Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

This space gives you access to answers to the most frequently asked questions about our products. It is regularly updated.

Why do you use the “Integral totum” in your products?

Our ‘Integral totum’ is 2 to 3 times richer in active ingredients. It contains more than a hundred active ingredients naturally present in the plant that act in synergy. The ‘Integral totum’ is the guarantee of the restitution of all constituents of the plant, supported by chromatographic analyzes.

To obtain a high quality ‘Integral totum’, we use freeze-grinding to preserve the integrality and integrity of the plant's active ingredients. To reinforce an activity or to concentrate a certain part of the constituents in certain references, we sometimes add titrated extracts.

How do you guarantee the quality of the raw materials used in your products?

We have a very large portfolio of suppliers, built up over more than 40 years of experience and that continues to steadily grow. These partners are present all over the world. They are selected for their production and collection capacity, but above all for the quality of their plants.

Our collectors, gatherers and plant pickers must therefore meet very strict specifications and are regularly made aware of the protection of certain rural lands and the environment.

Can we buy your products by mail order?

Arkopharma products are mainly sold in pharmacies and drugstores. But you can also find them on online pharmacies (and drugstores).

As a reminder, we are not the managers of the websites that we recommend. We are, therefore, not responsible for their operation. For any questions, we suggest that you contact the website editor (see the legal notices of their sites).

How do you know if your products contain allergens?

If our food supplements contain allergens, we indicate them in bold on the labels in the list of ingredients, in accordance with the regulations in force.

Where can we read the active ingredient content on the box?

This information is available on the front of the box and also in the average nutritional information details.

Why does freeze-grinding preserve all the active constituents of the plant?

It should be noted that in the context of ordinary grinding, the rise in temperature can degrade or even destroy the most fragile molecules. On the other hand, freeze-grinding, carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere at low temperature (below –60°C), respects the components of the plant at all stages of the production of plant powder.

Chemically inert and naturally occurring in the air, nitrogen protects plant components from air oxidation and cold prevents degradation due to the mechanical heating observed during conventional grinding.

By lowering the temperature, nitrogen contributes to the freezing of the plant, which becomes more brittle, therefore promoting optimal crushing.

In summary, freeze-grinding respects the integrity of the plant, guarantees the presence of all active ingredients and constituents and makes it possible to obtain a particularly fine particle size, facilitating digestive assimilation and better bioavailability.

Where do your plants come from?

The plants come from all over the world, thanks to a network of quality suppliers that has been developed over 40 years of experience. To ensure the identity and overall quality (botanical identification, possible chemotypes, foreign elements and active ingredient content) of the raw material, we buy it whole.

In addition, our harvesting partners are committed to working alongside us to guarantee the excellence of our products, while respecting the ecosystem and biodiversity.

Where are your products made?

Almost all of our products are made in France at the Carros production site in the Alpes Maritimes. The Carros site is equipped with three major technologies for the production of capsules, tablets and ampoules.

French manufacturing provides real guarantees, both from a technical point of view (know-how, compliance with regulatory requirements, etc.) and from a societal and environmental point of view (maintenance of local jobs, compliance with the conditions of work, respect for the environment,...).

Can we open and empty the capsules of their contents?

Yes, it is possible to open the capsules and incorporate their contents into a semi-solid food such as yogurt, compote or honey, but it is preferable to follow the recommended directions for use.

Can I dilute the contents of an ampoule in anything other than water?

Of course, you can dilute them in fruit juice or cordial.

Due to their natural character, some references may have a strong flavour or smell. Fruit juice is, therefore, a good alternative to mask these inconveniences.

What is the correct way to open an ampoule?

An explanatory diagram is given in the instructions. Follow the recommendations below:

 

 

 

• Shake the ampoule before opening.
• Tap each end of the ampoule with your index finger to weaken it.
• Using a paper towel, break the 1^st end away from the drinking glass, to prevent falling debris.
• Turn the ampoule over and place the 1^st end above the drinking glass.
• Break the 2^nd end, away from the drinking glass, with a paper towel. Let the liquid run out.
• Add the equivalent of half a glass of water or fruit juice (125 ml).

You claim essential oils of certified origin, does this mean that you are not paying attention to the origin for the rest of the range?

We follow very precise specifications for the 34 essential oils, whether of certified origin or not, and check the quality and origin of each essential oil.

For the range of certified origin, we have added an additional selection criterion: we have selected the preferred geographical area. Faithful links have been forged with essential oil producers to protect the typicity of these productions, preserve the know-how of these sectors and ensure their long-term, transparent supply. For example, Lemon essential oil will always come from Italy and the origin will be the same over time.

For organic essential oils, we may have to select two possible origins, guaranteeing identical quality. For example, for Organic Lemon Eucalyptus, the origin can be Brazil or Madagascar. The origin chosen will depend on the availability of essential oils and the harvest seasons.

Do your essential oils meet precise specifications?

All Essential Oils are Botanically and Biochemically Defined (HEBBD), 100% pure and natural, non-denatured, uncut, undiluted and not reconstituted. They all come from Organic Farming and are certified by Ecocert. The labels are signs of quality and attest that essential oils come from plants that have been grown without pesticides, in healthy soils and without fertilizers, by respectful picking. They are extracted from plants either by steam distillation or by expression.

Arkopharma Laboratories check the quality of each essential oil by physical controls (organoleptic control) and analytical controls (gas chromatographic analysis).

The quality commitments of Arkopharma Laboratories
HEBBD essential oils (Botanically and Biochemically Defined), 100% pure and natural, uncut, undiluted, not reconstituted.
Organoleptic control and analytical control of the identity, origin and quality of each of the essential oils.
Essential oils from Organic Farming: production method excluding the use of GMOs, pesticides and synthetic chemical fertilizers.
Choice of low pressure steam or expression distillation process.

Is it possible to take a herbal medicine product in addition to essential oils in diffusion?

Yes, if you feel the need, it is possible to combine the diffusion of essential oils with a herbal product, for more complete effectiveness.

Does Royal jelly make you fat?

Royal jelly, in small quantities, does not make you fat. It contains relatively little sugar (about 15%), to be checked compared to honey for example (80%). Its caloric value is 140 kcal/100 g, so in an Arkoroyal® ampoule, Royal jelly (1,500 mg) provides 2 kcal, or the equivalent of a strawberry!

Are your products suitable for vegans?

85% of our food supplements developed in 2019 are suitable for vegans. The products concerned are easily recognizable in our catalogue. All you have to do is filter your search by selecting the characteristic "Suitable for vegans".

Are your sleep and stress products addictive?

100% of our “sleep” products do not cause drowsiness upon awakening or dependence (habituation). Our products deliver the optimal dose of active ingredients to help you get back to sleep, while respecting the body's natural physiology.

Do your products contain titanium dioxide?

In accordance with the regulations, 100% of our food supplements are guaranteed without titanium dioxide. For more than 40 years, we have ensured compliance with regulatory and normative references, to offer innovative, safe and quality products.

Do your products contain porcine gelatin?

100% of our food supplements are guaranteed without porcine gelatin. For more than 40 years, we have ensured compliance with regulatory and normative references, to offer innovative, safe and quality products.