Tips on taking capsules and tablets

You may have noticed that taking capsules is much different than taking tablets, and often, combining the two can lead to one of those little rascals getting stuck about the middle of the sternum. Been there, done that! Here's a little trick that may help you and your kids.

Capsules are placed in a gelatin capsule to help you avoid their distinct taste (meaning occasionally nasty). Gelatin becomes sticky when put with water or milk, so it is important to help them get slippery by taking them with juice. Capsules also "float" while tablets "sink", another important difference. Place the capsule in your mouth and follow with some juice. Now close your mouth, tip your chin toward your chest and while doing that "swish" those capsules around real good and get them good and slippery. While "swishing" you'll be surprised to find that they float to the back of the throat and slide away without any effort on your part.

Tablets, as mentioned above, sink like rocks so the action here is different. Most tablets are not really effected by the type of fluids they are taken with and can be taken with water, milk, herbal tea or juice. With tablets it is also a good idea to swish them around and get them coated with the liquid. However, do the swishing before and even during the process of tipping your chin up and tilting your head back, forcing the tablets to the back of the throat where they can be swallowed.

Herbal sprays are a product of modern technology and are micro sized particles that can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the mouth. This is great for those who have a difficult time absorbing their nutrients because of digestion, in fact the Physicians Desk Reference states that oral sprays are 97% absorbed when taken correctly. The secret to these sprays is to spray them into the inside of the cheek and not toward the back of the mouth like one would use a breathe spray. It is also important not to swallow for a few seconds after taking the sprays to give them time to penetrate the mucousal membrane of the mouth.

Some folks wonder if these sprays can work because they have smaller amounts of ingredients and because they are not being digested like other foods. The answer is emphatically yes on both accounts. Remember, these have been tested to be absorbed at 97% while most supplements are calculated based on an absorption rate of only 20% approximately. And as for digestion, you wouldn't want to swallow a nitroglycerin tablet if you were having a heart attack, you'd put it under your tongue and it would be in the bloodstream within a few seconds to give you some help. These work the same way, and for the same reasons.

In most cases it works best to take these supplements after you have eaten part or all of a meal rather than on an empty stomach. The supplements work better for you and you'll experience less irritation or indigestion as a result. Please understand, however, that some supplements are most effective when taken on an empty stomach. Please read the labels or ask your health care professional if you are unsure of a particular supplement.

There are a group of supplements known as homeopathics that are taken in a different manner. These should not be taken within 10 minutes of eating or drinking (that includes chewing gum and eating candy, etc.) and are generally placed under the tongue and held there for several seconds. These usually come in either liquid or tablet form. Homeopathic formulas are incredibly powerful and fast-acting when used correctly, yet there are no side-effects.

Dave Carpenter, N.D., L. Ac.