HB Naturals Review: Deceptive “healing protocol” marketing
HB Naturals, aka Heart & Body Naturals and Green Organics LLC, operates in the nutritional supplements and essential oils MLM niches. The company is based out of Ohio in the US.
Heading up HB Naturals we have co-founders Paula Scarcella (CEO), Ben Scarcella and Alexandria Brighton (formulator).
BehindMLM first came across Paula Scarcella in 2016, as CEO of goDesana.
goDesana’s website is still up and lists Paula Scarcella as founder and CEO. Alexandria Brighton is also the formulator of goDesana’s products.
There is considerable overlap between goDesana and HB Naturals, leading me to wonder why the Scarcellas and Brighton are running two MLM companies. More on that in the conclusion below.
Read on for a full review of HB Naturals’ MLM opportunity.
HB Naturals’ Products
HB Naturals markets a range of nutritional supplements and essential oils.
Black Seed & Castor Oil
- Black Seed Oil – “promote(s) health and general well-being”, retails at $25.95 a bottle (30 servings), $69.95 for four bottles (120 servings), or $159 for eight bottles (240 servings)
- Castor Seed Oil – “all-in-one cosmetic and self-care oil”, retails at $17.95 for a 4 oz bottle
- Balance Her and Balance Him – 100 mg CBD cream that “support(s) hormone balance gently and naturally”, retails at $32.95 for a 4 oz. bottle
- Clean 3-In-1 Cleanser – “deeply cleanses as it lifts dirt and impurities, gently exfoliates, and softens skin with natural fruit enzymes”, retails at $19.95 for a 4 oz bottle
- Hydrate AM/PM Moisturizer – “formulated with organic ingredients to refine and brighten your skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple, hydrated, and revived”, retails at $39.95 for a 1 oz bottle
- Repair Fine Line Cream – “provides a luxurious, anti-inflammatory moisture boost for the fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and delicate eye area”, retails at $39.95 for a 0.4 oz bottle
- Revive Facial Serum – “penetrates deeply, delivering a high concentration of active ingredients to lift, brighten, and smooth your skin”, retails at $39.95 for a 0.5 oz bottle
- TLC Everything Ointment – ” an exceptional treatment for cuts, scrapes, bug bites, dry skin, chafing, and a wide variety of other skin irritations”, retails at $24.95 for a 2 oz tub
- Tone – “helpful in reducing the appearance of unsightly cellulite”, retails at $32.95 for a 4 oz bottle
Coffee & Tea
- Java Slim – “fat burning coffee”, retails at $59.95 for a pouch of 30 servings
- Nova – “may improve cognitive function, memory, motivation, and creativity”, retails at $13.95 for 7 servings or $34.95 for a pouch of 30 servings
- Gut Check – “combines ceremonial grade matcha tea with the patented ingredient MicrobiomeX and a fulvic mineral concentrate”, retails at $13.95 for 7 servings or $59.95 for a pouch of 30 servings
- The Real Detox Tea – “one of the most powerful detox teas available”, retails at $34.95 for a pouch of 80 servings
- Vitalitea – “filled with compounds from plants that gently cleanse your digestive system and support your health with naturally occurring phytonutrients, high antioxidants, and known healing herbs”, retails at $9.95 for 7 servings or $32.95 for 30 servings
Drops
- Chromium BeStable – “reduction in the risk for obesity, less weight gain, and it may positively affect food intake”, retails at $36 for a bottle of 30 servings
- Iron BeStrong – “critical for producing hemoglobin, a protein that helps red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout your body”, retails at $36 for a bottle of 30 servings
- Magnesium BeCalm – “vital for bone health, helps prevent cramps and muscle soreness, is needed for energy production, aids in nerve function, helps combat stress, and much more”, retails at $36 for a bottle of 30 servings
- Potassium BeAlkaline – “required to keep the heart, brain, kidneys, muscle tissue, and other important organ systems of the body in good condition”, retails at $36 for a bottle of 30 servings
