Frequently Asked Questions

We do not have safety studies on the use of Kolorex by children and so safety cannot be guaranteed.  Because of this, we cannot recommend use of Kolorex by children under the age of 12.

We have been asked whether it’s possible to take half a capsule of Kolorex for a smaller dose.  This is not recommended because the ingredient in Kolorex capsules is very hot, a bit like cayenne pepper and may cause a burning sensation in the oesophegus as it goes down if it is taken without the protective capsule.  DO NOT CUT OPEN A CAPSULE TO TAKE A PART DOSE.

At this stage Kolorex® products are not recommended for animals as we have not established safety nor the dose regime for their use. We suggest you ask for guidance from your local vet about supplements for your pet.

Kolorex® Vaginal Care Cream and Vaginal Care Wash  are generally fine for most women to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, containing natural ingredients designed to support & maintain vaginal health. Please note that the cream is intended for external use only on the vulva (the external genitalia), not inside the vagina canal. We suggest doing a patch test (link to how to do a patch test) before using the Wash or Cream for the first time.

As a precaution, we suggest that a few weeks leading up to your due date to cease using the Vaginal Care Cream as your body prepares for labour and the mucus plug dislodges.

Please note that Kolorex® Gut Care Candia Balance and Vaginal Care HerBalance is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

There are no reports in the literature of Kolorex interacting with medications, however we suggest you discuss medicinal interactions with an qualified health professional.

The herb has a long history of traditional use and millions of doses of Kolorex® products have been sold in the last twenty years. There are very rare accounts of allergic reaction to genital application of Kolorex® Intimate Care cream. As a precaution do a patch test by rubbing some cream inside your wrist and leave for 24 hours to see if your skin reacts.  Do not use if your skin reacts with discomfort.  In addition, do not use any Kolorex products if you have known sensitivity to any of the ingredients. In case of suspected reaction to any Kolorex product – discontinue use.

It can be beneficial to take probiotics at the same time as taking Kolorex, especially when taking the soft gels mid to long term. We recommend supplementing these at different times in the day (e.g probiotic in the morning, Kolorex in the evening). Aiming to have them 6 hours apart if possible. However, when first taking the Kolorex soft gels, we recommend taking Kolorex on its own to ensure the product can be well tolerated before introducing other products.

Patch testing is a method of testing our products to see if they are suitable for your unique skin.

If you have sensitive or allergic skin, it’s always recommended to do a patch test before using a new product. Even natural ingredients, like pure essential oils can cause sensitivity reactions.

Instructions for a Patch Test:

• Be sure the area of skin on which you will be doing the test is clean and dry
• Choose a time of day when you can leave the cream in place for at least 24 hours without it washing off – applying a band aid after application may with this
• Apply a small amount of the product to your skin (about the size of a pea). We suggest using the inside of your wrist or the upper part of your inner arm for the test
• If you are sensitive to any of the ingredients, a reaction such as itching, reddening or burning should occur within 24 hours
• If you feel any irritation or reaction, immediately wash the area gently with water
• If you don’t see or feel any reaction, the product is most likely safe for you to use

Please note you may notice a slight sensation of warmth when you apply our topical products, this is due to the natural warming effects of the Horopito plant and is a typical sensation after application.

Our Vaginal Care range has been formulated to calm, cleanse & restore the delicate skin of the vulva which is naturally a sensitive area. We have included soothing Aloe Vera in both the Wash & the Cream, making it gentle and non-irritating and suitable for those with sensitive skin. The Vaginal Care Wash & Cream have been dermatologically tested by an independent laboratory. We always suggest doing a skin sensitivity patch test before using our Vaginal Care
products for the first time. (link to patch test)

The pH of your vagina and vulva is really important – we have acid producing bacteria that help to keep us healthy & balanced by preventing unhealthy microorganisms (like candida) from thriving. The delicate balance of lactobacilli bacteria maintains an acidic pH by using glycogen to produce lactic acid and secrete hydrogen peroxide. A healthy vaginal pH can vary between 3.6 – 4.5, similar to the acidity of a tomato. It’s normal for your vaginal acidity to change due to hormonal fluctuations, sperm and menstrual blood.

Our Vaginal Care Cream & Vaginal Care Wash have been formulated to be mildly acidic – around pH of 4.5, to support and maintain your vaginal health! By using our pH balanced products in your daily routine, you can find peace from life’s little irritations.

