FAQs
About BonsaiSei
Where are you based?
BONSAISEI is an Australian-owned brand based in Dawesville, Western Australia. Our products are developed with careful consideration of ingredient selection, formulation quality and Australian regulatory requirements. Manufacturing is undertaken in Queensland by a facility licensed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to manufacture therapeutic goods.
What does practitioner quality mean?
For BONSAISEI, practitioner quality means taking a considered approach to every stage of the product’s development. This includes from selecting well-characterised ingredients and appropriate ingredient forms to reviewing manufacturing standards, testing requirements and label information. It also means providing clear, evidence-based information so consumers and healthcare practitioners can make informed decisions about how a product may fit into an individual wellbeing plan.
Are you available in retail?
We are building our retail and practitioner network carefully to ensure our products are supplied through partners who align with our approach to quality and informed product use. Current availability may vary, so please contact us for the most up-to-date purchasing options.
Is pick up available? / Can I collect my order in person?
Pick-up is not available as a walk-in service. Where local collection can be accommodated, your order must be confirmed and prepared in advance, and a collection time will be arranged with you. Please do not attend the collection location until you have received confirmation that your order is ready.
Do you offer bulk or wholesale orders?
Bulk-order availability, pricing and minimum order quantities will depend on the product, order volume and customer type. Please contact our team with the products and quantities you are interested in, along with your business or practitioner details, and we will provide further information. Bulk orders remain subject to stock availability and approval.
Why do you list the excipients in your products?
Excipients are ingredients used for practical manufacturing purposes, such as helping powders flow consistently, supporting accurate capsule filling or forming the capsule shell. They are not included for a therapeutic effect, but they still form part of the finished product. We choose to disclose them clearly as part of our commitment to transparency and informed product selection. The way excipients are presented can differ between brands depending on the product type, formulation and applicable labelling requirements. To see the excipients present in other brands please explore the ARTG site by adding the product name, this will bring up their “active ingredients” and the “excipients” used. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg
General
Why trust BONSAISEI?
BONSAISEI was created around a simple philosophy: support the body, never overwhelm it. Rather than adding ingredients simply to create a longer or more impressive-looking label, we develop each formulation with a clear purpose. Every active ingredient and excipient is considered for its function, quality, compatibility, tolerability and contribution to the finished product. We prioritise transparent labelling so you can understand what you are taking and why each ingredient has been included. Inspired by nature and guided by science, our products are designed to provide practical, considered support for everyday wellbeing.
Are supplements the same as medications?
The word “supplement” is a general term that can describe products containing vitamins, minerals, herbs or other nutritional ingredients. Depending on their ingredients, presentation and intended purpose, these products may be regulated as foods or therapeutic goods. BONSAISEI products that display an AUST L number are listed medicines included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. They are intended to support the health purposes stated on the label and should not replace prescribed medicines or professional medical care.
Are BONSAISEI products listed with the TGA?
In Australia, lower-risk complementary medicines may be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods under the listed medicine pathway. A listed medicine displays an AUST L number on its label. The sponsor is responsible for certifying that the product meets the applicable requirements for ingredients, manufacturing, safety, quality, evidence and permitted health claims. The TGA may review listed medicines after they enter the market. To ensure that your products are listed check the ARTG website by typing the product name in the search field. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg
Are BONSAISEI products suitable for children?
Children have different nutritional requirements and may require different doses from adults. A product should only be given to a child when its label provides directions for the relevant age group or when its use has been recommended by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Keep all medicines and supplements out of reach of children.
Can I drink coffee while taking my supplements?
Coffee affects supplements differently. Certain nutrients, particularly iron, may be better taken separately from coffee because coffee can reduce their absorption when consumed together. Other products may not require a specific separation period, so the directions and warnings for the individual supplement should always be followed.
For BONSAISEI MAGNESIUM daily: the formulation contains MetaMag® magnesium bisglycinate, an Albion® mineral amino acid chelate, together with magnesium citrate. MetaMag® was selected for its chelated structure and suitability within the formulation.
Coffee does not need to be completely avoided while taking MAGNESIUM daily; however, we recommend taking the capsules with water and, where practical, at a different time from coffee. This is particularly helpful if taking coffee and magnesium together causes digestive discomfort or makes it harder to follow a consistent dosing routine.
Can I take supplements long term?
The appropriate duration depends on the ingredients, dose, reason for use, diet, medical history and any other medicines or supplements being taken.
Taking more than the recommended amount or combining products containing the same ingredients can increase total intake.