- Silver BeSafe – “potent natural antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial & antifungal”, retails at $36 for a bottle of 30 servings
- Zing BeSafe – essential trace mineral necessary for a healthy immune system”, retails at $36 for a bottle of 30 servings
- Cayenne Pepper Extract – “can protect cells and promote overall health”, retails at $19.95 for a 1 oz bottle
- Colon Support Extract – “supports healthy digestion and regularity”, retails at $34.99 for a 1 oz bottle
- Liver Support Extract – “formulated to support the liver in removing waste”, retails at $34.99 for a 1 oz bottle
- Purge Tonic – “formulated to support the body in gentle cleansing”, retails at $34.99 for a 1 oz bottle or $124.99 for a 4 oz bottle
- PuriTea – “a daily herbal tonic for increased energy, digestive support, and whole body cleansing”, retails at $13.95 for a 5 ml bottle, $39.95 for 4 bottles or $69.95 for a 1 oz bottle
Fulvic Acid
- Fulvic Acid Drops – “essential to cellular health”, retails at $34.99 for a 1 oz bottle, $119 for a 4oz bottle or $104.97 for four 1 oz bottles
- Fulvic Acid Mineral Powder – “can provide a wide array of health benefits, and is naturally anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal”, retails at $119 a pouch (70 servings) or $329 for 4 pouches
Essential Oils
- Bergamot – “a pleasant and uplifting aroma … with [a] remarkable ability to soothe the emotions”, retails at $24 for a 10 ml bottle
- Black Spruce – “possesses the ability to free and calm the mind while elevating the spirit”, retails at $18 for a 10 ml bottle
- Clove Bud – “an impressive range of action against pathogens and illnesses of all kinds”, retails at $29.95 for a 10 ml bottle
- Copaiba – “support the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, immune, and digestive systems”, retails at $32 for a 10 ml bottle
- Cypress – “there is perhaps no oil more effective than Cypress Essential Oil to assist with an infection of the throat, nose, or bronchi in its early phase”, retails at $12 for a 10 ml bottle
- Elemi – “the sacred resin in the tree supports our well-being on both the spiritual and the physical planes”, retails at $32 for a 10 ml bottle
- Eucalyptus Globulus – “a potent respiratory oil of help to and benefit with bacterial infections, colds, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and chronic cough”, retails at $15 for a 10 ml bottle
- Eucalyptus Radiata – “primarily an essential oil for the respiratory system as it has good anticatarrhal properties”, retails at $15 for a 10 ml bottle
- Frankincense – “Frankincense has strong anti-inflammatory properties that could make it a natural remedy for inflammation-rooted diseases”, retails at $40 for a 10 ml bottle
- Lavender Vera – “benefit of increased ability to work at the emotional and energetic levels”, retails at $27 for a 10 ml bottle
- Lemon – “Lemon has been known to be antiviral and anti-infectious”, retails at $16 for a 10 ml bottle
- Oregano – “considered to be the “heavy artillery” when waging war against bacterial infections”, retails at $21 for a 10 ml bottle
- Peppermint – “a mental as well as a physical stimulant”, retails at $24 for a 10 ml bottle
- Pink Grapefruit – “has anti-depressive properties and an incredible fragrance”, retails at $14 for a 10 ml bottle
- Ravintsara – “acts to its full extent as a “terrain” treatment”, retails at $27 for a 10 ml bottle
- Rose Geranium – “helps to reconnect us with our life feeling, to our emotional sensitivity, relaxed spontaneity, and a healthy thirst for pleasure and enjoyment”, retails at $27 for a 10 ml bottle
- Sweet Marjoram – “assists with obsessive thinking”, retails at $20 for a 10 ml bottle
- Sweet Orange – “one of the most valuable essences to use for digestive complaints including nausea and vomiting”, retails at $9 for a 10 ml bottle
- Tea Tree – “unlike antibiotics, does not kill indiscriminately, but can identify and kill destructive bacteria while leaving the friendly bacteria we need to stay healthy”, retails at 20 for a 10 ml bottle
HB Naturals also sells a range of essential oil blends, of which there are too many to list here individually.
