remedies.

Q: Do I need to change the way I eat while taking herbal supplements?
A: Not necessarily. However, it is always best to avoid alcohol, soft drinks, smoking and secondary smoke. Your diet should include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis.

Q: Can children take herbs or herbal blends?
A: Yes. Children may take many herbs in teas, capsules and formulas with good results. However, it is imperative that dosage and warnings are followed closely, as not all herbs  are suitable for children. Viable Herbal Solutions recommends that it is always wise to consult a physician before embarking on a course of herbal supplements for children.

Q: Is it okay to take my vitamins and herbs at the same time?
A: Yes. Vitamins and herbal supplements usually work well together. You may even find with the right combination that your desired results will come even more quickly.

Q: How do I make herb tea?
A: To make an herb tea, boil one cup of water, add one tsp. of desired the herb, remove from heat, and let it sit for about three to five minutes.

Q: Can I continuously use one herb over a long period of time?
A: Yes. However, remember to always use herbs in moderation, and pay attention to how your body is feeling.

Q: What is the best way to store herbs?
A: Herbs should be stored in closed containers away from direct sunlight, and in a cool, dry area. Avoid exposure to extreme heat and humidity, or extremely cold temperatures.

Q: I have noticed that sometimes the color, smell, and even taste of the same kind of herb or herbal extract will vary when ordered at different times. Why?
A: Herbs can vary in these ways, depending upon weather conditions at the time of growth, the soil in which the herbs are grown, and the time of year at which the herb is harvested, dried, and processed.

Q: I have trouble swallowing pills; how can I still use your products?
A: If you order our herbs in capsule form but have trouble swallowing capsules, or if you order our herbs in powder form and are unsure of how to take it, you may break open the capsules and mix the powder with a flavorful, pleasant-tasting syrup, such as chocolate or strawberry, maple syrup, or even honey. Some herbs have a pungent taste, so you may wish to mask that taste with a sweetly flavored syrup when mixing the two together.

Q: How do I use your bulk powdered herbal products?
A: Our bulk powders can be used in many ways, both internally and externally. We do not offer dosage instructions for bulk powders, but we do have these helpful tips for you when taking them internally. It is advisable that you do not order bulk powders if you are unsure of how to use them.

• 1/2 teaspoon of powder is about equal to one capsule.
• Powder can be consumed by sprinkling it over your food or mixing it with a syrup such as maple or chocolate.
• You could also mix it with orange juice. The citric acid in the orange juice will help to mask any unpleasant powder tastes.

Please note that most of our powdered products are not water-soluble, so they will not make effective teas. If you need further assistance in using herbal powders externally, please consult your physician or an herbalist in your area.

Q: What are the vegetable cellulose capsules made of?
A: The vegetable cellulose capsules are made from wood pulp from southern pine trees. They are completely harmless to your body.

Q: What happens to the capsule shells once they are ingested?
A: After you consume a capsule, the shell will dissolve within 20 minutes. They are cellulose capsules, meaning they will not be absorbed into your body. Any material that may remain of the capsule shells will pass through your body and be expelled.

Questions regarding Viable Herbal Solutions:

Q: Where can I find information about specific herbs?
A: Viable Herbal Solutions offers detailed information about each individual herb we carry. You may view that information by clicking the Single Herbs link on the left side of any page of our site. Similarly, you can view information about each of our Herbal Blends and Combinations by clicking their respective links on the left side of any page of our website.

Q: What are your shipping options?
A: Viable Herbal Solutions offers US Priority Mail, UPS 3-Day, UPS 2-Day, and UPS Overnight services in the United States. For shipping to Canada and other countries, we use the USPS Global Express service. Click here to view our complete shipping policy. We have a variety of options for you using the United States Postal Service and the United Parcel Service.

Q: What is your return policy?
A: Click here to view the Viable Herbal Solutions complete return policy.

Q: Where can I find information about your company and its history?
A: Our About Us page will introduce you to Viable Herbal Solutions and who we are, our history and our goals, and why Viable Herbal Solutions is your best choice for herbal supplements and general health information available today.

