A Ramuan Fan Speaks: Highlights from Expo West 2010

Expo West might be about natural products--but it's really the people who make the trade show so much fun each year. Meet Ron McCormick, owner/founder of PureForm Labs in Las Vegas. We happened to catch him on camera talking about what he liked about Biotropics Ramuan vitality products, TenagaXX and Asmara.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Ron. We're fans of you too.

Take a look:

Ramuan Trends, Tales and Tips from Expo West 2010

Summing up Natural Products Expo West 2010 is kind of like trying to define Ramuan in one sentence. It’s a difficulty level of 10, but we are going to attempt to put the world’s largest natural and organic tradeshow in perspective with our blend of trends, tales and tips:

Trends

Pamela Bond, Managing Editor of Natural Foods Merchandiser, has already identified several interesting trends from Natural Products Expo West 2010—including antioxidants, herbal combinations and anti-aging personal care products (“boomers spend $2.3 trillion annually on goods and services,” she noted). We find her trend watch list encouraging for a few reasons. 

First, Biotropics Ramuan is launching two antioxidants this year: Mangis and Ulam, both of which offer a powerful blend of antioxidant herbal extracts. Mangis offers a proprietary blend of seven superfruits—including the Malaysian rainforest fruit mangosteen, plus vitamin C, E and the digestive enzyme papain from real papaya—in a chewable phytonutrient-rich daily supplement.* Ulam also contains seven natural extracts, including King’s Ulam and vitamins C and E to help promote heart and immune health.* 

 

We are excited that our products reflect the present and future wants and needs of today’s health-minded consumers.

Tales

Our Biotropics team from Malaysia and Germany (plus the Team Tenaga girls) met and spoke with hundreds of retailers, natural products buyers, and regular health-conscious consumers who were very intrigued with our vitality products. There was Peter, a documentary filmmaker from Santa Monica, who was interested in finding out more about the clinical trials currently underway for Tongkat Ali, the ancient Malaysian herbal extract found in TenagaXX. And there was Ron, owner of Pure Form Labs in Las Vegas, who particularly liked the hormonal balancing effects of both the TenagaXX and Asmara products. (We’ll hear more from Ron later this week). Many women—both young and mature—also asked great questions about Asmara and took informational handouts. Energy, sexual health and vitality seem to be a priority for many people… so we are proud to bring Malaysia’s ancient traditions right into their medicine cabinet.

Tips

Whether you are an Expo West veteran, virgin or simply want to learn more about what it means to “Live Ramuan,” here are three simple tips we’d like to leave you with:

Tip #1: Do your research. History, tradition and personal testimonials can speak volumes if clinical trials aren’t available yet.

Tip #2: It’s less about the products and more about the people. Remember to thank the mix of friends in your life who help keep you balanced everyday.

Tip #3: Focus on the inside and work your way out. True outer beauty isn’t possible without inner health.  

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Say Hello to the Newest Line of Ramuan Health Products

In just a few days, we will unveil the newest Ramuan Health products at Natural Products Expo West 2010 in Anaheim, Calif., Mar. 11-14. This is an important milestone for us, but more importantly for YOU! Here is a look at our latest Ramuan Health products: 

·       TenagaXX™ – TenagaXX is the second generation of Tenaga, which already ranks among the fastest selling men's herbal sexual vitality products. This daily supplement’s patented Tongkat Ali extract helps support healthy testosterone levels, vitality and sexual well-being for men.* What guy wouldn’t want a pit crew in a pill? You can buy it here.

·       Asmara™ – This daily supplement is perfect for any woman who woke up one day and wondered, “What happened to the vibrant and alive woman I used to be?” Asmara has a pure measure of Labisia pumila extract (Kacip Fatimah), a traditional herb used by generations of Malaysian women to enhance feminine vitality and promote hormonal balance.* You can discover your inner goddess here.

·       Asmara™ Total Woman – Think of it as a natural daily supplement harvested for a woman like you. It includes Labisia Pumila extract and Ficus deltoidea to help maintain healthy balance and promote healthy aging.*

·       Tenaga™ Men’s Health Complex – It's like the mini-me version of TenagaXX. A daily supplement patented Tongkat Ali extract helps support healthy testosterone levels when taken daily.*

·       Men’s Detox™ – This daily supplement is perfect for any guys who have ever found themselves living out a scene from “The Hangover.” Our Men’s Detox is a blend of 7 plant extracts, including Phyllanthus and Ginger traditionally used for cleansing and rejuvenation, to promote digestive and liver health.*

·       Women’s Detox™ – The average home today contains 62 toxic chemicals, while the average woman uses 12 personal care products containing 168 chemical ingredients each day. It’s not easy living toxin-free today, but Women’s Detox can help purify and rejuvenate the body with a proprietary blend of 7 plant extracts including Ginger and Papaya traditionally used for digestive health.*

·       Mangis™ - Mangis boldly goes where no superfruit has gone before: chewable. This powerful phytonutrient blend combines the benefits of 7 superfruits, including mangosteen in a convenient chewable tablet.*

·       Ulam™ - Remember when you were a kid and you secretly wished there was a pill that combined all of the nutrients of a salad into a convenient tablet? Well, you finally got your wish. Ulam offers a proprietary Ramuan antioxidant formula containing natural extracts of 7 herbs and vitamins C and E.*

We’ll keep you updated on when and where you can buy the newest Ramuan Health products. Keep checking our new website (launching this week – you gotta check it out!), Twitter page or Facebook page. And if you happen to be at Expo West this week, come blend with us at booth #1464. 