Follow the label directions and speak with a healthcare professional if you plan to use a product continuously, your symptoms persist, or your health circumstances change.
Can I take your supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Nutritional requirements and safety considerations can change during pregnancy and breastfeeding. A product that is suitable for the general adult population may not be appropriate during these life stages, and some ingredients or doses may require additional caution. Your healthcare professional can consider the complete formulation, your diet, other supplements or medicines and your individual health needs.
Are your supplements suitable for everyone?
At BONSAISEI, we aim to make it as easy as possible for you to understand exactly what you are taking. We provide transparent ingredient information and nutritional information panels, and can supply available allergen testing certificates for customers with a diagnosed allergy, not only those managing an intolerance.
These documents can help you and your healthcare professional assess whether a product may be appropriate for your individual needs. Although we try to cater for a wide range of dietary requirements and preferences, suitability can vary according to age, allergies, medical conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and other medicines or supplements being used.
Always read the complete product label, directions and warnings before use, and consult a healthcare professional if you are unsure.
What is the difference between a food supplement and a listed medicine?
“Food supplement” is often used as a general description rather than a single regulatory category in Australia. Products supplied as foods must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and generally cannot be promoted with therapeutic claims that would make them medicines. Listed medicines are lower-risk, non-prescription therapeutic goods that may contain permitted ingredients such as vitamins, minerals and herbal substances and may make permitted low-level health claims. Before supply, they must be included in the ARTG database and display an AUST L number.
Ingredients
Are your ingredients natural or synthetic?
The distinction between “natural” and “synthetic” is not always straightforward.
Even naturally occurring nutrients generally need to be extracted, purified or converted into a suitable form before they can be used in a consistent supplement.
For example, magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral, but the magnesium citrate and magnesium glycinate dihydrate used in MAGNESIUM daily are produced under controlled manufacturing conditions to create defined magnesium compounds. Other ingredients may be plant-derived and purified, such as microcrystalline cellulose, or manufactured from familiar dietary components, such as ascorbyl palmitate.
Our priority is to understand exactly what each ingredient is, why it is present and whether it meets our quality requirements.
Why do you use magnesium glycinate dihydrate instead of magnesium glycinate?
The term “dihydrate” does not mean that water has simply been added to the capsule or that the ingredient is wet.
It describes water molecules that are incorporated within the ingredient’s defined crystalline form. Identifying the ingredient precisely is important because the complete chemical form affects its molecular weight, elemental magnesium concentration and the amount required to deliver the stated dose.
MAGNESIUM daily uses MetaMag®, an Albion® mineral amino acid chelate, as one component of its magnesium blend. Albion describes its mineral chelates as defined mineral–amino acid complexes developed for stability and consistent chelation. We use the precise ingredient name so consumers and healthcare professionals can understand the form supplied, rather than relying only on the broader term “magnesium glycinate”.
Why do you use microcrystalline cellulose?
Microcrystalline cellulose is a purified, plant-derived form of cellulose, the natural structural fibre found in plants.
In MAGNESIUM daily it is used with less than 1 mg per capsule as a processing aid to support powder flow, blend uniformity and consistent capsule fill weight.
It is not included for a nutritional or therapeutic effect and is not added simply to bulk out the capsule. Its purpose is to help ensure that the formulation can be encapsulated reliably and that each capsule meets the required manufacturing specifications.
Why do you use colloidal anhydrous silica?
Fine powders can sometimes stick together, form clumps or move unevenly through encapsulation equipment. Colloidal anhydrous silica acts as a glidant, helping to reduce friction between powder particles and minimise bridging or clumping during manufacture. This supports efficient encapsulation and helps ensure a consistent amount of the formulation is placed into each capsule. It is included solely for its manufacturing function and is not intended to provide a therapeutic or nutritional source of silicon.
Why do you use ascorbyl palmitate?
Ascorbyl palmitate is a compound made from ascorbic acid and palmitic acid. In MAGNESIUM daily, it is used as an excipient rather than as an active source of vitamin C.
It forms part of the processing system used to support reliable capsule manufacture while also having antioxidant properties. Its inclusion allowed us to develop the formulation without magnesium stearate. This was a deliberate formulation choice not because magnesium stearate is considered unsafe, but because we selected an alternative excipient system that better aligned with our formulation objectives.
Capsules
Are HPMC capsules safe?
