Glycerin is a threefold alcohol found in every fat. We use glycerin derived from the coconut or palm kernel oil. This ingredeint is produced through the saponification process of vegetable oil and soap. It regulates the absorption and release of water, softening and smoothing the skin.

In homeopathic medicines and tinctures, alcohol is traditionally used to draw out the vital life forces of a plant to create a botanical extract in a specific concentration. Alcohol is also used as a natural preservative in our formulations. We use organic grain alcohol, which is naturally derived from fermented plant sugars. We do not use Methyl or Propyl alcohol—also known as rubbing alcohol.

Traditionally, homoeopathic and herbal tinctures were made using a water and alcohol (ethanol) mixture. This stems from a time when herbs were extracted by soaking them in wine or spirits. Water and ethanol mixes are still the most common extraction method for tinctures and are now standard pharmaceutical practice.

One important reason ethanol is used in the production of Weleda remedies is that ethanol is able to extract more active ingredients than other substances used for extraction, such as glycerin or water. With a wider range of active ingredients present, the end product is more effective.

Another advantage of using alcohol for tinctures is that it acts as a preservative - bacteria, yeasts and molds generally do not grow in an ethanol concentration of approxmately 20% or greater. Another advantage of ethanol is that once it is ingested, it loses its preservative effect; therefore, it does not damage beneficial intestinal flora.

The small amounts of ethanol taken in when using homoeopathic or herbal products are generally recognized as harmless. For example, the standard 10 drop (or 0.5 ml) dose contains 2 drops (80 mg) of ethanol. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a newborn (6.6 lb) baby, should be given no more than 3 ml of ethanol in a single dose. This is about 30 times greater than the amount in a dose of herbal or homeopathic products. In comparison, an average slice of bread contains between 100 mg and 200 mg of ethanol.

Since 1921, Weleda has pioneered the use of Biodynamic® and organic ingredients in skincare and medicines to promote natural harmony and health. Our purest ingredients—natural, organic, Biodynamic® and wild crafted—come directly from nature and are cultivated with the loving hands of dedicated farmers throughout the world. We create premier, naturally therapeutic skincare that captures the power and potency of nature. When you care for your skin with our soothing preparations, you will experience a vitality that only nature can bring.

Our products are naturally colored with the essential plant extracts that make-up each pure formula. All formulas are naturally fragranced with essential oils and plant extracts. We do not use any synthetic colors or fragrances.

Lanolin is a wax derived from the wool of sheep. The process of extracting this wool does not harm the sheep in any way, as the shearing of wool is a natural and necessary process. Weleda uses the highest quality lanolin from sheep in Australia and New Zealand. It is cleaned to remove any pesticide residues. This beneficial ingredient contains natural fats that give it an affinity to the skin, making it an ideal moisturizer. We use lanolin to nourish and protect the skin.

We use only natural oils and plant extracts. All Weleda products are FREE of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colorants and raw materials derived from mineral oils, as well as genetically modified organisms (GMO's). Our products are instead FULL of the highest quality, pure and natural ingredients for your body.

Magnesium aluminum silicate (fuller’s earth) is a naturally occurring mineral. Its name is the standard label applied to natural earth of various origins. Other commonly known names for this ingredient are hectorite, kaolin and white clay. This clay serves as a natural thickener commonly used to hold ingredients together, providing a moisture-binding effect. The molecules of magnesium aluminum silicate are too large to be absorbed through the skin, and it is a dermatologically well-tolerated material. This clay helps to remove impurities from the skin when used in our skincare products and it works as a gentle polisher in our toothpastes.

All of our premier formulations are preserved with natural ingredients. We use organic grain alcohol, natural essential oils and pure plant extracts to maintain the life of our products. Furthermore, our unique and recyclable packaging protects each formulation and helps to prevent against oxidation. As a result of these naturally effective preservation techniques, it is not necessary to refrigerate our products. All product life information can be found on the inner and outer packaging.

Plants oils, derived from seeds, nuts and fruits, gently care for and nourish your skin. Unlike petroleum-based mineral oils, plant oils help support and balance your skin’s moisture and oxygen levels and most closely match your skin’s natural make up. Your body can easily use the fatty acids and beneficial properties within each oil to stay beautiful and healthy.

The International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) is the system we have adopted for labeling and declaring our skincare ingredients. The multilingual and multinational labeling requirements implemented by the European Union require a full declaration of ingredients on personal care packaging. This labeling standard denotes all ingredients according to their Latin (Chemical / Scientific) designation. Those manufacturers following the INCI are therefore required to label their ingredients as specified by the regulatory board. All companies selling personal care products in Europe, and most recently in Canada, are required by law to list their ingredients according to the INCI.

All ingredients are listed by their quantity of presence—greatest to least—in the product. Due to its full ingredient disclosure policy, the INCI standards strive to help you, the consumer, make informed and healthy purchases, helping you avoid any ingredients to which you may be allergic.

Biodynamic® and organic farming methods are similar to one another in that they both work to enhance the soil and cultivate plants that are free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Biodynamic® cultivation, however, goes a step further—beyond organic. Homeopathic preparations are used to enhance the vitality of the plants. Each plant is harvested by hand at its peak, according to the season, time of day, and position of the planets in the universe. At Weleda, we view the earth as an interconnected living organism. Plants, animals and human beings have an inherent and beautiful relationship with one another and their surroundings. Our philosophy—Cultivating Beauty—lies deep within the principle of Biodynamics®. Visit Our Biodynamic® Gardens to learn more.

According to the INCI labeling standards, all fragrances—which for us represent all natural essential oils—are prefaced and denoted by* (From Natural Essential Oils).