A Case of the (Balance) Monday’s

Last Monday, we implemented something called “Balance Monday” on Twitter—which is essentially our version of Follow Friday (the popular weekly international event where Twitterers recommend people they follow to others). We figured: “What better way to start the beginning of a new work week than to support those who keep us balanced every day?”

Balance is an important concept for people who practice Ramuan. The Malays believe that the universe is composed of four major elements (earth, fire air and water). It is thought that these elements exist and function within the body and in interaction with the social and physical environment. An imbalance of these elements leads to ill health.

According to Malay belief, each individual is made up of four humors, the properties of which are hot and moist (blood), cold and moist (phlegm), hot and dry (black bile), and cold and dry (yellow bile). Groups of foods are also classified as having hot or cold properties. For example, watermelon is considered ‘hot and moist’; milk is considered ‘cold and moist’; lemongrass is ‘hot and dry’; long beans are ‘cold and windy’; and the much-loved durian (a fruit found in Southeast Asia) is ‘hot and gassy.’ These foods should be mixed carefully, and sometimes not at all—as is the case with watermelon and milk. (It’s thought that the milk will curdle, resulting in colic, indigestion, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.)

The hot-cold concept of balance is not just a matter of food or medicine—it’s also about a larger, holistic worldview. Wouldn’t we all be healthier people for remembering the bigger picture the next time we find ourselves suffering from a “Case of the Monday’s”? How do YOU stay balanced Monday through Friday? Do you have a Monday ritual that helps you stay on track for the week? Please share it with us! 

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines…

Last week, we kicked off our Mardi Gras Sweepstakes in New Orleans, where they’re still fired up after winning Super Bowl XLIV. (The Biotropics Rejuvenation Station at Maxim’s Mardi Gras Mansion event was a big hit among men and women, who waited to get free massages while the Maxim models in Biotropics tanks kept them entertained with free TenagaXX samples.) 

But beyond the beads and babes, Mardi Gras is about celebrating everything you love about life. So we thought we’d help you start this Tuesday off with some tips for giving your girl a little TLC (courtesy of our friends at Maxim):

1. Treat massages like scheduled tune-ups—not 100,000-mile checkups!

2. Warm a quarter-size amount of (massage, not motor) oil in your hands.

3. Vary your pressure from gentle to firm.

4. Pay special attention to her shoulder blades and the back of her neck.

5. She’ll be ready to accelerate!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter here for a chance to win an energizing massage package…the contest ends March 8! Think of it as a gift to your girl. Who knows...maybe she’ll return the favor next year and buy you Super Bowl XLV tickets?

The 3 R's of Ramuan

What IS Ramuan? We get this question a lot.  In fact, we could write an entire book about Ramuan (Gerard Bodeker did—it's called, "Health and Beauty from the Rainforest"). In the simplest terms, Ramuan is a carefully selected blend of plants and botanicals, many of which have been gathered from the rainforest. In the Malay language, ramuan means synergistic blending and is the term of choice to represent Malaysia’s unique health and wellness practices.  

Here are three easy-to-remember elements about the practice, or as we like to call it, "The 3 R's of Ramuan":     

1. Rainforest - The key to unlocking Ramuan’s Malaysian rainforest secrets is the herbs. Potent herbs and botanicals such as tongkat ali and ubi jaga, for example, have traditionally enhanced ongoing vitality, vigor, balance, and overall wellness. These ingredients can be used in modern day cooking, medicine, drinks or food. 

2. Remedies - The beauty of Ramuan is that you don't have to look any further than your garden or kitchen to clean your hair and body, or find remedies for common ailments. For example, a natural facial scrub could be created using a mix of rice, cekur, sandalwood, ginger, jerangau, and a hint of rose water; while an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory drink consisting of ginger, lemongrass, jerangau and other herbs might be used as a remedy for post-partum depression.

 

3. Regimen - Traditional Malay healing focuses on attuning the body's energies with the rhythms of nature. It's about creating a holistic lifestyle regimen for mind/body/soul balance. It’s about wellness from the inside, out.  

The concepts of Ramuan have inspired Biotropics’ holistic health and beauty products, which are ideal for people who don’t have the time to grow these ingredients in their garden or have access to these rare herbs at their local natural foods market. For more info, we’ve also included a list of helpful links right here on this blog. And of course, don’t forget to check back with us at Living Ramuan. We will be sharing practical ways to blend Ramuan into your daily routine each week!

Re-Energizing in 2010

Yes, it’s been quiet in the world of Ramuan over the past couple of months…but that’s because we have been working behind the scenes to re-energize our digital community. In just a few short weeks, you will see the real fruits of our labor: a revitalized blog called “Living Ramuan,” a Facebook Fan page with new features and applications, and an expanded Twitter presence intended to encourage more intimate interactions with people…well… like you! Two exciting new sites for our men’s and women’s products (tenagapower.com) and (ramuanasmara.com) are already up and running. In March, you’ll also see a recharged website (ramuanusa.com).

We’re already feeling pretty energized for the year ahead. The New Year seems like the perfect time to make positive life changes, and we can’t think of a better way to usher in 2010 than by changing along with you!