Are HPMC capsules natural? I'd like to know.

If we had to define it in one sentence: HPMC capsules have a purely natural origin, but they undergo "post-processing" using modern technology.

Its "origin" is absolutely from the natural world.

The raw materials for HPMC capsules are actually very close to our daily lives, mainly pine wood or cotton. Manufacturers extract "plant cellulose" from these plants, which forms its basis. Therefore, at its source, it's not derived from petroleum, nor is it a plastic created from scratch in a laboratory; it's a genuine product grown from the earth.

It's a "semi-natural" product.

Although the raw materials are natural, you certainly can't just chew on wood. To transform the hard wood fibers into a transparent, dissolvable capsule shell, it must undergo "deep processing." This process is similar to how we process wheat into flour and then into bread; or how we ferment soybeans into soy sauce. Although it undergoes artificial processing (which is why it's sometimes professionally called "semi-synthetic"), it essentially retains the characteristics of the plant. Therefore, it's neither a "natural" product that can be eaten directly from the tree, nor a completely artificially synthesized chemical product; it's a plant-derived product that falls between the two.

Compared to animal capsules, it better fits the definition of "pure."

Many people consider it "natural" because they compare it to traditional animal capsules. Traditional gelatin capsules are made from animal hides, and to prevent spoilage and insect infestation, many additives are often added during production. Plant-based capsules, because they are made of plant fibers, are less prone to bacterial growth, so they don't require those unnecessary preservatives. From the perspective of "fewer additives and less pollution," it's a more "natural" choice in the eyes of many consumers.

In the body, it acts like "fiber."

To judge how natural something is, you have to consider what happens after you ingest it. When HPMC capsules enter the stomach, besides releasing the medicine, the shell itself acts like a dietary fiber. It doesn't remain in the body like chemical plastics, nor does it burden the body. It is eventually naturally excreted or broken down, making it friendly to both the human body and the environment.

It's a key player in the current "Clean Label" trend.

Nowadays, when people go shopping at the supermarket, they prefer products with clean ingredient lists. In the health supplement industry, if manufacturers want to label their products as "green," "organic," or "herbal," they will almost certainly choose HPMC capsules. Although processed, HPMC capsules do not contain genetically modified ingredients, have no pesticide residue concerns, and are currently the closest industrial packaging material to the "natural" concept.