We carry quality, natural vitamins- free from added colors, sweeteners, artificial ingredients and binders. We are proud to carry supplements from innovative companies who stand behind the quality and effectiveness of their products. Many of these companies are pioneers in the vitamin field.

The quality of your vitamins is very important. You want to know that the company making the supplement takes extra care to source quality ingredients, has systems in place to trace the origin of ingredients and responsible manufacturing that guarantees what is on the label is indeed what is in the bottle.

A few examples of quality assurance:

NOW (Nutrition for Optimum Wellness) created the method by which the purity of glucosamine is tested. This process has now become an industry standard.   www.nowfoods.com

New Chapter also uses a scientific breakthrough called DARTvision™, herbal extracts are fingerprinted and guaranteed to have the same full-spectrum potency from capsule to capsule without the variation common in natural herbal therapeutics. This exclusive New Chapter innovation ensures that the whole intelligence of the herb is consistently delivered.   www.newchapter.com

We have it all- vitamin A through the mineral zinc. Sunflower carries supplements in a variety of different forms including liquids, powders, chewable's, tablets and capsules. We also carry a variety of multi-vitamins including food-based multiple vitamins (which are more easily absorbed), pre-natal vitamins, kids vitamins, gender specific  men and women’s formulas, and vitamins specifically formulated for seniors.

In addition to vitamin and mineral supplements, we carry many natural supplements at Sunflower Natural Foods including...

• Enzymes (Digestive enzymes, inflammation blends, etc)
• Fibers (Capsules, powders, etc)
• Cleanses (bowel cleansers, full body cleanses)
• Omega-3 and essential fatty acids (Fish Oil, Flax Oil, Evening Primrose, Borage, etc )
• Anti-inflammatory formulas
• Joint Health formulas (Glucosamine, Hyorlaurenic Acid, etc)
• Amino Acids (Carnatine, Glutamine, Lysine, etc)
• Protein Powders (Whey, Hemp, Rice, Soy, Egg, Pea, etc)
• Antioxidants (CoQ10, Resveratrol, Lutein, etc)
• Immune Enhancer's (Colostrum, Colloidal Silver, Immune blends, etc)
• Libido Formulas (for men and women)
• Super Foods (Acai, Gogi, Noni, Spirulina, Raw Cacoa, Bee products, etc.)
• Diet Formulas (Stimulant free)
• Sleep Aids (homeopathic & herbal blends, melatonin, etc)

We carry a wide selection of herbal supplements in a variety of forms including capsules, tinctures, therapeutic teas and loose herbs.

The potency of medicinal plants is dependent upon their growing conditions, time of harvest, methods of preservation (drying, tincturing, etc.) and storage. It is also essential  that the correct species and part of the plant are used.

As quality of the final product is directly influenced by the growing, harvesting and processing stages, we only deal with herbal companies that have high quality standards and often times control every aspect of their products’ development from field to bottle.

In herbal medicine you will find whole herbs, standardized preparations, and supercritical extractions.

Whole Herbs: Whole herbs have been grown and then processed into powder for capsules, dried for tea or made into tinctures. A tincture is made by soaking the herb in a menstrum (usually alcohol, but glycerine and vinegar are also used). The medicinal aspects of the plant are “pulled out” into the fluid. After weeks of soaking, the mixture is strained, the depleted plant material is discarded and the liquid is bottled.

Standardized Herbal Extracts: Standardized herbs have been tested for their percentage of “active ingredients.” Studies have pinpointed a  specific constituent of the plant that appears to be the most medicinally active. Manufacturers then test to guarantee a certain percentage of those specific constituents in their products. Standardized Herbs are labeled as to the specific percentage of active ingredients they contain.

In the herbal community, there are conflicting feelings with regards to standardized herbs. Some people feel that the guaranteed potency of specific constituent is indicative of over-all quality and effectiveness. Some people feel that isolating a single component of the herb gives it a more drug-like nature. Herbs often have safeguards naturally built into them (for example white willow bark (the original source of salicylic acid (aspirin)) contains a natural component that safeguards the stomach from the irritation). Only by maintaining the entire complement of plant constituents will you maintain these safeguards.

Supercritical Extraction:  New Chapter patented the Supercritical Extraction of herbs. This process concentrates the potency of herbal extract while maintaining the entire phytochemical profile.

“Consider that we’ll reduce as much as 250 pounds of fresh herbs to get just one pound of supercritical extract. It’s intensive and costly, but it’s the best way to obtain a nutritional supplement or herbal therapeutic that’s super potent, super pure and delivers the full wisdom of nature.”- New Chapter

Due to this process, Supercritically Extracted herbs are at least 5x stronger in potency than a simple powdered herb.

You may not know that there are two common species of Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea). The root of Echinacea is considered to be the most medicinally active part of the plant. When you harvest the root, you kill the plant (and the grower gets only one harvest).

You will often find that inexpensive Echinacea supplements contain the aerial parts of the plant (the stems, leaves and flowers). This allows the grower to harvest the Echinacea multiple times, but it does not deliver the most medicinally effective part of the plant to the consumer.

Homeopathic medicines are therapeutically active micro-doses of minerals, botanical and biological substances. Homeopathy has been used for more than 200 years and homeopathic medicines have been regulated as drugs by the FDA since 1938. They are manufactured in strict adherence with the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States and can be found in preparations of singular substances that are taken sublingually (under the tongue), ailment specific combinations, suppositories and topical creams.

The term “homeopathy” comes from the Greek word homeo, meaning similar, and pathos, which means suffering or diseases. Homeopathic medicine can be likened to vaccine therapy.  

A homeopathic dilution (a very small prepared dose) of something that causes symptoms similar to the presenting health concern would be given to the patient. The body builds its own immunity and corrects the problem.

For example: A preparation of Allium cepa (onion) would be used to help relieve the symptoms of a clear and burning nasal discharge and tearing.

To learn more visit www.boiron.com

Flower essence therapy was founded by Dr. Edward Bach, an English physician, in the 1930’s. Dr. Bach felt that the emotional state of his patients had a very powerful effect on their physical health.  So much so that their emotional state could slow or prohibit their ability to heal.

Flower essence therapy is based on the vibrational healing properties of flowers. Each flower essence addresses a specific emotional state. They can be taken individually or in combination.

Flower essence therapy is very gentle. It can be taken with other therapies without concerns of interaction. Flower essences work wonderfully for children and animals.

In addition to Bach and Flourish flower essence remedies we also carry locally made room sprays which contain both flower essences and aromatherapeutic essential oils.