We carry two oral strips, both 30 to a pack at $36.50, both made in India, both one strip per day maximum. They dissolve on the tongue — no water, no swallowing.
Energy Strips (Cranberry)
Energy Strips are the more straightforward of the two, because the amounts are actually printed:
- Caffeine: 50 mg
- L-Theanine: 30 mg
- Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin): 1,000 mcg
Other ingredients: pullulan, mannitol, cellulose, cranberry flavor, lecithin, malic acid, pectin, erythritol, steviol glycosides.
Putting 50 mg of caffeine in context
50 mg is roughly half a cup of coffee, or about a can of cola. It is a genuinely moderate amount — considerably less than ShockFuel's 175 mg per scoop.
And the honest cost note: $36.50 for 30 strips is about $1.22 per strip for 50 mg of caffeine. A cup of coffee is cheaper and has more. What you are paying for is the format — no water, no liquid, nothing to carry, fits in a pocket, works on a plane or in a meeting. If that convenience is worth it to you, it is worth it. If you just want caffeine, it is not the efficient way to buy it.
The caffeine and L-theanine pairing is the same idea as in our Energy Powder. The B12 at 1,000 mcg is a high dose — B12 is water-soluble and generally well tolerated, but see our B12 article on why extra B12 does not do much if you are not deficient.
Hangover Strips (Mango-Orange)
Hangover Strips need a clearer statement than our own product page gives them.
They do not cure, prevent or treat a hangover
Our product description is heavily hedged — "traditional use", "perceived", "potentially supporting", "individual results may vary". That hedging is there for a reason, and the reason is that no supplement is established to prevent or treat a hangover.
What actually reduces a hangover: drinking less alcohol, drinking water alongside it, and eating. There is no strip, pill or powder that changes that, and anybody selling you one is overselling.
We would rather lose the sale than let you drink more on the assumption that a strip has you covered. Please do not use this as a reason to drink more than you otherwise would.
What is actually in it
Phoenix dactylifera (date) extract, Curcuma longa (turmeric), Andrographis paniculata, Cichorium intybus (chicory), Vitis vinifera (grape), Phyllanthus niruri, Phyllanthus emblica (amla), pullulan, cellulose, mannitol, licorice extract, lecithin, malic acid, mango flavor, steviol glycosides, orange flavor.
No amounts are disclosed for any ingredient.
These are botanicals with long traditional use, several of them in Ayurvedic practice, and the formula is presented on that basis. Traditional use is a real thing — it is not the same thing as evidence that it works for hangovers, and the label does not claim it is.
The licorice caution
Licorice extract deserves specific mention. Licorice can raise blood pressure and lower potassium with regular use. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or take a diuretic, this is worth asking a doctor about before making it a habit — and one a day, every weekend, is a habit.
Both strips: the rules
- Maximum one strip per day. Both labels state this.
- Place on the tongue and let it dissolve.
- Not for anyone pregnant or nursing, under 18, or with a known medical condition without consulting a physician.
- Keep out of reach of children. Store cool and dry.
Both are vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal per their label badges.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All amounts quoted are taken from the product labels.
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