WHERE SPIRIT MEETS SCIENCE

Meet three women who are sharing the wisdom of traditional Asian healing practices for better health in a modern world

- Coco Marett

"In an era dominated by quick fixes-that often don't get the job done-people are rediscovering the value of traditional healing methods," says Shrankhla Holecek, founder of Ayurvedic beauty brand Uma Oils. "These systems don't just treat symptoms; they seek out root causes, empowering individuals to understand and care for their bodies and minds as interconnected entities." Tatler caught up with Holecek, along with Zoey Xinyi Gong, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, and Marian Alonzo, who serves as the medical chief at The Farm at San Benito, a healing sanctuary in the Philippines, to find out how they are bringing their distinctive ancient modalities into the modern world.

SHRANKHLA HOLECEK

Founder of Uma Oils

Uma Oils, an Ayurvedic beauty and wellness brand founded by Holecek in 2016, is built on her family's heritage and the experiences of those family members who served as royal physicians to Indian monarchs from the 1200s.

"This role wasn't just about treating ailments but about creating bespoke solutions for beauty, wellness and vitality for the royals, as well as our community," she says, adding that over generations, her family perfected formulations through meticulous study of Ayurvedic texts, growing organic medicinal herbs and meeting the changing, diverse needs of thousands of individuals.

“Growing up in this rich tradition, I was surrounded by this wisdom of Ayurveda—and what I found fascinating were the real results. It’s a system where centuries of knowledge converge with your lived experience to promote profound healing. An Ayurvedic practitioner wouldn’t just prescribe a generic shot of antibiotics or even just herbs— they’d look at your entire lifestyle: your diet, sleep patterns, stress levels and even the time you wake up. The goal isn’t just to treat symptoms but to restore harmony in every aspect of your life.”