Symptoms like vaginitis and dryness can be common post-menopause due to declining / low estrogen. Without enough estrogen, the lining of the vagina can become thinner and less stretchy and the vaginal canal can also narrow and shorten. Estrogen naturally helps keep the vaginal pH low and stimulates the cells in the vaginal canal to create a thicker layer to protect the canal from pain and irritation.

Generally speaking, the Kolorex Vaginal Care products are formulated to support vaginal Candida/microbiome balance due to the anti-fungal properties, and this is where the research has been focused. From my knowledge, Horopito isn’t a phytoestrogen, so it won’t have the same benefits as using an estrogen cream or a herbal cream formulated for vaginal dryness.

Unfortunately, at this stage there isn’t information around using for Vaginal Care products for vaginal dryness. In saying that, the Kolorex Vaginal Care Cream does contain moisturising and soothing ingredients in the formula like aloe vera and vitamin E so it may be soothing for the vulva area and could be worth a try from that prospective. Though I wouldn’t recommend the cream, if you have broken skin. Please note that the cream contains tea tree oil, some people are sensitive to this plant extract.

Just a note that it’s designed for use on the vulva (outside), not for use inside the vagina canal.

Yes, the vagina is self cleansing! It’s important that we don’t wash inside the vagina (the muscular tube that joins the cervix and the vaginal opening) as anything introduced inside may disrupt the delicate balance. Together both natural vaginal discharge and lactobacilli bacteria help to keep the vagina clean & healthy.

Whilst you should never wash inside the vagina, gently washing the outside of the vagina, the vulva, can help to keep the area healthy & free of irritation. It’s normal to have times when you may want a little extra support down there or you may feel the need to wash after sweaty exercise, during your period or after sex. We suggest gently washing the vulva front to back with your hands, warm water and the Kolorex Vaginal Care Wash and then patting dry with a clean towel. Our Vaginal Care Wash has been designed for daily use, so you feel calm, cleansed and refreshed!

It’s best to give washing with regular soap a miss due to its alkalinity which can affect your skin’s protective acid shield, irritating & drying the sensitive skin in and around the vulva.

When it comes to feminine care, our pH balanced Vaginal Care Cream has been formulated for the vulva area only and it should not be used inside the vagina canal, but it can be gently applied to the vaginal opening.

Vagina has emerged as the word of choice to refer to the typical female sexual anatomy, yet vulva is the anatomically accurate term when talking about your genitals on the outside of your body.

All vulvas are unique and beautiful, made up of these main parts – the labia, the clitoris, the pubic mound and the vaginal and urethra opening. The vulva protects a woman’s sexual organs and plays an important role in a women’s sexual response.

The word vagina anatomically refers to the muscular tube that runs from the external genitalia (the vulva) through to the cervix, connecting your uterus to the outside world. The vagina is an amazing organ, lined with a mucous membrane and many friendly bacteria that keep your vagina balanced & clean.

Yes, Kolorex® Vaginal Care Cream & Vaginal Care Wash contain Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) which is a natural essential oil that comes from the Australian tea tree plant. If you have a known allergy or sensitivity to Tea Tree oil, please don’t use the Vaginal Care topical products. If you are unsure then please do a patch test prior to use. We offer an oral supplement called Kolorex® Vaginal Care Herbal Supplement which doesn’t contain Tea Tree.

Apply by hand or sponge while showering or bathing. Rinse well with water. Suitable for everyday use.

For external use only.
Patch test before use. Avoid contact with eyes.
Do not use if reaction occurs or if you have known sensitivity to any of the ingredients.

Refrigerate after opening for a longer product life.

Apply topically to the sensitive areas of the vulva 2-3 times a day.
The herbal extracts may cause a brief sensation of warmth when applied.

Patch test before use. Avoid contact with eyes. Do not use if reaction occurs or if you have known sensitivity to any of the ingredients.
For external use only.

Refrigerate after opening for a longer product life.

There is some research showing that polygodial (the active constituent in Horopito) does have antibacterial activity, alongside its anti-fungal properties. There is a small study around topical application of Kolorex Vaginal Care Cream, showing promise for recurrent BV.

We suggest trialling incorporating the Intimate Care Cream and wash into your existing protocol for BV.

