Who knew that 90% of women experience life-disrupting PMS¹, amounting to an average of nearly nine days of lost productivity a year in workplaces and schools². And despite this massive impact, only 4% of clinical research is dedicated to women’s issues³. “After looking into safer, natural, solutions debilitating menstrual PMS symptoms after going off birth control. was appalled by the overwhelming lack of side-effect-free options and information,” says founder and CEO Lulu Ge, a graduate of The Wharton School who speaks publicly about her struggle with period pain to break through societal taboos that underestimate the severity of the problem. “I finally found relief in Chinese herbal medicine, a practice that has treated menstrual cycles as a vital sign in overall health for 2,500+ years. Elix is built on this same principle and focuses on treating the root cause (not just the symptoms) of hormonal imbalance, on giving women back the crucial hours, days, and weeks of our lives lost to the volatility of our menstrual cycles.”

The online experience begins with Elix’s online health assessment for menstrual and general health, which asks patients 50-60 questions about menstrual frequency, quality, and symptoms as well as sleep and fitness patterns, and stress levels. Patients then snap a picture of their tongue, the body’s only external organ, and their results drive a proprietary algorithm for pattern diagnosis that tailors each Cycle Balance formula. Elix ships immediately after and direct to consumers. Users begin taking their supplement 5-7 days before their cycle begins.

“Herbal medicine is rooted in personalized treatments and extensive intakes that assess the complex links between hormonal health and overall health,” explains co-founder and Chief Hearing Officer Dr. Nicole Glathe. Who has treated menstrual pain in hundreds of women through her private Chinese medicine practice? “Modern technology lets us digitize these in-depth health assessments and one-on-one consults, giving more women access to natural solutions that work.”

Cycle Balance harnesses the therapeutic grade potency of plants by using only whole herbs that are organically and ethically sourced. They are decocted and processed using slow, low-temperature liquid extraction to yield maximum strength and deliver bio-availability. Backed by 246 clinical trials and studies, the herbs in Elix’s formulas include Corydalis (analgesic, anti-inflammatory, sedative), Szechuan lovage (reduces spasms, pain, & inflammation), White Peony Root (blood builder, pain reliever, & spasm reducer), Poria (energizing & balancing), Angelica Sinensis (regulates hormones & anti-inflammatory), and more. Founded on an integrative approach, Elix’s medical advisory board includes Western-trained medical doctors (MDs), pharmacists, homeopathic practitioners, acupuncturists, herbalists, dieticians, and clinical researchers.

Elix is an innovative menstrual health brand that uses modern technology to personalize Chinese herbal medicine online, making access to scientifically-backed natural remedies more convenient and available than ever before. Built on the principle that menstrual cycles are a vital sign for our overall health, Elix formulates pure and potent liquid herbal extracts clinically proven to treat specific hormonal imbalances that are the root cause of painful symptoms. Beyond herbal treatments, Elix is committed to breaking period taboos and bridging the gap in healthcare knowledge through their content vertical The Wisdom.

ABOUT THE FOUNDERS

Lulu Ge, Founder & CEO

Lulu is a behavioral change psychologist and MBA who spent over a decade in management consulting focused on the intersection of healthcare and consumer-retail. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a Masters in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Born in a Southern China hospital run by her grandfather, Lulu’s roots in the herbal medicine run through multiple generations. Growing up in the U.S., her first-hand experience with medicinal-level healing through natural herbs often clashed with the recommendations of Western medicine doctors. Elix is the culmination of her lifelong advocacy for integrating TCM with Western healthcare, especially in treating and regulating women’s health conditions.

Dr. Nicole Glathe, Co-Founder and Chief Healing Officer (DAOM, LAc, DiplOM)

Dr. Glathe holds a doctoral degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Emperor’s College and is a board and NCCAOM-certified acupuncturist and herbalist. She is one of only 1% in the field to achieve all three. Specializing in women’s health, Dr. Glathe has treated hundreds of patients seeking relief from debilitating, hormonal-imbalance-induced pain and discomfort. Her research background combined with the 150+ years of cumulative clinical experience of the Elix Medical Advisory Board, drives Elix’s research and development into proprietary herbal treatments, first-in-class online health assessments with pattern diagnosis and advanced technology algorithms to truly democratize access to holistic solutions online.

Works cited