I’m a supplement junkie.
I admit it.
I love ordering things online. This includes herbal supplements, homeopathic remedies, essential oils and herbal tea.
My husband once complained that I own so much tea that we need to build an addition onto our house.
Of course, I also need these various supplements. Because I’m fighting chronic nerve pain. Naturally, without drugs.
Supplements help me do this, as the ones I take contain natural anti-inflammatory compounds.
I’ve been using natural remedies for years.
And there’s one thing I’ve learned.
Putting your dietary supplements on auto ship is a great deal. For the manufacturer. But not necessarily for you.
Because we’re so individual. No one knows how long we’ll need a particular remedy. It may be just for a week. A month. Or possibly longer.
If it’s only a short time, you will have an unused jar of herbal capsules sitting on a shelf. Plus, a new one will arrive.
Or the supplement may not agree with you at all. And you may forget to cancel the next bottle scheduled to arrive.
I’ve also learned that my body needs breaks from herbal remedies. (Probably everyone’s does. But I especially notice it with my body.)
Why You Don’t Want To Put Your Supplements On Auto Ship
How long of a break can vary. Sometimes I only need a short break. Other times longer.
I listen to my body. After a while the boost I get from an herbal remedy fades. I start to “forget” to take it. So I take it as a cue that my body no longer needs it.
Sometimes I return to using a particular remedy in a week. Or maybe more. But sometimes not at all.
So the little bit of money I would have “saved” on auto ship becomes a greater expense.
I believe it’s important for people to know this. So they don’t fall into the auto ship trap.
Instead, buy what you need and then only replace it when you’re running low.
Another thing to consider is how you will react to a supplement. We’re all different. So unless you’re working with a professional herbalist, it’s a guessing game.
I’ve ordered some supplements that didn’t seem to work for me. Thankfully, not on auto ship.
Do Auto Ship Supplements Make Sense?
Because natural remedies don’t last forever. After a time, dried herbs lose their potency. So use them or lose them.
You also don’t have to use every supplement. I only take supplements that I feel I need. Sometimes I don’t finish the entire bottle. I don’t see this as money wasted. Instead, to me, it means the supplement has done its job. (Money well spent.)
But at the same time, you don’t want another bottle of an unnecessary supplement coming to your house.
I’m not surprised that some companies push auto ship so hard, giving customers what appears to be a break on the price.
Because they know that many people will just order one bottle. Never a second bottle.
I think the only time I’d consider auto ship is with something I knew I’d be using continuously. But I’ve yet to find too many things that fit that description.
Everything I use seems to work better if I take periodic breaks. And take something else in between.
Sometimes, I’ve found, my body needs a rest from all supplements.
So auto ship definitely doesn’t work for me. In fact, a regular 30-day supply would probably last me twice as long. If not three times as long.
So I’d have supplements piling up in my kitchen cabinet.
And my husband telling me we need to build an addition.
Should You Order Supplements on Auto Ship?
Everyone is different. Everyone’s needs are different.
Say, for instance, you have multiple people in the same house using the same supplement. You’ve used it for a while. You know it works for you.
You think you’ll be using it again in the future.
In that case, auto ship might work.
Natural medicine is expensive. So, for most people, it’s important to find ways to save money. So they can continue their natural health protocol.
For some people, it might be auto ship. But I urge everyone to carefully run the numbers before committing. It may or may not be a good deal for you. (It’s always a good deal for the company selling the supplements.)
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
You may also be interested in reading an earlier post, Why My Natural Remedies Don’t Work.