Personal Care
- Activated Charcoal – “has been used for kidney problems, skin diseases, intestinal gas, overdoses, and even whitening teeth”, retails at $29.95 for three 1 oz bags
- Deep Green Shower Spray – “formulated to assist with relaxation and deep breathing”, retails at $27 for a 4 oz bottle
- Fat Detox – “a proprietary blend combining essential oils known for their powerful abilities to address cellulite”, retails at $29 for a 10 ml bottle
- Fresh Breath Spray – “fresh, kissable breath without chemicals, artificial flavorings, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol”, retails at $27 for a 2 oz bottle
- Fresh Tooth Powder – “refreshes and cleans your whole mouth with powerful Calcium Bentonite Clay, Pink Himalayan Salt, pure essential oils, and healing herbs”, retails at $24.95 for a 2 oz bottle
- Pain Magnesium Lotion – “designed for convenient, optimal topical absorption of magnesium, bypassing the GI tract with no unpleasant laxative effect”, retails at $39.95 for a 4 oz bottle
- Sesso Dolce – “formulated to dramatically increase pleasure during intimacy”, retails at $25 for a 15 ml bottle
- Sleep Magnesium Lotion – “formulated with magnesium and essential oils to promote sleep”, retails at $29.95 for a 4 oz bottle
Pet Care
- Calm For Pets – “this blend can help an animal let go of fear it’s holding, feel more grounded, and able to move beyond a traumatic event to experience life again”, retails at $25 for a 10 ml bottle
- Cold & Congestion For Pets – “this blend has gentle but effective essential oils that are known for their positive effect on the respiratory system”, retails at $20 for a 10 ml bottle
- Flea & Tick Repellent – “safe & effective against fleas & ticks when used as directed”, retails at $20 for a 2 oz bottle
- Itch Relief For Pets – “formulated to relieve itching caused by allergic reactions and other skin issues”, retails at $20 for a 2 oz bottle
- Pet Wellness – “gentle yet effective blend to support your pet’s healthy immune system”, retails at $20 for a 10 ml bottle
- Relief For Pets – “this blend was formulated for animals experiencing chronic joint pain, arthritis, and hip dysplasia”, retails at $20 for a 2 oz bottle
Powders
- Berberine ACV – “a proprietary plant-based blend to assist with natural energy, healthy weight management, reducing inflammation, stabilizing blood glucose levels, eliminating cravings, boosting metabolism, improving gut health, and more!”, retails at $13.95 for 7 servings or $59.95 for 30 servings
- Body – “one serving of Body provides powerful nourishment for your cardiovascular system and may help reduce chronic inflammation”, retails at $13.95 for 7 servings or $49.95 fora 46 servings
- Complete – “a vegan meal replacement shake that contains plant-based proteins, healthy fats, and powerful superfoods”, retails at $59.95 for 30 servings
- Mind – “provide(s) powerful nourishment for the brain and help the body with inflammation that may be responsible for causing memory and cognitive dysfunction”, retails at $13.95 for 7 servings and $49.95 for 46 servings
- Nourish – “quite possibly the best multivitamin on the planet”, retails at $9.95 for 7 servings or $29.95 for 30 servings
- Slimmer – “made with 9 powerful metabolism-boosting superfoods”, retails at $13.95 for 7 servings or $59.95 for 30 servings
- Soul – “packed with chlorophyll-rich alkalizing green superfoods and ancient Ayurvedic herbs known to support the liver and kidneys”, retails at $13.95 for 7 servings or $49.95 for 46 servings
HB Naturals products are also available in various themed bundle packs.
HB Natural’s Compensation Plan
HB Naturals’ compensation plan pays on the sale of products to recruited distributors.
HB Naturals Distributor Ranks
There are fourteen distributor ranks within HB Naturals’ compensation plan.
Along with their respective qualification criteria, they are as follows:
- Everyone – sign up as a HB Naturals distributor
- Consultant – generate and maintain 25 PV a month and recruit one Everyone or higher ranked distributor
- Executive – maintain 25 PV a month and recruit two Everyone or higher ranked distributors
- Bronze – generate and maintain 50 PV a month and recruit two Executive or higher ranked distributors (one in each side of the binary team)
- Silver – maintain 50 PV a month and recruit four Executive or higher ranked distributors (min one on both sides of the binary team)
- Gold – maintain 50 PV a month and recruit eight Executive or higher ranked distributors (min two on both sides of the binary team)
- Platinum – maintain 50 PV a month and recruit twelve Executive or higher ranked distributors (min three on both sides of the binary team)
- Pearl – maintain 50 PV a month and twelve personally recruited Executive or higher ranked distributors
- Sapphire – maintain 50 PV and twelve personally recruited Executive or higher ranked distributors (one must be Platinum or higher)
- Ruby – maintain 50 PV and twelve personally recruited Executive or higher ranked distributors (two must be Platinum or higher)
- Emerald – maintain 50 PV and twelve personally recruited Executive or higher ranked distributors (four must be Platinum or higher)
- Diamond – maintain 50 PV and twelve personally recruited Executive or higher ranked distributors (six must be Platinum or higher)
- Double Diamond – maintain 50 PV and twelve personally recruited Executive or higher ranked distributors (twelve must be Platinum or higher)
- Triple Diamond – maintain 50 PV and twelve personally recruited Executive or higher ranked distributors (twenty-four must be Platinum or higher)
Note that to count towards rank qualification recruited distributors must be generating 25 PV or more a month.