Many of our customers take a good quality probiotic at the same time as using the Kolorex products, to support optimal microbiome balance. The L.rhamnosus GR-1 and L.reuteri RC-14 are strains can be helpful for BV.

It’s important to remember this information is not meant to replace medical advice. We offer these general guidelines as support to our customers. If you have any concerns, you should always speak to your chosen medical professional.

Apply by hand or sponge while showering or bathing. Rinse well with water. Suitable for everyday use.

For external use only.
Patch test before use. Avoid contact with eyes.
Do not use if reaction occurs or if you have known sensitivity to any of the ingredients.

Refrigerate after opening for a longer product life.

Apply topically, to the body, 2-3 times daily. Use under folds of skin, under arms and breasts, between toes, nails and crotch area.

The herbal extracts may cause a brief sensation of warmth when applied.

Patch test before use. Avoid contact with eyes.

Do not use if reaction occurs or if you have known sensitivity to any of the ingredients.

For external use only.

Refrigerate after opening for a longer product life.

Apply to the feet and between toes, 2-3 times per day.

Precautions

The herbal extracts may cause a brief sensation of warmth when applied.

Patch test before use. Avoid contact with eyes.

Do not use if reaction occurs or if you have known sensitivity to any of the ingredients.

For external use only.

Refrigerate after opening for a longer product life.

Apply to lips five times per day at first signs of tingling or tenderness to cracked, sore, blistered lips.  Suitable for everyday maintenance and protection.

PRECAUTIONS:

Allergy Test: Patch test before use.

• May cause transient sensation of warmth upon application.
• Avoid contact with eyes.
• Do not use if you have known sensitivity to any of the ingredients.
• Propolis may cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals.
• If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional.

Impetigo (school sores) is a skin infection caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria. We don’t have research yet supporting the use of the Kolsore ointment for school sores but interestingly polygodial (the active constituent in Horopito) was found to possess moderate antibacterial activity against bacteria including Staphylococcus aurus. Here’s the article
link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16372365/

Also, Tea Tree oil & Propolis have both been shown to have antibacterial/anti-microbial properties (PMC554948).

Considering this, the Kolsore ointment may be worth a try alongside the appropriate medical treatment.

It’s important to remember this information does not replace medical advice. If you have any
health concerns, you should always speak to your chosen medical professional.

The Kolorex Horopito products have been created to balance natural flora of the sin and the digestive tract and balance fungal overgrowth. The Horopito and Tea Tree are very effective and protect from fungal and bacterial overgrowth. The Aloe vera and Vitamin E in our creams, also aid with reducing inflammation and healing.

However, because eczema is very sensitive to any sort of topical application, in this case the strength of the botanical ingredients (horopito and tea tree) may not be the best option for irritated and sensitive skin.

The herbal extracts can also produce a brief sensation of warmth on application (horopito is a very hot
& spicy plant) which may create discomfort on broken or excoriated skin. So, based on these two factors I’m wondering if a milder formulation might be better if you have eczema prone skin.

Kolorex Horopito cream is also water based, and often an oil-based cream will provide more of a barrier than a water-based formula and would be better to protect irritated and inflamed skin.

Kolorex® Horopito leaves are naturally hot, not unlike cayenne pepper. During the extraction process the activity and heat are concentrated so that even the small amount that goes into the creams can produce a sense of heat. This can be quite warm for a small number of people if applied to sensitive, damaged tissue.

People occasionally experience nausea or stomach discomfort after taking Kolorex® capsules, particularly the first few times. This may be due to the natural heat of Kolorex® Horopito (similar to cayenne) or it may be due to a Herxheimer (yeast die off) reaction. If the feeling persists we recommend that you cease taking and/or consult a suitably experienced health professional.

The recommended dose of is one capsule per day.  For a stronger dose regime, increase the dose to two capsules per day – one in the morning and one in the evening.  Some customers tell us they take up to 3 capsules per day for a more intense healing protocol.

We have been asked whether it’s possible to take half a capsule of Kolorex for a smaller dose.  This is generally not recommended because the Horopito extract is very hot, a bit like cayenne pepper and may cause a burning sensation in the oesophagus, when taken without the protective capsule. Please contact our in-house Naturopath to discuss the possibility of taking a smaller dose of the soft-gel.

Remember to always take Kolorex capsules on a full stomach and with a glass of water.

