Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) should be recognized as a medical system and not be considered less valid than Western medicine because of its cultural origins, according to a TCM expert.
“We have to get rid of that bias. Chinese medicine is a medical system, therefore it is a medicine, it is a science,” Dr. Francisco V. Navarro, a TCM expert, said in an interview during Bloom Laboratories Co.’s inaugural product launch on Tuesday.
“Is there a cultural context? Yes. But so does Western medicine, and somehow, they get a pass that their cultural context is normalized,” Mr. Navarro added. “So, Chinese medicine is very scientific and also very cultural.”
Mr. Navarro said the Western, historically European, approach has long been treated as the only valid approach to science, or what is considered legitimate science.
He said Asian societies also studied the natural world through observation and used logical and systematic approaches to understand it, arguing that such practices form part of the basis of science.
Mr. Navarro described TCM as straightforward in its approach to health, with a focus on eating natural, whole foods and staying physically active.
“For us, food is food. Food comes from nature and gives us life. We eat our fruits and vegetables, which are very Asian, very natural,” he said.
Bloom Laboratories Co., a local wellness company, has incorporated TCM ingredients and practices with modern science into its introductory supplement duo, Boost and Calm.
The company was founded by three friends with careers in food and beverage, hospitality, and public relations.
“We created these two products to really help you through your day, boost your immunity, and to make sure that you live a balanced life,” Barbara Tiu said in an interview.
Boost, combines quercetin, resveratrol, and curcumin, which are bioactive compounds associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The supplement is intended to support immunity, brain clarity, and daily function, with one capsule recommended to be taken with a full meal during the day.
Calm, meanwhile, incorporates reishi mushroom, or Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinal mushroom widely used in TCM, is formulated to support relaxation, sleep, and stress management, according to the company.
The supplement contains 250 milligrams of reishi and is recommended to be taken one to two hours before bedtime.
Mr. Navarro, who also served as a consultant for Bloom Laboratories Co., said the supplements, which incorporate ingredients used in TCM, are intended to support immune function and help the body respond to stress. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
