Last week, we launched Joint Vitality, our newest Chinese medicine formula, based on a classic blend that’s been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine to help maintain mobility and physical comfort.  But rather than just launching a new Chinese herbal medicine blend, we ventured into an entirely new category of wellness, a purposeful move that underscores the versatility of what Chinese medicine can do.   

And timing in the alternative health category couldn’t be better:

• According to a recent survey of approximately 17,000 participants, acupuncture ranked as the highest alternative health modality that Americans wanted to experience most in 2019.
• The convergence of Eastern and Western medicine is very real, and very powerful. As highlighted in this recent article by CNN, doctors in Hong Kong incorporate Chinese medicine to help support overall wellness during conventional medical care.

We couldn’t be more proud and excited to be a small part of this movement – as a team, we subscribe to our Western healthcare plans and relationships with our doctors, but we’ve also experienced how Chinese medicine can be such a powerful complement to our greater healthcare needs.  

The Limitations of Chinese Medicine Should Not Be Barriers

As we have talked about since our launch, this incredible practice dates back nearly 2,500 years, with a rich history of changing people’s lives since the earliest acupuncture needles (made of bones no less) were applied.  But it wasn’t until the last 40 years that it has taken hold in the U.S., with Chinese herbal medicine’s awareness and application significantly lagging still to this day. 

Two primary reasons why Chinese herbs haven’t been widely adopted (a key thesis of our initial reason for launching DAO Labs, which holds just as true today) are rather practical but significant:

• Chinese herbs, like much of Chinese medicine as a whole, are complicated: the names are foreign and hard to pronounce, formulas can often be used for a variety of applications that are inconsistent and confusing, and the key concepts can be very challenging to grasp. 
• Chinese herbal medicine has been a challenge to the Western palate.  The consequence for long-term compliance is, unfortunately, obvious – people never want to try them again if they’ve had an unpleasant first experience.  Regrettably, this is understandable.

We set out to change both of these limitations, and more.

Our Formulas and Approach to Your Health Needs 

With the addition of Joint Vitality and our expansion into the mobility and musculoskeletal wellness category, we're excited to welcome even more people into the world of Chinese medicine. Just as we did with the introduction of our two sleep-support formulas last year, and our women's health blends since our 2017 launch, we continue to explore the many ways traditional herbal formulas can support overall well-being. The encouraging feedback and personal testimonials we've received reflect how these time-honored approaches can be a meaningful part of a balanced wellness routine. 

The formulas that we’ve developed are all inspired by classic formulas that have been used for a very long time, and which remain popular still to this day.  Meet with any acupuncturist in the U.S. and they’ll likely recognize the blends.  For that matter, visit any Chinese herbal medicine pharmacy in China, which blankets the world’s most densely populated country, and you’ll find them there as well. 

All of DAO’s formulas follow an identical strategy: they are made with sustainably-sourced herbs that we test (and test again) and blend in the U.S., are combined with natural flavor combinations that make the experience enjoyable, are convenient and approachable, and perhaps most importantly – they are designed to support overall wellness and lifestyle goals.

It’s Time to Embrace Chinese Medicine  – From Acupuncture to Herbs

We are always quick to acknowledge that Chinese herbs are just one component of this powerful practice, and our formulas represent just a tiny fraction of what Chinese medicine can do. We’re excited to be working with acupuncturists and doctors of Chinese medicine across the U.S. and Canada (and elsewhere too) – so if you’re on of the 17,000 respondents to the above noted survey and are looking to give acupuncture a try, feel free to connect with us and we’ll be happy to answer any questions (or read this article on what to look for from your acupuncturist relationship). 

And if you’d rather start with just herbs, we proudly offer a 100% “happiness guarantee” on all orders. Thankfully, we don’t have to use it that often, and we’re proud of the reviews on all of our formulas that do more justice in communicating the power of Chinese medicine than I can do in this post.

As for what’s next, we’re actively developing two new blends that we look forward to sharing with you soon. Our mission remains the same: to make traditional Chinese herbal practices more accessible and to help support people’s well-being through thoughtfully crafted formulas.  

Care Consideration: Just a reminder that the above information is not a substitute for medical care and is not a substitute for medical advice or recommendations from a healthcare provider. This information is not intended to treat, mitigate, or cure any disease.  That said, we encourage you to connect with an Acupuncturist in your community to learn more about this and other Traditional Chinese Medicine options.  If you’ve got questions about Chinese herbal medicine or getting started with an Acupuncturist, feel free to connect with us at hello@mydaolabs.com.

John G. McGarvey is a co-founder of DAO Labs and a regular contributor to The Way. A frequent visitor to China and Asia for both business and pleasure, he is an avid consumer of Chinese medicine. He can be reached at john@mydaolabs.com.