FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Medicinal mushrooms (also referred to as functional mushrooms) are a category of fungi found in various parts of the world that contain a high density of nutraceutical attributes, providing numerous health benefits when consumed consistently. These mushrooms are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial amino acids/proteins. Eastern medicine has been using functional mushrooms for thousands of years. Over the past decade, they have been the subject of substantial laboratory and clinical research, revealing many promising ways to improve both physical and mental wellbeing. Medicinal mushrooms are not the same as Psilocybin or “magic mushrooms” and are completely legal.

Nootropics are natural ingredients that have beneficial effects on cognitive function, including the ability to boost attention, memory, creativity, motivation, and may help reduce age-related decline in brain function. They are a powerful alternative to stimulants, providing similar benefits, minus the jitters, crash, and side effects.

Adaptogens are plants and mushrooms that help our bodies manage external stressors and maintain balance. By strengthening our internal systems, adaptogens can promote vitality, stabilize mood, and improve performance and focus. They have been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions.

Yes – all the mushrooms and supporting nutraceuticals ingredients in our products are 100% legal. Our functional mushrooms have been used for centuries due to their medicinal properties and superfood benefits.

All our mushrooms are organically grown on the best natural substrates that are Di Tao sourced from their spiritual homeland across various regions in China. In fact, China produces 85% of the world’s mushrooms and they have been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine. It is important to not only source from the origin, but also respect and leverage cultivation practices that have been developed over centuries to produce the world’s highest quality medicinal mushrooms.

All our medicinal mushrooms are Di Tao, the traditional practice of sourcing herbs from their spiritual homeland. It recognises that herbs grown in one geographical region will differ greatly from herbs grown in another region, not only in taste but also in efficacy and potency.

All our mushrooms are dual extracted, which is a method that uses a combination of water and in our case, organic alcohol to obtain all the beneficial compounds, vitamins, and minerals from the raw material. We use hot water to extract the water-soluble compounds, polysaccharides, and immunomodulating beta-glucans. Alcohol is then used to pull out the fat-soluble compounds in the mushrooms, the adaptogenic terpenoids. This is one of the safest and best methods regularly used to extract natural medicines.

Our powders are 100% pure, organic mushroom extracts with greater than 30% beta-glucans, offering some of the most effective medicinal mushrooms on the market.

Yes – all our mushroom extracts are from the whole fruiting body only. This consists of the stalk, cap, and gills, which is the reproductive system of the mushroom. We do not use fillers, grains or the root structure called mycelium since it doesn’t contain the same high percentages of beta-D-glucans and other key bioactive compounds as the fruiting bodies.

Yes – our products are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and soy-free. They contain USDA + EU certified organic medicinal mushrooms and the cleanest, highest quality natural ingredients free from fillers, preservatives, synthetic additives, flavours, stimulants, and GMOs.

Medicinal mushrooms are the hero of our formulations, but their benefits can be amplified with other nutraceutical ingredients that work together synergistically. We use ingredients that are supported by scientific evidence with our formulations distilled down to only the most important, naturally active ingredients at the clinically correct levels of bio-actives. The result is a thoughtfully designed product where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

We recommend taking it daily to maximise the short and long-term cognitive health benefits. It has been formulated for a daily dose of 2 capsules per day, but in times of more cognitive intense demands, you can safely take 2 doses (4 capsules) each day for greater performance-boosting results.

We recommend taking 2 capsules every morning to maximize the benefits of clean and calm mental energy throughout the day.

Focus Elementals has been designed to deliver short and long-term cognitive benefits. Depending on your genetics and experience with nootropics, the effects can be felt in as little as 30 minutes after consuming, while also supporting longer-term brain health. Those taking two capsules daily reported noticeable mental performance enhancements within two weeks. As with any supplement, or change to your diet, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to see and feel results. For everyone, we recommend at least 30 days of consistent supplementation to get the best results.

No, it’s caffeine-free. Focus Elementals contains L-theanine, which is an amino acid found in green tea, but our extraction process ensures it’s pure and caffeine-free.

No, the opposite. One of the key ingredients in Focus Elementals is L-theanine, which has been proven to enhance alpha brainwaves. These brainwaves are associated with a state of relaxed alertness and heightened creativity. By moderating alpha activity, L-theanine can help induce a sense of calm while at the same time sharpening focus, attention, and alertness. In addition, L-theanine helps to counteract the jittery effects caused by caffeine.

