Our History
SPECIALIST PHARMACY FOR CHINESE MEDICINE
The Seed Grows Into a Plant - an Idea Becomes a Reality
In the nineties, it was difficult to get hold of tested, high-quality Chinese medicinal herbs in Switzerland. There were no reliable, secure sources and the handling of them was the sole responsibility of the respective TCM doctor or therapist. Esther Denz, who had built up a successful practice in the heart of Zurich after many years of studying TCM, wanted to change this. "Chinese medicinal herbs from a single source, in the best possible quality for me and my TCM professional colleagues. A TCM focal point that collects knowledge and passes it back to TCM doctors and therapists. That was my wish" says Esther Denz. "We wanted to build a center - by TCM specialists for TCM specialists!" Together with her husband Sixten Kollstad, she founded a company that was the predecessor to LIAN with the aim of establishing quality assurance with Swiss pharmacy standards in the industry.
Accordingly, the interest in the industry was great from the beginning and grew steadily. So quickly in fact that the search was on for a partner for larger investments. They found them in their cooperation with the founders and owners of the Chinamed centers.
The Lotus Breaks Through the Surface of the Water – The Founding of the Company LIAN CHINAHERB AG
The plan of a joint corporation helped give the noble seed a great growth spurt. In 2000 when another competent TCM specialist, Karin Knauer, joined the team, nothing more stood in the way of the new founding team together with the investors. Carefully following the rules of Chinese numerology, the company LIAN CHINAHERB AG was born on 8.8.2000 - so to speak as being born under a lucky star.
The Flower Blossoms - the Radiance of a TCM Family
In 2019, its shares could be bought back, so that LIAN CHINAHERB AG is again fully owned by the innovative founding team Esther Denz, Sixten Kollstad and Karin Knauer. "This was the right way for us to go. Now it feels like a pure family business again" Sixten Kollstad describes this step. "This feeling spurs us and our employees on every day" adds Karin Knauer.
With consistently high quality, great TCM know-how, exciting further innovations and a lot of heart, we all work to ensure that the lotus blossom continues to grow, flourish and blossom. And that is exactly why we at LIAN CHINAHERB AG are so happy to be there for you and for your health day after day.
LIAN Mission Statement
WHAT DO WE STAND FOR?
We produce and distribute medicinal products that meet the requirements of a holistic, individualizes form of therapy. In particular, we work in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with the aim of facilitating access to high-quality Chinese medicines, health and wellness products and thus support the further development of TCM into a global and recognized form of therapy.
TCM sees itself as a form of medicine, which sees each individual person as a whole and restores their energetic balance according to the understanding of the traditional Chinese world view - with the intention of promoting the patient's self-healing powers and thus allowing comprehensive health, long-term well-being, enjoyment of life and vitality.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE?
We want the greatest possible availability of our products at the highest possible quality level for medical professionals, therapists and patients. We want wide recognition of our products by combining holistic health tradition with high quality conciousness, production engineering advances, innovation and up-to-date scientific knowledge. We want sustainable economic success by supporting successful medical treatment with professional competence, user-oriented support services and impeccable product quality.
WHAT VALUES AND PRINCIPLES GUIDE OUR BUSINESS?
Sense of Responsibility
We work at the highest possible standards for quality assurance according to the requirements of regional authorities, our own internal standards, as well as the model according to Swiss legislation, which in the case of TCM, concerns the quality of medicine products.
When it comes to quality assurance, we take resposibility for holistic medical health. Unless regulated by law, we choose, to the best of our knowledge and beliefs, to exclude health risks. We expect both patient-facing and other medical professionals (medical therapists and pharmacists) to have the appropriate quality assurance and TCM know-how (eg, proven training) for their work.
In dealing with plants and animals, we are committed to environmental compatibility, sustainability and animal ethics. The protection of endangered species and the preservation of biodiversity are matters of great concern to us, and stand above medical and economic importance.
Competence and Engagement
Knowledge about quality assurance and traditional Chinese medicine has a high priority in our company. In both areas, we are continuing to develop and are on the cutting edge. We pass on our knowledge to our customers and commit ourselves to competence at all levels of application
We work with authorities, associations and schools in good faith and support the common effort to promote TCM, increase its social status and to develop it into a globally recognised form of medicine.
Fairness and Respect
Fairness and respect for fellow human beings, customers, employees and the environment motivate us and form the basis of our actions.