Oriental Herb Co. Makes Move to La Grange

While working at a restaurant in Boulder, CO, in 2001, now-La Grange resident Jennifer Pillari felt a cold coming on. A friend recommended a local product, Cold Snap, and that day led her to an entirely new field: Oriental Medicine.

She studied in that field at the Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder and began working with the Oriental Herb Company after that. A shortly after she and her husband relocated to La Grange last year, she got a call asking if she wanted to own the business.

“She didn’t want to sell it to a big corporation,” Pillari said. “So many supplements are owned by the same four companies.”

The Oriental Herb Company was a blessing for Pillari, who said she definitely saw her health improve. She had some health issues in her early 20s, and said that western doctors suggested a life of pain medication or surgery.

“You’re telling me at 22 that pain medication or surgery, that can really be it,” she said. “I was just amazed at the effectiveness of this way.”

There are currently seven products available. Cold Snap is the most widely recognized, as it’s carried in all Whole Foods nationwide. That helps relieve colds, flus, allergies or just to restore the body.

Others focus on digestion, sleep and anxiety, pain, irritation and sexual energy. Those products aren’t in Whole Foods yet, but you can learn more about them on the OHCO website. She also wants to work with La Grange businesses to sell the product in their storefronts.

Pillari said these can help sudden, onset issues or ones that are longer-term problems. The formulas can also be used on pets.

“A lot of our competitors, especially for Cold Snap, go with this idea of strengthening the immune system, overloading someone’s body with vitamins and antioxidants,” she said. “This is more balanced, more gentle. Their way is kind of like using a gun where you could use a flyswatter.”