According to the European Union Mediation Committee’s 2005 resolution, 26 fragrances—present in over 10ppm (parts per million)—found to cause allergies in sensitive individuals, must be declared on all personal care ingredient listings. These fragrances are listed by their individual components according to their chemical names. As a result, Rose Oil, for instance, which contains over 400 components, many of which have not even been discovered, is no longer listed as “Rose Oil” on the packaging, but by its individual parts, suchas “Geraniol.”

While only 1-3% of the population has been found to have any allergy to a fragrance, this regulation has been implemented in order to inform those consumers will allergies of all ingredients that make up a product. Most often, a person is not allergic to the complete fragrance / essential oil, such as Rose Oil, but rather its components.

We use all natural essential oils. By EU law, these natural ingredients are listed under the same name and designations as their synthetic counterparts, regardless of their origin. Natural essential oils—particularly when blended with other essential oils, rather than in isolated form—are generally well-tolerated by the skin and provide numerous physical and psychological benefits.

Weleda consistently works to bring consumers the highest quality and safest products, formulated with the purest, natural ingredients. Some people have a digestive intolerance to gluten, a protein that occurs naturally in wheat and other grains. It is unlikely for a person with gluten intolerance to have a reaction to a skincare product, since gluten can only be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. However, some people do have wheat allergies that may cause them to have skin sensitivities. Many Weleda skin-care products and medicines contain alcohol derived from organic wheat, and some products contain wheat germ oil. We heat and distill our alcohol and filter our wheat germ oil to remove allergy-causing proteins, but we cannot guarantee that all of the residues are removed. Therefore, if you have gluten intolerance or wheat allergies, we recommend that you consult with your medical practitioner before using any of our products containing alcohol, malt extract or wheat germ oil, as indicated on the ingredient label.

As for our medicines, many of our tablets contain wheat starch in a presence of up to 25 mg per tablet. In regards to associated digestive concerns for those suffering from Celiac Disease, according to the German Celiac Disease Society, after washing out the albumen fraction from the wheat flour, the resulting pure wheat starch—containing less than .05% residual nitrogen (the so-called primary wheat starch)—may be declared as being gluten-free. However, as noted above, we recommend that you consult with your medical practitioner before using any of our tablets.

We do not test our ingredients or skincare products on animals. It is unnecessary for us to do so, as the plant materials that makeup our pure formulations have been used internally and externally for countless centuries. Long before animal-testing was introduced, all “testing” was done on humans, establishing a system of trial and error. Thus, many materials were established as safe and effective. As a result, Weleda's use of raw materials has a long history of safe usage. We ensure that our biodynamically grown ingredients and those provided by our partners have not been tested on animals.

The Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the U.S. (HPUS) regulations specify the Rx and OTC potencies for each medicine. For some remedies, such as those developed for cancerous or cardiovascular conditions, the treatment and usage indications mandate an Rx status.

Weleda currently does not carry out any animal testing in the manufacture, development or quality control of its natural and organic cosmetics, nor does it commission such testing. The company is fundamentally opposed to the use of animal testing.

Nonetheless, product safety is, of course, paramount. Most of the raw materials Weleda uses have been utilized for many years, and their tolerability is therefore well-documented. Before introducing new products to the market, Weleda carries out extensive in-use studies on volunteer subjects. The formulas are subject to toxicological testing in order to ensure their safety, tolerability and efficacy.

As a manufacturer of natural and organic cosmetics with high ethical standards, Weleda has a particular responsibility that it takes extremely seriously. It will continue to strive to avoid animal testing.

The best way to store our products is away from direct sunlight in a tepid environment that is neither extremely cold or hot. It is also important that all products be firmly sealed after each use. We recommend that you store the products under these conditions to protect the pure nature of the formulations.

We use recyclable and food grade PET and PE/PP plastic to package some of our products, such as baby products, body lotions and body washes to ensure safe and easy use of these products. The plastic materials are shatterproof, making them especially ideal for use in the shower and by parents for their babies.

Our skincare products have an average shelf life of 2-1/2 years. Most of our medicines have a shelf life of at least 3 years. Please see our product packaging for individual product information and expiration dates.

We employ only the safest materials for its packaging to protect and preserve both the product formulation and the environment. In addition, we have designed our unique packaging for easy use and durability. We utilize three types of materials: Glass, food grade PET and PE/PP (plastic) and Aluminum tubes with a protective coating. All of our packaging is recyclable.

Glass and aluminum tubes are used to package some of our premier formulations due to the pure ingredient composition of the products. Natural substances, such as essential oils, are “living,” making them extremely volatile. Both glass and aluminum do not react with the formulations within, eliminating oxygenation of the products. All aluminum tubes are free of nickel and are lined with a protective resin to avoid any interaction between the product and the aluminum material.

Ratanhia Mouthwash Concentrate is a refreshing pick-me-up perfect for anytime of the day and is ideal to clean and soothe your teeth and gums. To use this essential formula, shake a few drops into a glass of water and rinse or gargle. This mouthwash is highly concentrated, as one bottle makes up to one-half gallon. We recommend using cold water for a refreshing mouthwash and warm water for a sore throat gargle.

Our Calendula Toothpaste is free of peppermint oil, making it a favorite among homeopathic practitioners. In lieu of peppermint, this formula is flavored with organic fennel oil and licorice.

We do not add fluoride to our oral care products, as an excessive quantity of fluoride can cause health risks. Fluoride is naturally taken in through mineral water and other sources. Thus, additional quantities are often not needed. However, if extra fluoride is necessary to improve health, we believe this should be determined and prescribed by your health care practitioner.