Plants By People

While many A-listers, like the Kardashians and Gwyneth Paltrow discovered the benefits of herbs and plants in their adult lives, many people of Chinese heritage, of course, have been raised with the knowledge that the natural world can help us thrive. I, born in Beijing, have understood since I was a young child just how healing plants can really be. After antibiotics wouldn't work at the age of five, my parents took me to a neighbor—a renowned naturopathic doctor—for treatment. That treatment was successful, and the start of a fascination with medicinal herbs. Now, decades later, I am sharing that knowledge with the world through my whole food nutrition brand, Plants By People. The company combines the ancient wisdom of botanicals with modern science in a range of plant-based beverages that are designed to support holistic health and wellness. My second inspirational childhood experience with herbs happened when I watched my grandmother's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms ease with the help of plants. My grandmother was a lifelong smoker, but after taking "potent herbs," the COPD improved. There is no cure for COPD, but it is usually managed through inhalers and steroids. However, research suggests that some herbs may help to relieve the symptoms of the condition, which include shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. One clinical study found that ginseng—which is used as a tonic herb in herbal medicine—improved breathing for many people struggling with COPD. My experience with the healing powers of herbs didn't stop there. When I moved to New York to attend graduate school, I developed a serious case of acne, which, similar to psoriasis, is an inflammatory skin condition. I felt bloated, lethargic, and irritable. I used to cover up my skin with cosmetics or other topicals, but they only worked temporarily. After heading back home to Beijing, I was advised by the same naturopathic doctor who treated me when I was a child to change my diet to include more plants. I did just that, and the acne cleared up. It was these experiences that eventually led me to create Plants By People in 2021.