Our Team
Wolfgang Friess
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Wolf was born in the rolling hills of the Central Alps where the mountains merge with vineyards and orchards. Herbs and medicinal plants from the high mountains to the fruit-garden served his ancestors to live vital, robust long and healthy lives. Enriching his experience with indigenous and tribal communities in the Americas, Central Africa and Austronesia and his learning from modern science made him believe in the harmony and synchronisation of ancient wisdom with modern research and knowledge.
Currently, Wolf shares his time between Vietnam and the EU where he works in the fields of phytobotanicals, herbs, nutrition, healthy food, vitality & health, organic and biodynamic agriculture as well as innovate future agricultural developments.
Ha Tran Thu
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Ha originates from the hills of Vietnam, later she moved to Hanoi. Exposed to the richness of herbal and phyto botanical treatments she holds a wealth of traditional wisdom. Her work with organisations and foundations in the field of sustainability, conservation, biodiversity-promotion, agriculture, organic-farming, land-restoration and revitalisation as well as with tribal communities is a true asset.
Ha is the founder of Live Forever Young in Vietnam and active in the fields of biodiversity promotion, health promotion, herbal and tribal wisdom.
Currently, Ha supports foundations and companies who support biodiversity and indigenous people. Via Live Forever Young Vietnam she grants a seal of ‘tribal support’ and ‘biodiversity promotion’ to those companies the genuinely believe and ruefully support tribes and the diversity of life.
Jacques Rossouw
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
Jacques was born in South Africa and has spent most of his life traveling the globe to work with, and learn from, indigenous and tribal peoples. Jacques has participated in healing ceremonies with the Bushmen of South Africa, the Yolngu of Australia, the Dayak of Borneo, the Mazatec of Mexico, the Huni Kuin of the Brazilian Amazon, and the Lakota of North America.
Currently, Jacques shares his time between Thailand and the USA where he works as a brand design and marketing consultant for some of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands. His strategic solutions for brand development, identity and packaging design have received numerous international accolades.
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News + Updates
Wild mushrooms in Austria.
WOLFGANG FRIESS | 01 Sep 2021
From summer to late autumn people in Central Europe love to go on mushroom hunt. The forests and meadows are filled with a variety of mushroom species, some of them toxic others with medicinal properties and many delicious to eat. People love the smell and aroma that originates from this biological diversity of fungi.
Mushrooms are extremely rich in vitamin D and they are a proof of health in the forest. What we commonly refer to as mushroom, the visible part is actually only the fruit, the real ‘body’ of the fungi is under the soil and can stretch the size of a football field, or more. It is only the fruits that we harvest and those fruits are filled with bioactive compounds that can do a lot of good to our human health, or harm us if we overdose or collect the wrong mushrooms.
Muop, an innovation by Mother Nature.
HA TRAN THU | 04 JAN 2022
In the mountains of norther Vietnam grows a fruit on vines that climb up the trees if in the wild. Cultivated, people put sticks in the soil so that the vine follows them into the sky. The fruit that grows on it is a ‘bitter gourd’, which we call ‘muop’. It is a wonderful fruit viz vegetable that can be used as an ingredient to a delicious sour soup, or eaten as a main dish. Moreover it makes a wonderful natural, synthetic free sponge that biodegrades by itself without any harm to nature. After usage in body care or for dish-washing simple bring it to your compost where it naturally disolves and its molecules return to nature.
The benefits of Sweat Lounge.
Jacques Rossouw | 05 FEB 2022
The Lakota term for sweat lodge is Inipi which means 'to live again'. Sweat lodge ceremonies have been performed for thousands of years by many North American indigenous peoples as a way to purify body, mind, and soul. Each sweat lodge is slightly different, depending on the community or person who operates it, and the purpose for which it is used. They all share a common belief, however, that the earth is a sacred place and we, as humans, are inextricably part of the natural environment. Physically, sweat lodge ceremonies help the participants connect with the natural world by using the elements of fire, earth, air and water to cleanse, and heal the body of unwanted toxins and impurities. Psychologically, the sweat helps to free the mind of distractions, offering clarity and allowing for introspection and a stronger connection to the planet and all the living beings with whom we share it.