The capsule shell used in BONSAISEI products is made from hypromellose, also known as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or HPMC. Hypromellose is a cellulose derivative used extensively in pharmaceutical and food applications. International specifications have been established for its use, and modified celluloses have an acceptable daily intake of “not specified”, reflecting their low toxicological concern when used appropriately. For BONSAISEI, we selected an HPMC capsule because it provides a simple, vegetarian-friendly capsule shell and supports our objective of keeping the excipient system purposeful. The capsule itself is there to contain and deliver the formulation—it does not provide the therapeutic activity of the product.
What are your capsules made of?
Our current capsules are made from hypromellose (HPMC), a cellulose-derived material commonly used to make vegetarian capsule shells.
Are your products vegetarian friendly?
Our current BONSAISEI products have been formulated with vegetarian suitability in mind.
For example, MAGNESIUM daily uses a hypromellose (HPMC) capsule rather than an animal-derived gelatin capsule.
As our range grows, however, each formulation will be developed according to its individual purpose. Some nutrients or specialised ingredients used in future products could potentially be sourced from animals.
For that reason, we do not want to make a blanket promise that every future BONSAISEI product will automatically be vegetarian or vegan.
We will provide clear ingredient information so you can check the suitability of each product before purchasing.
What size is the capsule for each product?
MAGNESIUM daily uses a size 00 hypromellose capsule. This capsule size was selected to accommodate the amount of active ingredients required for the formulation while allowing us to deliver them in a hard vegetable capsule format.
Capsule size is determined by factors including the volume and density of the formulation, so future BONSAISEI products may use a different capsule size depending on what is technically appropriate for that product.
If swallowing capsules is difficult for you, see our guidance below regarding opening the capsule.
Can I remove the capsule from the supplement and take the internal contents only?
If you prefer not to swallow the capsule whole, the hard hypromellose capsule used for MAGNESIUM daily can be opened and the powder inside consumed separately.
The capsule shell itself is not responsible for the active activity of the product; it is simply the dosage form used to contain the formulation. You should take all of the powder from the capsule to ensure you receive the intended quantity of active ingredients.
The powder may have a different taste or texture when taken without the capsule, which is normal. If mixing it with a small amount of food or fluid, ensure the complete amount is consumed and follow the product’s directions for use.
Please note this advice applies to our products and should not automatically be applied to every medicine or supplement: some capsules are designed to modify when or where their contents are released and should not be opened unless specifically advised.
Trademarks and Certifications
What is HASTA?
HASTA describes itself as: “HASTA is the Australian sports supplement drug testing specialist, a division of Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL), Australia’s largest independent sports drug testing laboratory.”
HASTA provides independent testing of sports supplements for substances prohibited by WADA.
Its HASTA Certification program goes beyond a single test: it includes formulation review, verification of quality assurance and GMP systems at the manufacturing site, and requires every batch of a HASTA Certified product to be tested.
HASTA also makes an important distinction that its testing is specifically for prohibited substances and does not verify or endorse other claims about ingredients, nutrition or product performance. You can learn more directly from HASTA.
What are Albion® Minerals?
Albion® Minerals is part of Balchem’s Human Nutrition & Health business and specialises in chelated and specialty mineral ingredients.
Balchem describes Albion® Minerals as “The Pioneer of Chelated Minerals” and states that its history in mineral chelation dates back to 1956.
A mineral amino acid chelate is created by binding a mineral with an amino acid ligand in a defined structure.
Balchem explains that Albion® verifies the formation of its fully reacted mineral chelates using analytical techniques designed to identify the bonds between the mineral and ligand.
Albion® also maintains a portfolio of scientific research supporting its chelated and specialty mineral ingredients.
For BONSAISEI MAGNESIUM daily we use MetaMag®, an Albion® magnesium ingredient, as part of our magnesium formulation. Choosing a defined branded ingredient gives us greater visibility over the ingredient identity, specifications, manufacturing standards and supporting technical information rather than relying only on a generic ingredient description.
You can learn more directly from Albion® Minerals by Balchem.
Why do you use trademarked ingredients?
At BONSAISEI, we do not select an ingredient simply because it has a recognisable name or looks impressive on a label.
Every ingredient must earn its place.
Where we choose a trademarked ingredient, it is because the branded raw material provides something meaningful that we can assess and understand. This may include a clearly defined ingredient form, controlled manufacturing specifications, traceability to the ingredient manufacturer, certificates and technical documentation, quality testing and scientific research conducted on that specific ingredient.
This creates greater transparency because we can identify not only what an ingredient is, but also who makes it, how it is specified and what evidence sits behind it.
Trademarked ingredients can also create a genuine point of difference—but only where that difference matters to the performance, quality or integrity of the formulation.