PV stands for “Personal Volume”. PV is in HB Naturals generated by sales to other distributors and a distributor’s own orders.
GV stands for “Group Volume”. GV is the sum total PV generated by a HB Naturals distributor and their downline.
Note that HB Naturals’ compensation documentation details “Team Commissions” criteria for rank qualification. This starts at thirty at Pearl Executives and climbs to 2000 for Triple Diamond Ambassador.
I believe this refers to required days of qualifying for residual commissions but I’m not 100% sure (the “Team Commissions” criteria isn’t explained).
Recruitment Commissions
HB Naturals distributors earn commissions on the sale of products to recruited distributors on up to three levels of recruitment (unilevel):
- Everyone ranked distributors earn 20% to 30% on level 1 (personally recruited distributors)
- Silver ranked distributors earn 20% to 30% on level 1 and 3% on level 2
- Gold ranked distributors earn 20% to 30% on level 1, 3% on level 2 and 2% on level 3
Recruitment Bonus
HB Naturals rewards distributors for recruiting distributors who place a minimum 25 PV order.
Each month the top ten HB Naturals distributors with the most recruited distributors with a 25 PV or higher order receive a bonus.
The bonus is paid out $100 to tenth place, incrementally increasing by $100 each position to $1000 for first place.
Star Bonus
The Star Bonus rewards HB Naturals distributors for placing a monthly 100 PV order and recruiting others who do the same.
- recruit two distributors who maintain a 100 PV monthly order = $50 Star Bonus
- recruit two distributors who each recruit two distributors who all maintain a 100 PV monthly order = $75 Star Bonus
- recruit two distributors who each recruit two distributors who each recruit two distributors who all maintain a 100 PV monthly order = $100 Star Bonus
- recruit two distributors who each recruit two distributors who each recruit two distributors who all maintain a 100 PV monthly order = $150 Star Bonus
- recruit two distributors who each recruit two distributors who each recruit two distributors who each recruit two distributors who all maintain a 100 PV monthly order = $200 Star Bonus
Note that the Star Bonus is paid incrementally each month, meaning a qualified HB Naturals distributor can earn up to $575 a month.
Residual Commissions
Executive and higher ranked HB Naturals distributors qualify for residual commissions.
HB Naturals pays residual commissions via a binary compensation structure.
A binary compensation structure places a distributor at the top of a binary team, split into two sides (left and right):
The first level of the binary team houses two positions. The second level of the binary team is generated by splitting these first two positions into another two positions each (4 positions).
Subsequent levels of the binary team are generated as required, with each new level housing twice as many positions as the previous level.
Positions in the binary team are filled via direct and indirect recruitment of distributors. Note there is no limit to how deep a binary team can grow.
At the end of each day HB Naturals tallies up new sales volume across both sides of the binary team.
Residual commissions are paid as a percentage of every 200 GV matched on both sides of the binary team.
- if an distributor has generated 25 PV for the month they earn a 4% residual commission rate
- if a distributor has generated 100 PV for the month they earn a 12% residual commission rate
Once paid out on, GV is flushed from both sides of the binary team. Unmatched GV carries over.
Matching Bonus
HB Naturals pays a Matching Bonus on residual commissions paid to downline distributors.
The Matching Bonus is paid via a unilevel compensation structure.
A unilevel compensation structure places an distributor at the top of a unilevel team, with every personally recruited distributor placed directly under them (level 1):
If any level 1 distributors recruit new distributors, they are placed on level 2 of the original distributor’s unilevel team.
If any level 2 distributors recruit new distributors, they are placed on level 3 and so on and so forth down a theoretical infinite number of levels.
HB Naturals caps the Matching Bonus at five unilevel team levels.
The Matching Bonus is paid as a percentage of residual commissions paid across these five levels based on rank:
- Silver ranked distributors receive a 10% match on level 1 (personally recruited distributors)
- Gold ranked distributors receive a 15% match on level 1
- Platinum ranked distributors receive a 25% match on level 1
- Pearl ranked distributors receive a 30% match on level 1
- Sapphire ranked distributors receive a 30% match on level 1 and 5% on level 2
- Ruby ranked distributors receive a 30% match on level 1 and 5% on levels 2 and 3
- Emerald ranked distributors receive a 40% match on level 1 and 5% on levels 2 to 4
- Diamond and higher ranked distributors receive a 50% match on level 1 and 5% on levels 2 to 5
Lifestyle Bonus
The Lifestyle Bonus is a monthly bonus paid to Platinum and higher ranked HB Naturals distributors.
