Sarah Jane Ho, a close friend of Netflix’s Be polite Annie Ho (etiquette expert), who runs a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic in Taiwan and has a background in women’s fashion, wanted to bring the wisdom of TCM to an underserved market: women’s health, to empower women. As consumer interest in both the intimate wellness industry and TCM continues to grow, the duo wanted to create a product that would address this growing demand.
“Annie and I have been friends for 10 years,” says Sarah Jane. They met when Sarah Jane was hired by Shanghai Tan (the women’s clothing brand where Annie was general manager at the time) to teach etiquette workshops to the company’s VIPs. “Annie went on to be CEO of Stella McCartney in Asia Pacific for five years, and then CEO of Diesel Jeans in Asia Pacific. I was still running the finishing school before I started my Netflix show.”
Sarah Jane explains that the pair really bonded over TCM: “Annie’s grandfather set up a TCM clinic in Taiwan in the 1940s that still runs to this day. I grew up in Hong Kong and followed my parents around to find the best TCM doctors and herbal remedies. Annie and I still do acupuncture, cupping and all kinds of treatments every week. We wanted to take what makes us happy and healthy and share that with modern women through our company.”
“We wanted to innovate within tradition,” she says, “we wanted to honor tradition rather than change it and apply it to modern life, to be part of this movement to understand women’s health in new ways.”
Combining Asian traditions with health and lifestyle experiences, we have developed a core set of carefully selected, gynecologist-approved products for the female body. In winter 2024, we launched Antevorta, the first intimate wellness brand that combines intimate care, traditional Chinese medicine and female empowerment. We launched four core products, including wipes, cleansing gels and sprays made with high-quality natural ingredients to address dryness, odor, irritation and other concerns related to maintaining feminine hygiene.
Women’s health, especially sexual and intimate health, is often overlooked or ignored, but as women grow tired of suffering in silence, the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a powerful complement to the care they’re already considering.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be incorporated into women’s health care
What exactly is TCM?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a medical system that has been used to diagnose and treat illnesses for over 2,000 years. It takes a holistic approach rather than looking at each organ or part of the body in isolation. At its heart is the belief in Qi (pronounced “chee”), a source of life force, and Yin and Yang, opposing energies. When these two energies are in balance, we feel good, and when they are out of balance, our health declines. It is believed that when Qi cannot move freely or is out of balance throughout the body, it negatively impacts Yin and Yang, causing illness.
TCM typically involves acupuncture, herbal medicines, mindful exercises such as tai chi and qigong, cupping, moxibustion, or a combination of these. Because each of the five seasons recognized in TCM has its own energy (the fifth season is late summer), adjusting your diet and lifestyle habits to match the changing seasons is also part of staying healthy.
Sarah Jane adds, “We see TCM as a philosophy of life, like a system. It’s not like a pill that you take to cure something. It’s really all about prevention. Small things in life can add up and eventually become problems that have to be addressed medically, so TCM is about addressing those little everyday things before they snowball and become big enough issues that you have to go to the doctor.”
As consumer interest in TCM grows, these approaches are often used in conjunction with Western medical practices, and more women are incorporating it into their self-care routines.
Looking at women’s health from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective
In addition to seeking treatment for health concerns that could affect anyone, such as stress management, sleep support, optimizing the immune system, and musculoskeletal conditions, some of the most common reasons women consult a TCM practitioner include pregnancy support, supporting fertility and healthy menstrual cycles, and managing menopausal symptoms.
Dr. Katie Rose is a licensed Naturopathic and Hypnotherapist with an acupuncture practice in Tucson, Arizona. She is also the CEO and Founder of the Brilliant Fertility Program. She explains, “Rather than making a Western medical diagnosis like ‘menopause’ or ‘infertility,’ TCM looks at symptom patterns related to blockages of Qi and how Qi flows through the tube-like meridians that run throughout the body. There may be three people with a Western medical diagnosis of infertility, but when viewed through the lens of TCM, all three may have different underlying patterns, such as Spleen Qi deficiency, Blood Qi stasis, and Kidney Essence deficiency.”