For example, MAGNESIUM daily uses MetaMag® from Albion® Minerals because we wanted a clearly characterised magnesium ingredient from a specialist mineral manufacturer with established expertise in mineral chelation.
We will still use non-trademarked ingredients where they meet our formulation and quality requirements.
Third-Party Testing
Is allergen free the same as allergen certified free?
The terms can sound similar, but they do not necessarily mean the same thing.
For medicines, the TGA allows truthful statements about the absence of particular substances—for example, “gluten free” or “lactose free”—provided the claim is accurate.
A product may be formulated without a particular allergen based on its ingredient and supplier information, while an allergen test certificate provides additional analytical or documentary evidence relating to the allergen or allergens specified on that certificate.
At BONSAISEI, transparency is important to us. Where available, we can provide product-specific allergen certificates or testing documentation on request, particularly for people managing a diagnosed allergy rather than simply a dietary preference or intolerance.
However, a certificate should always be read carefully—it only tells you about the substances, test methods and product or batch covered by that document.
If you have a serious or diagnosed allergy, we recommend reviewing the complete ingredient information and relevant allergen documentation with your healthcare professional before use.
Aren’t all TGA listed products tested for quality?
An AUST L medicine must comply with Australian regulatory requirements, including applicable quality standards and Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.
However, standard listed medicines are not individually evaluated by the TGA for quality, safety and efficacy before they enter the market.
Instead, the sponsor certifies that the medicine meets the applicable requirements, and Australian manufacturing steps must be undertaken in appropriately licensed facilities. The TGA then operates a risk-based post-market system and reviews, investigates and tests a proportion of listed medicines for compliance.
This is different from a brand choosing to undertake additional finished-product or independent laboratory testing.
Where BONSAISEI undertakes additional testing such as allergen testing, nutritional analysis or prohibited-substance screening, we see this as another layer of transparency and quality assurance rather than something automatically provided simply because a product has an AUST L number.
What does it mean when you say every batch is tested for prohibited substances?
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What does it mean to carry the Australian Made logo?
The familiar green-and-gold kangaroo is more than a marketing symbol it is a registered certification trademark administered by Australian Made Campaign Ltd.
Products carrying the logo must be licensed and meet the applicable criteria in the Australian Consumer Law and the Australian Made, Australian Grown Logo Code of Practice.
For a product carrying the Australian Made descriptor, the relevant requirement is that its last substantial transformation takes place in Australia. In practical terms, the manufacturing process undertaken here must create a product that is fundamentally different in identity, nature or essential character from its individual components. Importantly, Australian Made does not mean that every ingredient was grown or sourced in Australia.
The claim relates primarily to where the qualifying manufacturing transformation occurred.
It is also separate from Australian ownership a business may be Australian owned without every product qualifying as Australian Made, and vice versa.
For BONSAISEI, carrying the logo would provide independent third-party recognition that the specific licensed product meets the requirements for the Australian Made claim.
Interactions & Other Medications
Can BONSAISEI products interact with medications?
Yes, interactions are possible.
Vitamins, minerals, herbal ingredients and other complementary medicine ingredients can sometimes affect how a medicine is absorbed, metabolised or works in the body. In some circumstances, taking products together may also change the likelihood of experiencing side effects.
Australian health guidance recommends telling your doctor or pharmacist about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and complementary or alternative medicines you take, as interactions can prevent medicines from working as expected or increase the likelihood of side effects.
At BONSAISEI, our position is simple: if you take medication or have a pre-existing health condition, always check with your doctor before introducing a new supplement or complementary medicine.
Your doctor or health practitioner knows your medical history, current medicines and individual circumstances and is therefore best placed to determine whether a product is appropriate for you.
This recommendation applies even when a supplement is available without a prescription or its ingredients are commonly used.
Always follow the directions and warnings on the individual BONSAISEI product label.
Are BONSAISEI products suitable for me?
We want you to make an informed decision about what you put into your body, which is why BONSAISEI provides clear ingredient information, active ingredient quantities, excipient information and, where available, nutritional and allergen documentation.
However, we cannot determine through general product information whether a supplement is suitable for an individual person. Your suitability may be influenced by factors including your medical history, existing health conditions, prescription or over-the-counter medicines, allergies, age, pregnancy or breastfeeding, diet, and other supplements you are already taking.
Complementary medicines can interact with other medicines, and individual health conditions can also affect whether a particular product or dose is appropriate. If you have a pre-existing health condition or currently take medication, please always discuss the product with your doctor before starting it.
We are happy to provide the product information and supporting documentation you or your healthcare professional may need to help make that decision.