Q: Where do I go to order herbal products on your website?
A: All herbs and herbal formulas may be purchased through their individual pages.  All the forms of each herb that we offer are shown on their respective pages. Just click the orange Add to Cart button next to the one you want - it's that easy.

Q: I am uneasy about using my credit card on the internet. How do I know your website is secure?
A: Viable Herbal Solutions uses the industry standard security protocol Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to encode sensitive information like your credit card number that passes between you and Viable Herbal Solutions.  SSL works by creating a temporary, shared "key" (sort of a digital code book) that allows only the computers on either end of a transmission to scramble and unscramble information.

To anyone between the sender and the receiver, including all the servers that may relay the message, the SSL transmission is indecipherable gibberish.

SSL makes on-line ordering just as secure as using your credit cards anywhere else.

Here's how it works:
Exchanging "Hellos"
When your browser lands on a secure Web page, the server that is hosting the secure site sends a "hello request" to the browser. The browser then replies with a "client hello." In networked environments (and the Web is the granddaddy of all networked environments), individual PCs are often called "clients." The server, ever the polite one, responds back with a "server hello."  Exchanging all these "hellos" lets your browser and the server's Web page determine the encryption and compression standards that they both support. They also exchange a "session ID," a unique identifier for that specific interaction. Once they have greeted each other, the browser asks for the server's "digital certificate."  It's the on-line commerce version of saying "Can I see some ID, please?"

A Digital Certificate
On-line companies get digital certificates from a Certificate Authority, like RSA Data Security Inc. or VeriSign Inc. A Certificate Authority verifies a company's identification, and then issues a unique certificate as proof of identity.

Sharing the Key
After your browser and our secure server provider have 'shaken hands,' and after your browser has checked our digital certificate, then your browser uses information in our digital certificate to encrypt a message back to us that only our secure server can understand. Using that information, the browser and the server create a "master key." This master key is like a codebook that both sides can use to encode and decode transmissions. Only your browser and our server share that "master key," and it's good only for that individual session. Using the unique, shared key, your browser and our secure server can exchange sensitive information, like your credit card number, in a way third parties can't understand or decipher.

When you surf off a secure site, the master keys you once held in common become useless, since they are good for one session only. When you go back to the secure site again, your computer and the secure server will again go through the whole process, and then create another "master key."

Knowing When You are on a Secure Site
You can tell when you're on a secure site by looking at the image of a padlock or key somewhere along the bottom of your browser's window. If the key is unbroken, or the lock is closed, and the image is golden or glowing, that means you're connected under the cloak of SSL security. Most browsers can also be set to alert you when you enter and leave a secure site.

Is it Safe?
The legal department goes crazy when we speak in absolutes, but SSL does make your on-line purchases extremely safe. The way to break an SSL encryption is with brute force by intercepting the encrypted message containing your credit card number, recording it, and then using a sophisticated computer to try every possible combination until the master key is cracked. To combat even that approach, most keys range from 40 to 1,024 digits long (each digit is either a 1 or a 0). As the number of digits in the key gets longer, the number of possible combinations grows into the trillions. Therefore, the longer the key is - the more secure it is.

We believe strongly in the safety of SSL. Encryption technology continues to evolve, however, so Viable Herbal Solutions will continually review ways to improve security, including new, even more bulletproof encryption methods.

Q: I do not have a credit card. Can I pay with a check or money order?
A: Absolutely! We have a printable order form, which is accessible from any page of our website. You can find it by clicking on the last link in the pink box of links at the top of any page of our website. It says "Order Form" and can be used for anyone who wants to pay by check or money order, or by anyone who just doesn't want to use their credit card over the internet. Although we can assure you that our website is fully secure, we do understand your concerns and have developed this order form with you in mind. You can also access this form from the shopping cart area of our website (the link says "Check/Money Order" and it is located on the left side of the page) as well as from our Site Map (there is a link to our site map at the bottom of every page of the site).

Please note that when paying by check or money order, your order will not be shipped until we have received your payment. Please view our Ordering Info for all of our ordering options and related information.