Let’s talk about the over-the-counter (OTC) "health" staples lining the shelves at every pharmacy and maybe even your own cabinet. They promise relief, energy, better sleep, and "immune support" but the fine print (aka the ingredient label) tells a very different story.
If you’re someone who’s trying to heal the root, reduce your toxin load, and actually support your body instead of masking symptoms, then this post is your wake-up call.
Here are the 5 popular OTC products I would never buy - and what I recommend instead.
1. Zyrtec (and other OTC allergy meds)
What’s wrong:
Zyrtec and similar antihistamines are filled with artificial dyes, preservatives, and additives that can burden your liver, gut, and overall immune response. Sure, they suppress symptoms but they do nothing to address why your allergies are flaring in the first place.
A better alternative:
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Quercetin – a natural mast cell stabilizer
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Stinging nettle leaf
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Vitamin C – a natural antihistamine (also found in Minerals & Chill)
This trio helps calm inflammation without loading your system with junk. Bonus if you pair this with gut healing and liver support (hello functional wellness). -
Hilma: Their pollen defense is great for indoor or outdoor allergy care and its great to have on hand!
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Genexa Allergy Care - Genexa will be named a lot because they dedicated their brand to creating healthier alternatives, their allergy care is great and a staple in my medicine cabinet.
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Kids Aller-ease - doesn't just clear up symptoms, it gets to the root of the allergies by balancing immune response which is very important for root cause allergy care.
2. Emergen-C
What’s wrong:
It looks healthy… until you realize it's basically sugary Kool-Aid with synthetic vitamins. One packet contains added sugars and artificial flavorings and the type of Vitamin C used (ascorbic acid) isn’t as bioavailable as whole-food sources.
A better alternative:
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Liposomal Vitamin C for superior absorption
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Whole food powders like acerola cherry or camu camu
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Avoid added sugar, artificial sweeteners, and “natural flavors” (aka chemical cocktails)
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Wooden Spoon Herbs Immune Toddy: I keep these in my medicine cabinet and on me when I travel packed with elderberry and other nourishing herbs to help with the onset of a cold or just feeling under the weather.
3. Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
What’s wrong:
This one’s sneaky. While Tylenol is widely used for pain relief, it depletes glutathione, your body’s master antioxidant that protects against oxidative stress. Not ideal when your body is already inflamed or detoxing.
A better alternative:
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White willow bark – nature’s aspirin which is found in Hilma Tension Relief
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Turmeric/Curcumin – anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (I like Leefy or Zuma)
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Magnesium glycinate – great for pain, tension, and sleep.
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Genexa makes a cleaner acetaminophen which is the active ingredient in Tylenol. Just be sure to not overuse it because of the depletion.
If you struggle with period cramps that are heavily reliant on pain killers - figuring out the root source because period pain is not a normal symptom and could be something underlying like hormonal imbalance or even “silent endo”. If you struggle with migraines it’s important to also dig deeper - as someone who struggled with chronic migraines for years, turns out I had a severe mineral deficiency and it was also triggered by synthetic fragrance. It may not be as simple for others but today I manage headaches with the above, a cold compress on my head, a magnesium bath, reducing blue light exposure and releasing tension at the base of my neck.
4. Sleep Gummies (& Other Gummy Vitamins)
What’s wrong:
They look fun and taste sweet — but they’re often loaded with sugar, natural flavors, gums, and questionable color additives. Plus theyre often poor quality forms of vitamins and it's mostly just candy.
A better alternative:
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A clean magnesium + L-theanine blend: CALM
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Adaptogenic sleep tinctures with ingredients like passionflower, reishi, or lemon balm like You're A Knockout by Ora Organics
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Juna Sleep Gummies - the best, most effective and cleanest gummies I’ve had. This product alone changed my mind on gummy vitamins. They can be done right, although most on the market I agree are not the best.
- DIY: you can make your own sleep gummies with tart cherry juice and gelatin, super easy and tart cherry is a natural sleep aid!
5. Miralax + Metamucil
What’s wrong:
Let’s keep it real - polyethylene glycol (the main ingredient in Miralax) is a petroleum-derived laxative. It may "get things moving" temporarily, but long-term it can disrupt the gut lining and microbiome.
A better alternative:
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Magnesium citrate – gentle and effective for getting bowels moving
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Chia seed pudding, aloe vera juice, or prunes (incorporate 10g of fiber per meal)
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Of course, I’ll plug my fave: Preme – our new fiber supplement without the junk (try their fiber hot chocolate too)
6. Lactaid (and Other Common Digestive Enzyme Pills)
What’s wrong:
They’re marketed as a “fix” so you can keep eating foods your body is clearly reacting to but they don’t address why you’re bloated, gassy, or having trouble digesting dairy in the first place. Most over-the-counter digestive aids like Lactaid contain fillers, titanium dioxide, artificial dyes, and low-potency enzyme blends that don’t actually improve digestion long-term.
A better alternative:
- Focus on rebuilding digestion instead of suppressing symptoms. Look for broad-spectrum digestive enzyme blends that include lipase, protease, amylase, and ox bile (for fat digestion)
- go deeper and support stomach acid production with things like apple cider vinegar, bitters, or HCl with pepsin.
- You can also try gentle gut-supportive foods like ginger, lemon water, and fermented veggies to naturally boost enzyme activity and balance your microbiome.
- and for temporary digestion issues when eating out we love to keep Hilma
7. TUMS (and Other Heartburn Relief Tablets)
What’s wrong:
They might give you quick relief, but they work by neutralizing stomach acid which is often the opposite of what your body actually needs. Most heartburn stems from too little stomach acid, not too much. When acid levels are low, food ferments in the stomach and pushes upward, creating that burning sensation. On top of that, TUMS and similar antacids contain ingredients like aluminum, artificial dyes, and talc, and long-term use can disrupt mineral absorption (especially calcium, magnesium, and zinc).
A better alternative:
- Start meals with a few bites of something bitter (like arugula, lemon, or apple cider vinegar in water) to signal stomach acid production.
- Eat slowly, avoid drinking large amounts of liquid with meals
- For occasional heartburn, Hilma for Occasional Heartburn + Indigestion
Final Thoughts:
The truth is - you deserve more than band-aid solutions that come with hidden trade-offs. Your body wasn’t designed to run on synthetic dyes, fillers, and preservatives and yet, so many "health" products are loaded with exactly that.
Before grabbing the quick fix from the drugstore… ask yourself:
✨ Is this supporting the root cause, or just muting the symptoms?
✨ Is this helping my body function better, or just pushing it harder?
Start reading your labels, questioning the norm, and reaching for support that’s aligned with healing - not just masking.
(the contents of this blog are not medical advice)
