01/03/2026

ON SUNDAY March 1, 2026 theSunday Special IX

with the Orang Asli community as a FHUWLILHG 6RFLDO (QWHUSULVH 7KLV LV DQ acknowledgement of the company’s active H̆ RUWV WR VXVWDLQ DQG FRQWULEXWH WR 2UDQJ $VOL OLYHOLKRRGV WKURXJK WKLV MRXUQH\ RI harvesting wild herbs together. S FLHQWL¿F UHVHDUFK RQ Tongkat Ali is growing, with several human clinical trials supporting its role in increasing testosterone levels, especially among men with existing hormonal imbal ances. Studies also suggest potential EHQH¿WV IRU PRRG VWUHVV UHVSRQVH SK\VL cal performance, metabolic health and LQÀDPPDWLRQ Research on Kacip Fatimah is less H[WHQVLYH EXW SURPLVLQJ (DUO\ ¿QGLQJV indicate phytoestrogenic activity, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which align with its tradi tional use in women’s health.

Our rainforests could become a global source of natural wellness.”

“The research is catching up with tradi tion. What’s important is understanding that these herbs work best when there is an imbalance. They’re not magic boosters IRU SHRSOH ZKR DUH DOUHDG\ RSWLPDO ´ VKH noted. A responsibility, not just an opportunity O QH PRPHQW WKDW VWD\HG ZLWK /LP ZDV UHDOLVLQJ MXVW KRZ XQGHUYDOXHG 0DOD\VLD¶V herbal heritage remains locally. “There’s a sense that we don’t fully see what we have. These are resources people WUDYHO DFURVV WKH ZRUOG WR ¿QG \HW PDQ\ 0DOD\VLDQV RYHUORRN WKHP ´ VKH VDLG That gap represents both a responsibil ity and an opportunity. Beyond Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah , Malaysia’s rain forests are home to countless other herbs, VXFK DV PLVDL NXFLQJ XEL MDJD KHPSHGX bumi and pegaga, many of which remain under-explored. With proper research, ethical harvest LQJ DQG HGXFDWLRQ /LP EHOLHYHV 0DOD\VLD could develop a genuine herbal wellness ecosystem rooted in preservation rather than exploitation. “Our rainforests could become a global source of natural wellness. But only if we prioritise sustainability, science and UHVSHFW ´ VKH VWUHVVHG I I WKHUH LV RQH WKLQJ /LP KRSHV 0DOD\ - sians take away from the conversation, it is this: Hormonal balance is not about vanity or virility. “ ,W¶V DERXW DJHLQJ ZHOO (QHUJ\ PHWDER lism, bone strength, mood, fertility, skin, KDLU DQG KHDUW KHDOWK DUH DOO FRQQHFWHG ´ she said. Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah , when XVHG UHVSRQVLEO\ R̆ HU SODQW EDVHG VXS port for that balance. “They remind us that nature has al ready provided many of the tools we need. :H QHHG WR XQGHUVWDQG WKHP EHWWHU ´ /LP UHÀHFWHG Sometimes, all it takes is one quiet booth at an expo to begin remembering what we’ve always had.

From dried roots to capsules, traditional herbs like Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah have taken on modern forms.

The challenge lies in ensuring that convenience does not come at the cost of quality. Over the past decade, interest in Ma laysian herbs has grown far beyond local borders. Western consumers, increas ingly wary of synthetic supplements, have turned toward natural and traditional alternatives. “ Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah stand out because they’re wild-harvested. They’re not farmed on an industrial scale, which reduces exposure to pesticides and DUWL¿FLDO LQSXWV ´ /LP H[SODLQHG This has made Southeast Asian herbs especially attractive to overseas markets, sometimes more appreciated abroad than at home. “That’s one of the ironies. International customers often value these herbs as exotic and powerful, while many locals still don’t IXOO\ XQGHUVWDQG WKHLU LPSRUWDQFH ´ VKH said. Domestically, however, attitudes are slowly shifting. As herbal products become more modern and easier to integrate into daily routines, more Malaysians are opening up to plant-based wellness. Lessons from the jungle Building what would eventually be rec ognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the country’s largest Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah store did not happen overnight. More importantly, it did not happen without hard lessons. One of the most critical was sourcing. “We work directly with Orang Asli communities. They have generations of inherited knowledge about plant identi- ¿FDWLRQ KDUYHVWLQJ PHWKRGV DQG MXQJOH QDYLJDWLRQ ´ VKH VDLG

Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah stand out because they’re wild-harvested.”

Harvesting is not a simple task. Mature herbs often grow deep within the rainfor est, requiring multi-day expeditions and H[WHQGHG VWD\V LQ WKH MXQJOH (WKLFDO harvesters leave fruiting trees intact, allow for natural regrowth and replant where possible. “There’s a misconception that wild harvesting means careless harvesting. In reality, the people closest to the land are

RIWHQ WKH PRVW SURWHFWLYH RI LW ´ VKH DGGHG / icensing, rotation schedules and sus tainable practices are essential to ensure the herbs remain available for future generations. “If herbal wellness is to be credible, it must honour both the ecosystem and the NQRZOHGJH EHKLQG LW ´ /LP VDLG KUSKOP has recognised Ayu Flores’ continuous and long-term partnership

Malaysia’s rainforests are home to countless amazing herbs.