As a naturopath I work with my patients to treat disease and prevent illness using natural therapies. My first line of action is always the diet. I suggest getting the nutrients needed through diet, but there are situations when I turn to supplements. For example, Vitamin D and antioxidants while living in China. Unfortunately, fake supplements are an issue here, but sourcing safe products online is possible. Here are my top three, in order of preference.
iHerb.com
They carry a good selection of professional brands, and have been shipping to China for years, seemingly perfecting the process. Shipping is free if you spend over USD 40. Usually if I spend about USD 130, taxes are a little more than USD 30. Cosmetics have 50 percent tax, while food products about 10 percent. They claim shipping takes sevent to ten days but in my experience it’s about two weeks. There have been cases of packages being held in customs or being lost. I had someone tell me it took them two months to get their order, but that’s rare. They also carry personal care products, natural cleaning supplies and many grocery items, including gluten-free foods. For a 10 percent discount on your first order you can use my code IGU117 at checkout.
Amazon China.
The selection is limited, but amazon.cn does carry some excellent companies like Jarrow and Carlson (maker of one of my favorite fish oils and Vitamin D). Supplements are not all created equal, and in order to ensure you’re getting what the label says, it’s best to stick to reputable foreign brands or professional products. On Amazon China, the price difference between getting the product here or in the US is not that significant. Some products are directly shipped from the States, and these are clearly marked. Shipping times are quite good, and for an extra fee you can receive your product in two to four business days.
Vitacost.com
Their selection is even better than iHerb’s. They carry professional supplements, food items, and personal care products as well. Unfortunately, their shipping is quite pricey. I put in a test order of USD 40, and shipping came to USD 60 plus, without taxes. These would be charged once the package arrived in China, so at the time of purchase I wasn’t sure of the final cost. Like iHerb, Vitacost has a reward system for referrals. With iHerb you get a discount code to share (see mine above) and with Vitacost you get a link. This is nice because you both get a small discount. Thankfully it’s not a pyramid scheme, just an incentive to spread the word about the site.
Happy Shopping!
Got a question?
Dr. Melissa Rodriguez is a naturopathic doctor and mother of two, who works at Beijing United Family Hospital. To find out more, check out her website at www.drmelissarodriguez.com
This article originally appeared on page 24 of the October 2016 Issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF DR. MELISSA RODRIGUEZ
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