All our products are designed, formulated, and produced in a state-of-the-art New Zealand Medsafe GMP, TGA, and AsureQuality Organic certified facility with our team of scientific and regulatory experts strictly following dietary regulations to ensure the highest quality and safety.

Yes – all our ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced. We have a process in place to carefully vet our accredited partners to ensure they operate at the highest level of integrity and follow our values of supporting people and the planet.

All our ingredients and products are rigorously lab and 3rd party tested. This includes complete microbial testing for any bacteria, yeast, and mould; heavy metals testing; pesticide testing; and testing for purity and active compounds. All our products are designed and produced in a New Zealand Medsafe GMP, TGA, and AsureQuality Organic certified facility to ensure the highest quality and safety. Transparency is of utmost importance to us. Please email us at info@othernature.co if you have any questions or would like to receive the certificates of analysis.

While medicinal mushrooms and our supporting nutraceutical ingredients are natural, as with any dietary supplement, we recommend that you consult your healthcare professional if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

While medicinal mushrooms and our supporting nutraceutical ingredients are natural, as with any dietary supplement, it’s always best to consult with your healthcare provider and keep them informed.

Our subscription refill system is designed to save you time, money, and ultimately be gentler on the planet. Pick your product and select your ideal delivery schedule of 30, 45, or 60 days. We’ll then send a 30-day supply of your chosen product(s) to your door automatically at the chosen interval, with a discount of 20% off, paid for by direct debit. You’ll receive your first order in a glass jar and subsequent orders in a recyclable pouch to refill your jar. We have a two-month minimum commitment that will also allow your body time to receive the full benefits.

Absolutely – our subscription refill system is customisable to your unique routine. You can make changes to your subscription, including frequency changes, product switches, cancellations, and subscription pauses within your accounts page. Once logged into your account, click on the "Manage Membership" button. Please note that these changes must be actioned at least 48 hours before your next recurring order date.

You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time following your initial two-order minimum commitment, directly from your account. Alternatively, please reach out to us at info@othernature.co at least 48 hours prior to your renewal and we'll be happy to help.

Currently, we’re shipping across New Zealand, Australia, the US, and the UK, but planning to expand to more international markets soon. Keep informed and sign up to our newsletter for the latest news.

Packages shipped within New Zealand should arrive in 1-2 business days. Australia shipments typically arrive in 6-8 business days. US and UK shipments typically arrive in 6-10 business days. If your package has taken more than 10 days to arrive, email us at info@othernature.co and we’ll sort it out immediately.

Check your inbox for emails from OtherNature™. We’ll send you an email notification that your order has shipped along with the tracking details.

If there is a problem with your order, please get in touch with us at info@othernature.co stating the original order number. Refunds, exchanges, or replacements are only issued if the product is faulty or the incorrect item was sent. In this case, we will issue a replacement, refund, or exchange for orders placed within 30 days from the date of purchase. Our full returns and refunds policy can be found in our Terms of Use. 

If you're a subscriber, you will receive your first order in a glass jar and subsequent orders in a refill pouch. Our refill pouches are 100% recyclable and refilling your glass jars instead of replacing them will not only cut down on waste but also the weight of packaging, significantly reducing your carbon footprint when shipping orders.

Yes – we offer a circular packaging model to help drastically reduce our environmental impact and move towards a regenerative future. This starts with our pharmaceutical glass jars designed to be refillable, protect our formulations from UV light, avoid the need for preservatives and are infinitely recyclable. Our refill pouches are 100% soft plastics recyclable and by refilling your glass jars instead of replacing them, you’re helping contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions by up to 60% and additional packaging waste by up to 86%.

We are committed to operating as a carbon-neutral business and reducing our footprint at every stage of the supply chain. This involves measuring our current emissions, reducing everything we can and offsetting anything we can’t. We continue to implement practices on low carbon transportation and our circularity model to significantly reduce our impact. Anything remaining will then be offset and certified through Ekos who partner with local landowners to establish permanent restorative forests across New Zealand. 

1% For the Planet’s mission aligns directly with our own: putting people and the planet over profit. They represent a global network of businesses and individuals tackling our planet's most pressing environmental issues with members contributing at least 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes. OtherNature™ is intrinsically linked to forests and by working with 1% For the Planet, we donate a fixed amount from each product sold to reforestation projects across New Zealand to help reverse climate change.