Discovering the Wisdom of Ancient Practices
Growing up in the foothills of the Himalayas, I have vivid memories of accompanying my grandmother into the fields to tend to the plants and herbs she used for food and traditional remedies. As we cooked simple meals with these natural ingredients, she would also share her knowledge of their healing properties. When my grandparents fell ill, they would turn to Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of holistic medicine, to restore balance and promote whole-body wellness.
This deep connection to the natural world and traditional healing practices has always fascinated me. So, you can imagine my excitement when I joined Amway and discovered that their health and wellness experts are finding innovative ways to integrate this old-world knowledge with modern science and product development.
It’s a journey that began in the 1940s when Amway’s founder, Carl Rehnborg, created the Nutrilite line after observing the powerful role of plants and holistic practices in the health and wellness habits of people living in rural China. This experience formed the foundation of Rehnborg’s philosophy on holistic wellness, which Amway has continued to build upon over the years.
Today, the company’s commitment to preserving the wisdom of ancient cultures is more evident than ever. I recently had the opportunity to speak with two of Amway’s leading experts in holistic wellness – Jia Chen, VP of Marketing and VP of Innovation & Sciences East Hub, and Shyam Ramakrishnan, Director of Emerging Markets Amway Innovation and Science. Their insights shed light on the remarkable ways in which traditional medicine is being integrated into modern health and wellness products.
Bridging the Gap Between Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science
Jia Chen explains that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a practice rooted in over 2,000 years of history, is based on a set of interventions designed to restore balance within the body. “TCM treats the root cause of diseases as well as the symptoms, and its flexible nature allows for personalized treatments,” she says. “This ancient Chinese wisdom, practiced for thousands of years, is now widely accepted as an alternative supplement to support healthy living and the practice continues to develop and modernize over time.”
Similarly, Ayurveda, the holistic approach to health and well-being originating in India over 5,000 years ago, emphasizes the balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Shyam Ramakrishnan elaborates, “Ayurveda focuses on disease prevention by promoting healthy lifestyle practices, including dietary choices, exercise, meditation, and herbal remedies. It uses a wide range of herbs, roots, leaves, and other plant parts to nourish the body, strengthen the immune system, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and promote vitality.”
The Amway team’s approach to integrating these ancient practices with modern health and wellness products is both thoughtful and meticulous. “We respect the authenticity and efficacy of Ayurveda while catering to the needs of modern consumers,” says Shyam. “We use high-quality, traceable natural ingredients paired with traditional manufacturing techniques that are adapted to modern process engineering. We have created our own unique blends of ingredients, carefully selected to work together while staying true to Ayurvedic principles. And we have incorporated scientific research and modern knowledge to validate the efficacy and safety of the products.”
Jia adds, “When we develop TCM products under our Nutrilite brand, our scientists integrate traditional wisdom with modern life science. To ensure the quality of our ingredients and products, we established the Amway Botanical Research Center (ABRC) in Wuxi, China, which uses modern sustainable farming techniques to produce key ingredients such as goji berries, Chinese wolfberry, evodia, and chrysanthemum. We’ve drawn inspiration from the accumulated wisdom of countless generations of scientists and practitioners to develop a diversified product range supported by our best-in-class R&D capabilities.”
Harnessing the Power of Data and Artificial Intelligence
Amway’s commitment to bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern science extends beyond just product development. They are also investing in cutting-edge research and innovative technologies to unlock the full potential of these traditional practices.
“Our Smartherb system, for example, has accumulated a database with more than 30,000 traditional prescriptions, data on over 650 herbs, more than 50,000 phytonutrients, 5,000 biological targets, and over one million correlations to human health,” Jia explains. “Smartherb leverages data science, bioinformatics, and statistical methods to conduct two-way analyses of herbs and human health needs. It’s an AI-based platform integrating the latest herbal research with machine learning technology, which not only improves the efficiency of herbal product development but also helps us to understand the best ingredients for each formula and why they work.”
As someone who has personally benefited from using Amway’s TCM and Ayurvedic-inspired products, I can attest to their effectiveness. Jia shares her own experience, “I love our TCM Eye Health Tonic to help reduce eye fatigue and dryness. It’s a combination of lutein, zeaxanthin, chrysanthemum, and goji berry. The other product I use often is Qi and Blood, which is designed to boost energy. I make a special drink to help me feel more energetic in the afternoon.”
Shyam also incorporates Ayurvedic staples like Chyawanprash, Ashwagandha, and Triphala into his daily routine, and has noticed significant benefits in his energy levels and gut health.
The Future of Holistic Wellness is Bright
As modern medicine continues to recognize the importance of a holistic approach to health and wellness, the integration of traditional practices like TCM and Ayurveda is becoming increasingly relevant. Shyam Ramakrishnan explains, “When used alongside conventional medicine, traditional practices can provide complementary treatments to improve health outcomes. And what I appreciate most is that many ancient practices teach people that they can take greater responsibility for their own health, which can really lead to a sense of empowerment and improved self-care habits.”
The work that Amway is doing to create bridges between old-world wisdom and advances in modern health products is truly inspiring. I’m excited about the potential to integrate the traditions I learned growing up with the technological advancements of today and tomorrow. The future of modern holistic health is clearly in great hands, and I’m proud to be a part of this journey to help people around the world live better, healthier lives.
Remember, you can explore Adam Cleaning Services for all your cleaning needs, while also embracing the holistic wellness practices from around the world. After all, a clean and well-maintained environment is just as important for our overall well-being as the food we eat and the practices we adopt.