- qualify at Platinum and receive $250 a month
- qualify at Pearl and receive $350 a month
- qualify at Sapphire and receive $500 a month
- qualify at Ruby and receive $1000 a month
- qualify at Emerald and receive $2000 a month
- qualify at Diamond and receive $5000 a month
- qualify at Double Diamond and receive $10,000 a month
- qualify at Triple Diamond and receive $20,000 a month
Joining HB Naturals
HB Naturals distributor membership is free.
HB Naturals Conclusion
It appears after BehindMLM reviewed goDesana in late 2016, HB Naturals popped up the year after. That said the copyright years on HB Naturals’ website is 2017, however on LinkedIn the company was apparently “founded” in 2016.
When exactly HB Naturals launched isn’t so much important as why.
Although its website traffic is only a few thousand visits a month (SimilarWeb), goDesana’s website is still up.
There is considerable product overlap between goDesana and HB Naturals, with the former having a much larger essential oils range.
To be clear there’s nothing wrong with the Scarcellas and Alexandria Brighton being behind two MLM companies, but I can’t see why HB Naturals’ products couldn’t have just been added to goDesana.
It just comes off as… weird.
Unfortunately both goDesana and HB Naturals are riddled with illegal medical claims and terminology.
Back in 2016 when I reviewed goDesana, they hadn’t gone full-hog with the illegal and unsubstantiated medical claims. There appears to have been a shift in company marketing sometime after.
HB Naturals’ FDA/FTC violations begin with the company’s stated purpose:
Heart & Body Naturals was launched with one simple purpose; sharing the synergistic Healing Trilogy products formulated with the healing power of plants provided by our creator.
HB Natural’s products are openly admitted as being intended to “heal” people. This is problematic because none of HB Naturals’ products are registered with the FDA.
And while you will find FDA disclaimers all over HB Naturals’ website (typically in barely legible microprint, the company seems to think it can make illegal medical claims provided it also provides the disclaimer.
That’s now how that works.
Another problematic area for HB Naturals is presenting combinations of its products as “protocols”:
Protocol has a few definitions but the only one that fits consumable products is;
a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure.
There’s nothing scientific about HB Naturals’ protocols so again we find illegal use of medical terminology to market the company’s products.
If you’re wondering why HB Naturals’ is rooted in making illegal medical representations, marketing and claims about its products, look no further than Alexandria Brighton’s official corporate bio.
The life-enhancing Healing Trilogy products are the one and only reason for Heart & Body Naturals’ existence. If you take away Alexandria’s formulas, there would be no Heart & Body Naturals.
From the early New Mexico clinic days, Mind, Body, and Soul have each assisted the body with healing naturally and provided a synergistic response when used together. Heart & Body Naturals is honored to be the only company to offer Alexandria Brighton’s original Healing Trilogy.
That bio alone is a regulatory lawsuit waiting to happen. Forget about building two MLM companies around unsubstantiated healing claims.
And keep in mind this is what is public. Who knows whether worse unsubstantiated medical claims are being made behind closed doors.
Moving on to HB Naturals’ compensation plan, the big issue here is the mixing of retail customers and distributors. By doing so, HB Naturals has no retail customers, everyone is a distributor.
Both Vemma and HerbaLife tried to argue in court that they didn’t need to separate retail customers from distributors in their respective FTC cases.
The premise was distributors who didn’t recruit were retail customers. Both Vemma’s and Herbalife’s attempts to push this pyramid scheme loophole with the FTC failed.
By failing to adequately distinguish retail customers from distributors, HB Naturals is running the same illegal pyramid scheme model as HerbaLife and Vemma.
Everyone starts with a free Wholesale Customer account. If you choose to share our products with others, when you make your first product sale, your account will automatically be changed to a Consultant account.
This is a shame as the rest of HB Naturals’ compensation plan is otherwise well thought out. PV requirements could emphasize retail sales but without an actual retail customer class, this can’t be implemented.
Instead what you’re likely to find is what was going on in Vemma and HerbaLife pre-FTC lawsuits; HB Naturals distributors on autoship (commission qualification), getting paid on distributors they’ve recruited on autoship.
Between HB Naturals’ egregious FDA/FTC violations with respect to its medial claims and representations, and a compensation plan in which everyone is a distributor earning on recruitment, HB Naturals is an easy avoid.
I suspect the only reason HB Naturals’ hasn’t popped up on the FTC’s or FDA’s radar yet is because of its (small) size. Recruitment has picked up in the US over the past few months so perhaps that’ll change.