We suggest the capsules be taken with food or directly after eating with a glass of water. We don’t advise chewing or opening the capsules as Kolorex is made from the New Zealand Horopito plant which is very hot & peppery.

Our brand new extraction process captures more of our Horopito leaf’s bioactive compounds and along with it, the natural, green chlorophyll colour.

We’ve chosen not to artificially disguise the chlorophyll because taking a natural approach informs everything we do at Kolorex. Our customers count on this.

There is no change to the dosage or the efficacy, your soft gels will work
exactly the same as before.We’re proud of our constant innovation, and our new clean, green colour.

Goodness and transparency!

The length of supplementation varies widely between individuals as it depends on severity of symptoms, overall gut and immune health and other lifestyle and environmental factors like diet, stress, other supplementation (e.g. pre/probiotics), medications and alcohol consumption.

For most people, our Kolorex capsules can be taken mid – long term without any problems, remembering that understanding the root of the imbalance is really important. We suggest discussing long term usage with your qualified health professional.

Both formulations are designed to provide about the same amount of active ingredient. The choice comes down to availability and personal preference.

The Kolorex Advanced Candia Care softgel capsules contain a concentrated liquid extract from Horoptio leaf. Each capsule is standardised to contain 2.5mg polygodial per capsule.

Kolorex Advanced Intestinal Care capsules contain finely milled Horopito leaf and Aniseed (in separate capsules).  These contain a standard amount of Horopito leaf (175mg) per capsule.  The Aniseed capsules also contain 175mg Aniseed per capsule.  Taken together, the Horopito and Aniseed capsules work synergistically and are designed to be just as effective as Kolorex Advanced Candia Care capsules which contain a concentrated extract of Horopito leaf.

We have repackaged our Horopito supplements which are now available in two different packaging options – Gut Care Candia Balance and Vaginal Care HerBalance, both contain the same amount of Horopito extract and polygodial and are the same formulation as the old Advanced Candia Care (old packaging).

As part of the updated packaging, we now refer only to the key ingredient “Horopito extract” on the packaging. While our products also contain polygodial, the key active in Horopito, we no longer list this on the packaging as feedback this was confusing. However, our Horopito is grown and extracted to provide maximum polygodial activity and every batch is measured for polygodial strength.

Each capsule contains 10mg Horopito leaf liquid extract which is equivalent to 250mg dried Horopito leaf and contains on average 2.5mg of polygodial. This formulation is the same as the previous packaging options.

The key to the Kolorex® range is Kolorex® Horopito leaf. This comes from high activity specimens of the traditional New Zealand herb Horopito. These plants are grown in their natural habitat and each harvest must pass an independent test for activity prior to use in the Kolorex® range.

The active ingredient in the Horopito leaf is called polygodial.  It is the polygodial that is responsible for Horopito’s antifungal activity.

Horopito (Pseudowintera Colorata) is endemic to New Zealand’s majestic rainforests and this incredible plant has developed a unique ability for surviving in damp, dark conditions and to ward off forest fungus, making Horopito the perfect herbal helper to support and maintain our overall health.

Kolorex Horopito is grown in their natural habitat and each harvest must pass an independent test for activity prior to use in the Kolorex® range. The active ingredient in the Horopito leaf is called polygodial. It is the polygodial that is responsible for Horopito’s antifungal activity.

No. Kolorex® products are designed to help maintain general well being. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

The main ingredient in Kolorex® products is Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata) which contains a powerful anti-fungal active ingredient.  Research has shown that Horopito is stronger than Pau d’Arco, oregano oil or olive leaf oil extract in helping the body restore its natural microflora balance.

We have updated our Horopito supplements (2023) which are available in packaging options:

Gut Care Candia Balance and  Vaginal Care Her Balance
-Herbal Supplement.
Horopito Practitioner

All contain the same amount of Horopito extract and polygodial.

Each capsule contains 30mg of Horopito leaf liquid extract which is equivalent to 250mg dried Horopito leaf and contains on average 2.5mg of polygodial.

No. The extract that goes into Kolorex® products is produced by subjecting Kolorex®  Horopito leaf to carbon dioxide gas under high pressure (supercritical extraction). This process is acknowledged as the cleanest in the industry because when the pressure is released the harmless gas is removed and there are no residues, just extract