Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. At His Hands Apothecary, you're paying for the finest quality. Our medicinal herbs and mushrooms are always Certified Organic, wildcrafted, or are ones we grow in our own gardens which are always grown organically and without chemicals. Our plant extracts are made in-house, and we use only 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils in our recipes. While we ensure that as many of our ingredients are organic and non-GMO, there are a few ingredients that are natural yet do not claim either of these distinctions or grades, therefore we cannot always label our own products as pure organic, because many of our ingredients are sourced directly from talented farmers and other herbalists. We will never sacrifice quality for profits.

We are a small family operation and not a factory, so we almost always make every product after an order comes in. To provide such high-quality made-to-order freshness, we require a few days to produce everything and to have it ready to ship out. We do everything possible to mail your orders on time, but supply chain issues can sometimes force us to delay an order by a few days, although that's very rare. We typically ship out within 1-3 business days, but we give ourselves 2-7 days just in case we must order supplies to fulfill an order. Customers will receive an email once their order ships out. Please note that while we have a 100% on time ship rate, the USPS can sometimes delay orders, and when it says 1 day shipping at the checkout screen, that's not a guarantee and will likely take a few extra days to arrive. No matter what USPS estimates as far as shipping time, we still need our production time to turnaround top quality product. We cannot be held responsible for shipping delays that are outside our control and no refunds will be given for weather-inspired or USPS delays.

Tinctures are very potent blends of medicinal plants extracted in a liquid base, usually grain alcohol. These extracts can be used for dietary supplementation and are very easy to use, as they can be ingested directly (though, they may burn a little on the tongue), which is the quickest way for the natural chemicals of the plants to enter the bloodstream. Or, you can simply add the drops to a beverage. Tinctures can be cleaner than most dietary supplements and they provide the ability to dose in much smaller amounts, where needed. Dosing with tincture extracts can be a bit of a process for new users. The reason is everybody reacts differently to medicinal plants, so it's best to start slowly with a few drops and work your way up to the dosage that works best for you. For first time users, try one drop and wait a few hours before trying more. Although reactions are extremely rare, they do happen from time to time. A stomach upset is the most common adverse reaction, so if you experience an upset stomach, dial back your dosage, or discontinue use. Always take tinctures with food and never on an empty stomach.

Loose leaf tea is simply the form we offer our tea blends in. Teas are blends of medicinal plants, which are steed in boiling water before being enjoyed as a beverage. This mechanism of introducing medicinal plants into the body is as old as time. Traditionally, herbal medicine wasn't processed in factories and bagged into wasteful tea bags. Loose leaf tea offers the user the opportunity to use whole plants, which means you know exactly what's going into your body. By purchasing our teas, you know these plants are organic or wildcrafted, and clean, and you can trust there are no synthetic fillers. Take 1-2 TSP of loose-leaf tea and place into a tea infuser, strainer ball, or an empty tea bag and steep in boiling hot water, stirring often (typically 5-15 minutes until color of hot water changes and aroma of tea fills the room). Some teas contain bitter tasting herbs (i.e., Motherwort) and should steep for less time, at a slightly lower temperature; meaning you can let the boiling water sit for 2-3 minutes before pouring over the tea herbs to lessen the extraction of bitter compounds. Add honey and sugar to your taste preference. Although reactions are extremely rare, they do happen from time to time. Stomach upset is the most common adverse reaction, so if you experience an upset stomach, dial back your dosage, or discontinue use.

Salves are topical ointments that are applied to skin to help with a variety of ailments and skin conditions. They are made with medicinal plant extracts, essential oils, natural butters, and waxes. Medicinal plants are heat extracted into carrier oils, which can introduce the natural chemicals into the bloodstream and are used as a localized approach to healing certain ailments, discomforts, and complaints. To ensure no adverse reaction is possible, place a small amount on the inner arm and wait a few hours before continuing use. Salves should go nowhere near the eyes, especially if they contain menthol, camphor, peppermint, spearmint, or wintergreen. If you experience a burning sensation in the eyes, wash your hands very well and then run cool water into the eye until the sensation subsides. Some beauty creams can be tolerated beneath the eye lids, but some people might find they are sensitive to a plant extract or essential oil within the topical ointment. If this occurs, discontinue use near the eyes. Salves and creams are for external use only.

