Bioavailability: drops or capsules, what changes?
Plant extracts
The real question is not how much is in the bottle, but how much of it arrives. Here is an honest comparison of drops, capsules and tea β with the advantages and the drawbacks of each form, and what you can influence yourself.
4.7/5 on Trustpilot Β· South Tyrolean family business since 1989 Β· Controlled supply chain, Italian laboratory
The route through the body
Drops, capsule or tea β the honest comparison
Every form has its strengths. Drops do not win across the board β and that deserves saying.
| Drops (fluid extract)Our choice | Capsule / tablet | Tea | |
|---|---|---|---|
| State when taken | already dissolved | has to dissolve first | dissolved |
| Dosing | adjustable, drop by drop | fixed dose | approximate |
| Swallowing | nothing to swallow | must be swallowed whole | nothing to swallow |
| Taste | herbal and bitter | neutral | mild to bitter |
| Alcohol | yes, usually 30 % vol. | no | no |
| On the move | needs a glass of water | convenient | awkward |
| What else is in it | plant, water, alcohol | excipients and the shell | water only |
| Shelf life once opened | years | years | a few hours |
| At Viworo | over 50 extracts | not in the range | not in the range |
→ Scroll the table sideways
The stars mark the points where the advantage lies with the drops. Where the capsule wins, the table says so just as plainly.
Capsules are more convenient away from home and taste of nothing. Drops can be dosed precisely and are already dissolved. We chose drops β knowing they ask for one extra glass of water.
The three most common objections
“It tastes bitter.”
True. Dilute the drops in a little water and drink them in one go rather than sipping. If you find that hard, add a splash of fruit juice. After a few days the bitter note bothers you far less than it seems at the start.
“I don't want alcohol.”
Then let us do the maths. For an extract at 30 % vol. β most of ours β a full daily dose of 20 drops contains around 0.2 g of alcohol. The Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety measured up to 1.4 g of alcohol per kilo in ripe bananas, so a medium-sized banana sits in the same order of magnitude as your daily dose. In a very overripe banana the highest value recorded there was 7.4 g per kilo. You can lower it further by putting the drops in hot water and letting them stand for a few minutes. And if you want to avoid alcohol entirely, our propolis is available alcohol-free.
“It's impractical when I'm out.”
The 30 ml bottle fits in any bag and all you need is a glass of water. If you are out a lot, simply take both doses at home, morning and evening. That works just as well.
What you can influence yourself
No trick required. Four simple things matter.
The timing
On an empty stomach absorption is quicker. If your stomach is sensitive, take the drops with a light meal β better regular than uncomfortable.
Enough water
Diluting is not only about taste: it makes the drops gentler on the stomach.
Consistency
Traditional extracts are used over weeks, not now and then. Regularity counts for more than the single dose.
Start slowly
Begin with the lower number of drops and increase only after a few days. A bottle lets you do that, a fixed capsule dose does not. The label still applies.
Our fluid extracts
Amber glass with a dropper, specialised laboratory in Italy. The ratio is stated on each product.
Olive Leaf Extract Liquid
The Mediterranean in drops, with the natural oleuropein of the leaves.
Artichoke Extract
The bitter compounds of the leaves, for generations after rich meals.
Horsetail Extract (Equisetum arvense)
The silicon plant, traditionally valued for hair and nails.
Propolis Alcohol-Free
The answer if you want to avoid alcohol: the same propolis, alcohol-free base.
Extract Set: the four classics
Horsetail, Devil's Claw, Olive Leaf and Artichoke in one box. The simplest way to start β and a gift that explains itself.
Frequently asked questions
What does bioavailability mean?
It describes how much of a substance the body actually absorbs and makes available β not how much is in the bottle. That depends on the substance itself, on the form in which you take it, and on your digestion.
Are drops really absorbed faster than capsules?
A fluid extract is already dissolved, a capsule has to open and dissolve first. That dissolution step is regarded in pharmaceutics as the slowest link in the chain β liquid forms therefore usually reach their peak in the blood sooner. Two things belong with that: faster does not mean more β how much arrives is a different question from how quickly. And for an extract you take twice a day over weeks, regularity counts for more than half an hour. That is why you will find no percentages here: they would be made up.
On an empty stomach or with food?
On an empty stomach absorption is generally quicker. But if that upsets you, take the drops with a light meal β taking them regularly is worth more than a few minutes gained.
Can I add the drops to tea or juice?
Yes. In hot water or tea much of the alcohol evaporates within a few minutes. Fruit juice covers the bitter note well. Just avoid heating the extract on the hob for any length of time.
Do I absorb more if I take more?
No. Beyond a certain amount the body simply excretes the excess, and some plants are not meant to be taken in high doses. Stick to the dose given on the label.
Why do the extracts contain alcohol?
The alcohol dissolves the constituents that water alone cannot reach, and it preserves the extract without added preservatives. Most of our extracts are at 30 % vol.; a few plants prepared by the T.M. method reach 55β70 %, propolis 70 %. The content is stated on each product.
Devil's claw as a capsule or as drops?
Devil's claw tastes markedly bitter β harpagoside is a very bitter plant compound. A capsule bypasses that taste, drops do not. The practical difference lies elsewhere: with drops you can start at three drops and build up slowly, whereas a capsule is a fixed dose.
What is in a capsule besides the plant?
As a rule, not only the plant: an anti-caking agent such as magnesium stearate, a flow agent such as silicon dioxide, usually a filler and the shell itself. Our fluid extracts contain three things: plant, water and alcohol. That is not a verdict on capsules β it is simply a shorter list.
Do you have anything without alcohol?
Yes: the alcohol-free propolis. The rest of the range is hydroalcoholic β that is the method by which these extracts are made.
Find your plant
Over 50 plant extracts in amber glass, dosed drop by drop.
Keep reading
Notes. Food supplements. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Keep out of reach of children under 3 years. Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding without medical advice. In case of gallstones, kidney, liver or heart problems, or when taking medication, consult a doctor before use. The hydroalcoholic extracts contain alcohol β the content is stated on each label.