Complexes

Complexes, or compound supplements, are preparations in which the manufacturer has combined several ingredients in one serving. In this category, you will find capsules with herbal macerates, drops, pump oil, and formulas combining herbs with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Below, we explain how these forms differ and how to compare two complexes by composition, not by name.

Compound supplements: what you will find in the category

The largest group consists of Aura Care preparations: capsules and drops with oil macerates and capsules marked with the proprietary AQS standard. Next to them are LABIFY Mind capsules with NALT and coenzyme Q10, two complexes from the SOOL line by Reakiro, namely Perimenopause Complex and Menopause Active Complex, as well as T-Break oil from the 420FREE brand.

The formulas vary greatly. Some have three or four herbs, while others combine plant oils, herbal extracts, and vitamins in one capsule. The trade name indicates the manufacturer’s intention, while the composition reveals the content.

Capsules, drops, and oil

A capsule is always the same serving, without measuring and without taste. In capsule complexes, the serving is usually two capsules, so a package of 60 capsules provides 30 servings. This is how Aura Care, SOOL, and LABIFY count.

Drops allow you to divide the serving into several doses and dissolve it in water or juice. Aura Care macerates in a 15 ml bottle are used at 2-5 drops three times a day, with a maximum of 15 drops per day. The 50 ml drops based on concentrated raspberry juice have a serving of 32 drops, which is 1.5 ml.

T-Break oil has 30 ml and a pump applicator, so you measure the serving by pressing, not counting drops. The manufacturer recommends one to six pumps daily, under the tongue.

Macerate, water extract, CO2 extract

The form of the raw material changes what milligrams mean on the label. Aura Care oil macerates are herbs steeped in fat, and the manufacturer indicates a DER of 1:1, meaning the mass of the macerate corresponds to the mass of the raw material. Such formulas are alcohol-free.

The 50 ml drops from Aura Care are based on water extracts: six have a DER of 1:1, while wild oregano has a DER of 4:1. SOOL complexes contain extracts obtained with carbon dioxide, each with a specified degree of concentration. These numbers are not directly comparable between forms, as each describes a different raw material.

How to compare two complexes

Start by checking if the composition provides the amount of each ingredient in the daily serving. Aura Care capsules with macerates have a full breakdown, for example, capsules with melatonin, ashwagandha, and lemon balm: 630 mg of ashwagandha, 75 mg of lemon balm, and 1 mg of melatonin in two capsules. The AQS series lists ingredients only by name, so you know what is inside, but not how much.

For vitamins and minerals, check the percentage of the nutrient reference value, or NRV. Copper in LABIFY Mind capsules with NALT and coenzyme Q10 is 1.35 mg, which is 135% NRV. A value above one hundred percent is not an error, but only indicates the ratio to the reference point on the label.

Also, look at the chemical form, as one name can hide different forms. Aura Care capsules with NALT and bacopa have vitamin B6 as P-5-P, while Menopause Active Complex has it as pyridoxine hydrochloride. N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, or NALT as named, is a derivative of tyrosine, not tyrosine itself. More about reading the composition is discussed in the text how to read a dietary supplement label.

Capsule coating and allergens

The coating determines whether the preparation fits a plant-based diet. The Aura Care preparation with NALT and bacopa has a capsule made of HPMC, which is plant-derived cellulose, while some capsules with Aura Care macerates have a coating made of bovine gelatin. SOOL complexes have a coating made of animal gelatin, and Menopause Active Complex also contains fish oil, which is an allergen.

The drops with Aura Care macerates are declared by the manufacturer as vegan, non-GMO, and preservative-free. If you are monitoring your diet, always confirm gluten and allergens on the product label.

Complex or separate preparations

A complex is one package instead of several, but you cannot change the proportions, as they are locked in a ready-made formula. If you want to control one ingredient, separate preparations will give you more freedom. Single vitamins, minerals, and herbs can be found in the Supplements category.

When using several complexes at once, it is easy to duplicate the same ingredient. Before adding a second preparation, compare both compositions side by side and check for repeating items. We discuss when a multi-ingredient formula makes sense in the text multivitamin or single vitamins.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a complex and a single-ingredient preparation?

A complex combines several ingredients in one serving and cannot be described by the name of one substance. The advantage is one package instead of several, the limitation is that you cannot set the proportions yourself. Therefore, compare two complexes by composition, not by trade name.

How long does a package of 60 capsules last?

With a serving of two capsules daily, that is 30 servings, or one month of use. This is how Aura Care, SOOL, and LABIFY count. Drops are counted differently, as the serving is given in drops or milliliters. For example, in 50 ml drops, the serving is 32 drops.

What does the notation DER 1:1 mean?

It is the ratio of the mass of the raw material to the mass of the finished extract. With DER 1:1, the mass of the macerate corresponds to the mass of the raw material, while with DER 4:1, one part of extract is produced from four parts of raw material. Aura Care macerates have a DER of 1:1, while wild oregano in drops has a DER of 4:1.

Why are there no NRV percentages for some ingredients?

Reference intake values are established for vitamins and minerals. For herbs and amino acids, the manufacturer enters a dash in this column, as Aura Care does with macerates. Therefore, for copper in LABIFY capsules, 135% NRV is provided, while for Aura Care herbs, only milligrams are listed.

Are complexes vegan?

It depends on the coating and composition. The Aura Care preparation with NALT and bacopa has a capsule made of HPMC, drops with Aura Care macerates are declared by the manufacturer as vegan, while SOOL complexes contain animal gelatin. Always confirm the status on the product label.