THE SOURCE
In an age when most companies are focused on their bottom line, it is still possible to produce products that benefit the supply chain and ecosystem. At HANAH, we believe in building transparent, interdependent, and trackable supply chains that guarantee the purity and potency of our ingredients, safeguard precious natural resources, and take care of the people who are at the heart of everything we do.
Meet our experts
Dr. V.A. Venugopal
Dr. Venugopal, or Dr. V to us, is an ayurvedic practitioner, pranic healer and traditional counselor in Kerala, India. Dr. V works directly with HANAH to help craft and test multiple HANAH products, including HANAH ONE, HANAH Ashwagandha+, HANAH Shilajit+ and HANAH Vechur Ghee. His goal is to integrate the ancient practice of Ayurveda with the modern world. His vision of spreading Ayurveda aligned with HANAH’s mission to create an antidote to the physical stressors of modern life. Dr. V worked with HANAH founder Joel for over three years in Kerala, India, to source the highest quality natural ingredients, create a sustainable supply chain and create HANAH ONE.
Meet our experts
Bhutan’s Institute for Traditional Medicine
The National Institute of Traditional Medicine is a training, research and practice center where many of Bhutan’s traditional medicine doctors are educated and practice their craft. Also part of the institute is Menjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals, which is associated with the Bhutanese Ministry of Health. This pharmaceutical and research unit is the premier manufacturer of the traditional herbal-based medicines supplied to the healthcare facilities nationwide. HANAH works directly with the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Menjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals to formulate our powerful Cordyceps+ and Turmeric+ products according to Sowa Rigpa — the centuries old traditional Tibetan medical system.
Beyond the Bottom Line
At HANAH, our priorities do not end with creating a high-quality supplement. We are just as committed to maintaining the health of the natural environment, the sustainability of the crops and the livelihood of the local communities.
Supporting multi-generational harvesters in Kerala
When it comes to sustainably and ethically sourcing all of our herbs and ingredients, we turn to local harvesters and cultivators who have a deep respect for the environment and the soil. We learn from their centuries of knowledge passed down from generation to generation, the same knowledge and experience that enables them to assist us in creating unique time-tested products and provide us with the purest and most efficacious ingredients on the planet.
The use of traditional Ayurvedic vessels
Our flagship product, HANAH ONE, is manufactured using Ayurvedic cooking procedures with traditional vessels. These vessels are made in villages, and therefore the demand for them supports the local communities. Since the process itself is more natural, much of the work is done by hand. The production of HANAH ONE brings good paying work to rural areas, which particularly benefits women, and also helps preserve and develop natural sources.
Preserving the endangered Vechur cow
HANAH’s Ayurvedic ghee comes from the milk of the Vechur cow, a rare dwarf breed native to Kerala, India. These tiny cows have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as a powerful source of nutrients because they graze the mineral-rich lands and are able to synthesize the local grasses and herbs, producing milk that is widely known for its healing properties. Unfortunately the Vechur breed was close to disappearing as they were being crossbred with larger cows to increase milk production. By 2000, they were on the world watch “critical maintained breeds list.” Thanks to efforts driven by Dr. Sosamma Lype and the Kerala Veterinary college, they have been saved. HANAH is committed to working with local farmers and the Kerala Veterinary College to assist in conservation efforts. We purchase as much ghee as we can, about 100 jars per month, at a very high price, which helps the local communities keep the breed alive and thriving. We also adopted a cow named Narayani in 2017, and donated her to a special sanctuary. The caretakers are all volunteers and dedicate their days to the health and preservation of these special cows.
Creating revenue streams for tribal communities through honey sourcing
When we needed to procure larger amounts of natural honey for HANAH ONE, we approached some of the tribal communities in the forests of the Western Ghat mountains in Kerala, India. This allowed us to source the highest quality wild, multi-floral mountain honey from the deep forests, and the resulting increase in demand brought the tribal societies work and revenue. These forests are part of the Western Ghats, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and honey collecting is a major means of livelihood for the forest-dependent communities. Throughout the entire process, we worked side-by-side with the Keralan Dept of Api Culture (Api = bee), who showed us how they monitor the health of the bee population and how bees work together, and are an integral part of our life on earth.
Elevating the standard of living for Bhutanese highlanders through Cordyceps harvesting
Our wild Himilayan Cordyceps are harvested only by experienced locals who are approved by the Bhutanese government because of their understanding and respect of the delicate mountain ecosystem. Cordyceps has elevated the standard of living for many Bhutanese and opened up new opportunities in business and education that previously would have been unimaginable. Without their lucrative trade, many highlanders would have to return to full time yak farming, which is extremely labor-intensive and yields a comparatively paltry sum of around $155 per year. At HANAH, we believe that all our local partners in Bhutan deserve to be compensated fairly for their efforts and expertise far beyond the country’s average wage of NU40 (the equivalent of less than a dollar a day). This way, they can provide a living for their families and pass on their eco-friendly and sustainable practices to their children.
Protecting environments and crops with ethical harvesting
Our harvesters don’t cultivate traditional crops in the way of Western agriculture, but instead allow nature to take its course by wild harvesting the desired botanicals in their natural environments on an as needed basis. We rely on a trusted group of local harvesters to collect just enough of each ingredient by hand from the wild, where they grow among hundreds of other botanicals in diverse, pristine ecosystems nourished by mineral-rich soil and natural spring water. Such harvesting is done in a sustainable way that leaves the source unspoiled, so that the herbs can continue to grow year after year. Their deep connection to the land that they inhabit means that every possible measure is taken to avoid upsetting the delicate ecological balance of these treasured habitats.