“The most common issues I see in my practice are infertility, menstrual irregularities and menopause,” says Dr. Rose. “Dyspareunia, irregular periods, heavy or spotty bleeding between periods and vaginal dryness are the most common physical symptoms that affect intimacy among the women I see. But intimacy isn’t just a physical issue. For couples struggling with infertility, the pressure to have sex at a specific time each month can affect intimacy. The natural physical changes that come with aging and menopause can make some people feel self-conscious. Emotions like fear and shame can also affect our desire for intimacy. The beauty of Chinese medicine is that it addresses the mind, body and spirit.”
It’s also worth noting that adopting a TCM approach can potentially provide far more benefit than a five-minute appointment with a booked-up gynaecologist or family doctor.
Sharon Yen, an acupuncturist and herbalist and founder of Five Seasons Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Clinic in New York City, says, “Traditional Chinese medicine takes a holistic approach to health, so when a woman comes to us, our one-on-one consultations take into account not only her gynecological history, hormones, and physiological symptoms related to her stage of life, but also mental and emotional factors like anxiety or depression, past experiences or trauma, and relationship situations.”
Rather than diagnosing and treating just one part of the body, “we often connect the dots between completely different systems of the body, such as the respiratory, digestive and immune systems, to see how symptoms in these areas relate to a woman’s sexual health. Our TCM lens is broad and expansive – encompassing all areas of health, yet targeted enough to address specific concerns. Reaching a clear diagnosis through thorough health information is the best way to resolve intimate relationship concerns,” she adds.
“The most common intimacy issues we see relate to orgasm, libido and vaginal dryness. Sometimes the root of the problem is physiological, and we may need to work on relaxing spasming pelvic floor muscles, increasing fluids in the tissues and enhancing sexual function and overall energy. Or, if there are mental or emotional blocks, we address them with acupuncture or herbal medicine. Sometimes during counselling we uncover lifestyle, diet or relationship patterns that are negatively impacting intimacy, in which case we combine herbal medicine treatment with diet and lifestyle changes and exploring additional therapies and support.”
Rather than a “one and done” approach, Yen explains, “we typically identify multiple variables that need to be addressed and then develop short- and long-term plans together to make gradual, sustainable changes in these areas. There may also be infections or gynecological conditions that affect intimacy, so we address those issues as well. Most symptoms are quite subtle, so we aim to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to come up with an effective treatment plan.”
Traditional Chinese medicine includes acupuncture, herbal medicines, mindful movement and rituals. … [+]
Find the right resources
Instead of being afraid to confide in a health care professional or seek out products to address issues around women’s sexual health and intimacy, seek out thoughtfully created products and resources, as well as experienced professionals in the field.
Annie says, “TCM and Western medicine can coexist; you should have both in your life. For us, TCM is about making you feel really good about your body. In the TCM system, it’s not just about what you actually ingest, it’s also about the sensory part, the preparation of the ingredients. There’s some ritual in the way you ingest it, how you boil the herbs, how you take it. So what we’re trying to create with Antevolta is a holistic experience where the process of using the product is just as important as the aftermath of the results.”
Sarah Jane and Annie were heavily involved in Antevolta’s product development. For example, it was very important to them that the products were free of alcohol, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances, dyes, sulfates, silicones and mineral oils. “Antevolta is a product that comes from our hearts,” adds Annie. “It’s put a real passion and love into it, and somehow I think that rubs off on our customers, and I hope they can feel that love when they use our products.”
When looking for a Chinese medicine doctor, Yeung says, “If you have gynecological symptoms, it’s a good idea to look for a doctor who specializes in women’s health. Many doctors will provide a short, free phone consultation to see if you’re compatible with them and feel comfortable talking to them. You can also ask if they’ve treated your condition before and how they would approach it. Some doctors only do acupuncture, while others are also trained in Chinese medicine. It’s a good idea to be clear about what treatment modalities the doctor can offer you.”
Dr. Rose adds: “Always make sure you’re working with a licensed doctor. Check their website to see if they specialize in the issues you’re concerned about. Look for online reviews and don’t be afraid to ask questions like: ‘How long have they been in practice? Do they treat a lot of people with the same issues I suffer from? What can I expect from treatment? What is a reasonable time frame for me to see change?’ Be mindful of how you feel in front of your doctor. My goal is to make my patients feel safe and empowered. If you feel rushed, gaslighted, or just uncomfortable with the interaction, it’s okay to keep looking for someone who will listen and help you feel empowered.”
