This may be a wild idea, but you don’t have to suffer through anxiety, fatigue, and stress. You also don’t need to pay an arm and a leg to find your cure. That’s the idea behind the holistic healing of WTHN, a traditional Chinese medicine brand that is formulated by trained acupuncturists and herbalists. WTHN is built on the understanding that healing is nonlinear and completely personal to each person.
That’s what I’m talking to founders Michelle Larivee and Dr. Shari Auth about today. Both have personally experienced the healing qualities of holistic healing. Michelle used it to cure her chronic pain after a terrible ski accident; and Dr. Shari is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, a licensed acupuncturist, and a Board Certified Herbalist. Together, we’re chatting about how WTHN helps others launch their health journeys, what the future holds for the brand, and what goes into the creation of a product.
Q
How did the two of you meet? I know that you founded WTHN based on your interaction with Traditional Chinese Medicine, but what brought you two together?
A
Michelle: After a transformative personal health experience with Chinese Medicine, I identified an opportunity to make acupuncture more accessible. As I was building out the business plan, I was introduced to Shari by my good friend who was a client of hers. We both aligned on the vision and mission from the beginning and found our partnership to be very synergistic, having complementary skill sets.
Dr. Shari: Michelle and I met through one of my clients who went to college with Michelle. We shared a mutual love for Chinese medicine. I’ve spent my life practicing as a holistic health practitioner with a diverse background in ancient healing modalities from around the world including a doctorate in Chinese medicine. WTHN’s mission is to make Chinese medicine more accessible, via education, convenience, and price point. Acupuncture and herbs, two of the primary healing modalities in TCM are best practiced regularly, yet there wasn’t an easy way to integrate them into your daily routine. At WTHN we cut the price of acupuncture in half, created a convenient online booking system and a seven-day-a-week schedule so people could reap the benefits of regular acupuncture.
Q
Dr. Shari, what led you to Traditional Chinese Medicine?
A
Dr. Shari: I spent a summer in Japan in 1991 and went to a friend’s family doctor and had acupuncture for the first time. I was immediately hooked on the simple yet powerful effect acupuncture has on the body. I majored in Biology in college and was planning to go to medical school when I took a leap of faith and decided to go to Chinese medical school instead. Studying acupuncture and Chinese herbs in the mid-90s was an unusual pursuit, but in the end, I’ve had the pleasure of watching this beautiful medicinal system become increasingly mainstream. As a career choice, doing healing work for over two decades has really been a pleasure. Helping people is so rewarding, I’m truly happy and grateful to have found TCM.
Q
Can you discuss a bit about how you create new products? Specifically about the group of herbalists and acupressurists who design/refine the products? (What does product creation look like at WTHN?)
A
Dr. Shari: I’ve designed all the products at WTHN. I start by identifying where TCM can help today’s consumers with everyday issues. If it’s an herb formula I formulate it by first looking at traditional Chinese herbal blends, many of which have been used for hundreds of years. Then I look to Ayurvedic and Western herbs to create truly modern blends that utilize herbal wisdom from around the globe. The blends are then tested to ensure efficacy and safety. We are the first company to create 100% organic Chinese herbs. This is so important to me, as a board-certified Chinese herbalist I have long been frustrated that there wasn’t a source for organic Chinese herbal blends. Herbs are plant material so the same way we are eating organic strawberries and broccoli, we need to supplement with organic herbs.
Our acupressure collections are about empowering people to take their health into their own hands. In the spring of 2020, after our studio closed due to the pandemic, knowing that we treat a lot of chronic pain, I wanted to come out with a DIY product that could help people manage pain at home. We launched the WTHN acupressure mat in August of 2020 and it has sold out four times since then we regularly hear from clients who have had relief from using their mat.
The WTHN Ear Seed kit has been our most popular product to date and has started a nationwide ear seed trend. Ear seeds are a little gold bead on a clear plastic sticker that you can put on various acupressure points on-ear to address a host of health complaints. The biggest bonus is that they look great, they are the ultimate feel-good bling.
WTHN also has a line of beauty tools from a gua sha to a rose quartz eye mask. We are the first company to come out with a high-quality glass face cup. The pandemic accelerated the already growing DIY home beauty routine and after the face cupping kit was featured in Vogue during the lockdown, they have been one of our most popular products. I love the sensation of face cupping. It’s the ultimate facial massage that stimulates the release of anti-aging molecules as well as offers holistic benefits such as loosening jaw tension.
Q
Have you met any barriers in finding professionals and experts in the field?
A
Michelle: Part of WTHN’s mission is to create a thriving community for our acupuncturists where they can learn from each other and create a team environment that did not exist before in the field. In the same way that holistic wellness and alternative medicine are a fast-growing field for consumers, it is also a growing profession as more people become aware of the power of holistic healing.
Dr. Shari: We have around 18 licensed acupuncturists at WTHN and we are always on the lookout for practitioners who couple compassion and empathy, alongside insightful diagnostics and treatment planning. Our team is incredible and we have a culture of support where practitioners openly share cases with each other and value each other’s insights.
Q
Why is conscious consumerism important, today, tomorrow, and in the future?
A
Michelle: As we face a climate crisis and a health crisis the way that we shop has important ramifications for today but also for the future world. Being able to shop what you stand for puts more power in the hands of customers and is leading to more health and safety for consumers as well as workers and to reduce environmental impact.
Dr. Shari: Conscious consumerism is important because when we give our time and money to a cause we give that cause power. It’s important to know what causes you want to give power to, to help create a world you want to live in.
Q
Why was it important to not only make holistic healing accessible but also to be crafted under the guidance of experts?
A
Michelle: Chinese Medicine is a healthcare field and working with Licensed Professionals is a baseline minimum requirement to ensure the quality of care and integrity of the medicine we practice. This is an important part of earning consumer trust.
Dr. Shari: As we go to modernize ancient medicine to make it more convenient such as online booking, it is important to also stay true to the roots of Chinese medicine to uphold the integrity of the medicine and WTHN’s credibility as a company. Whether it’s offering services, creating products, or educating the public about TCM, it is important to have an expert that is guiding the company to ensure that TCM is being accurately represented.
Q
What does the future of WTHN look like in regards to its mission?
A
Michelle: Our mission is to help our clients thrive mentally and physically by making holistic healing more accessible. We have always had a big vision to grow nationally and internationally in order to reach as many people as possible. By continuing to expand our retail studios and product offerings, we are able to support more clients. Because retail expansion is by nature slower, we are energized to continue expanding our differentiated set of healing product offerings.
Dr. Shari: We plan on growing our footprint with new studios offering acupuncture and more products/at-home remedies to empower the WTHN community to take control of their health.