For best results, maintain a healthy set and setting, which means controlling your mindset and the environment where you will sleep. If you are using your phone or watching TV before bedtime, you will be tricking your brain into thinking the light emitted from these devices is the sun, due to the blue light of modern screens. When that happens, your brain ceases production of its natural sleep chemical melatonin. Also, maintain healthy and clean sleep habits, like clean sheets, do not eat at least two hours before bedtime, and do not take stimulants or energizing herbal products several hours before bedtime. All these variables can affect your ability to get to and stay asleep. Ideally, follow these guidelines for optimal balancing of sleep patterns: Allow yourself 8-10 hours to sleep. Have a clean and comforting space to sleep, so keep your sheets and blankets clean, your room dark, and calm, and cut down on any lights or distractions that may negatively affect your sleep routine. Before bedtime, avoid eating two hours before bedtime, and avoid stimulants for 4-5+ hours before bedtime. Avoid all screens, bright lights, and stimulating activities. Dim the lights, read a book, listen to soothing music, and pray to calm the mind. Sometimes a comforting and familiar audiobook can help if you already know what happens and don't need to hang on to every word to understand what's happening in the story. Other folks do better with a noise machine that mimics rain or gently crashing ocean waves.

Always perform a spot check on the inside of your arm. Apply a small quantity of product to skin, smaller than the size of a dime, and then wait several hours. We only offer our opinions and resources based on research, product testing amongst ourselves, and customer reviews. We are not medical professionals and cannot advise on ailments, treatments, nor allergies. Ingredients are listed as a courtesy to provide you with every opportunity to avoid allergic reactions.

It is indeed possible for a pharmaceutical medication to interact with an herbal ingredient in our products. If you regularly take any medication, it is especially important that you consult your doctor or a medical professional prior to use. We are not medical professionals and cannot advise you further on safety recommendations. We have an Herb Warnings page that can provide further information, but this information is not complete and is not meant to replace advice from your doctor or medical professional.

We hand make all our products in small batches to ensure optimal freshness, consistency, and potency. Our products have not been made to sit on store shelves for years and years. Although there are natural preservatives within the chemical structure of many of our natural ingredients, they are nowhere near as potent as the synthetic preservatives used in commercial products to prolong shelf-life. All our products are made every few weeks and none are very old when they are sold. Our products should be opened within 6 months of purchase and generally used within a year or so from purchase. Since we add no preservatives or chemical stabilizers, the more important question is, "How long will the product last once it has been opened?” Teas can last 5+ years if sealed in an airtight container, and stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. UV light offers the biggest threat to dried herbs and tea leaves, as prolonged sun exposure can turn leaves pale and zap them of their potency, aroma, and taste. Salves and creams can last 1-2 years if stored in a cool, dry, and dark place, however, dirty hands touching the salve over time can speed up an expiration date. Tinctures can last 1-2 years if stored in a cool, dry and dark place. Once opened, herbal skin care products become exposed to dirt and microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, yeast, or mold) that are found in the air and on the skin. As soon as you open and begin to use any product, simply the way in which you use it will affect its lifespan. So, when using a salve or topical, always put clean hands in the product, as this will assist in preserving a longer shelf-life. Tip: Write the date you opened the product for the first time on its label so you can keep track of the time since opening.

If your product has gone bad, there are a few telltale signs to look out for. For salves and creams, the texture will have changed as well as the color and scent will also have changed drastically. There will be a greasy, rancid smell. There’s no mistaking it. Oils will also take on a similar rancid scent profile like when food spoils. Tea and other dried herbs don’t go bad but will lose potency over time. If you notice these characteristics, or if tea herbs have turned pale, scentless, and flavorless, it’s best to discard the product. Proper usage can assist in extending the shelf-life of a natural product, such as avoiding contamination, which is why we advise always to use clean hands when touching the product. Always leave the lid on and sealed tight, because leaving a product open to the air and elements can cause the product to lose scent (same thing happens to candles and soap over time), change color, and lose potency. Always store your natural botanicals in cool, dry, and dark places as light and heat can affect the product quality and potency.

Due to the nature of our business, being that we are a small family run business who focuses on providing top quality products with a quick turnaround, we cannot accept cancellations, returns or exchanges on any product in our shop. His Hands Apothecary products are small batches and are made-to-order and are often started the same day an order is received. Therefore, we cannot accept cancelations, returns or refunds. We are not responsible for shipping issues with the USPS or any postal service. All international orders are at your own risk, and no refunds will be given for lost or returned packages. All sales are final. Additionally, we are not responsible in the event a customer incurs postal service issues, such as delays, delivery exceptions, returned packages due to incorrect address or import fees due, unclaimed packages, customs denial, or any issue resulting from domestic or international postal services. The customer must take up any issues with those postal services or governmental agencies. If a package is returned to us, the only next step is for the customer to purchase a new shipping label, which the customer is responsible for. We do not provide refunds for these issues, as we will have already made product fresh to order, and we have paid our employees for their hard work and time and have committed the ingredients to the order at customer request. We are not responsible for customs contact or any international correspondence with postal or governmental agencies pertaining to any order, which is why we warn that all international orders are at your own risk.