Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram continues 5 generations of her family's commitment to the scientific and academic study and development of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine. Dr. Tram decided to pursue her degree in Pharmacology, specializing in the invention and manufacture of medicine and pharmaceuticals. Her specific intent was to research traditional medicines to understand, apply, and develop their use in a modern context. Dr. Tram set out to pursue her father's vision of developing Vietnamese medicine for the Vietnamese, in place of foreign pharmaceuticals. This is a preference handed down in 14th century instructions from Dr. Tue Tinh, the Founder and Father of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine.
Crila® has been used in Vietnam since 2005. Now, as a result of a new factory and expanded planation, for the first time, the benefits of Crila® are available to men and women outside of Vietnam.
Educational background
Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram studied at the Hanoi Medical University where she received her degree in Pharmacology in 1972. Based on her academic excellence she was selected for postgraduate study overseas. She received a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sophia, Bulgaria. Her thesis on the composition and structure of 45 compounds found in the essential oils of Vietnamese plants was considered so outstanding that she was invited to stay on as a collaborator in research with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. She was selected to lead a team of researchers to investigate medicinal plants. This became her life’s work which led her to develop Crila® Products now available for the first time outside of Vietnam.
Development of Crila®
In 1990 she first heard of Crinum latifolium, in the countryside outside of Hue – the traditional seat of the Royal family. She told an old woman she was looking for medicinal plants to learn more about what plants that might have medicinal value. The old woman said “I’m not a doctor, but the Royal doctors would use a certain herb to treat conditions of the Royal women.” She was referring to a particular variety of Crinum latifolium growing in the wild in that area.
Dr. Tram learned of a long tradition of using Crinum latifolium for the treatment of several ailments, including prostate problems in men and reproductive organ problems in women, but there was no scientific research confirming the medical efficacy of the herb. She undertook a serious study of Crinum latifolium to learn its properties and understand why it had been so cherished by the Royal family and others for generations. In the last twenty-one years, Dr. Tram has devoted herself to the pursuit of researching all aspects of Crinum. She discovered there are twelve varieties of Crinum, so she studied each of the varieties and found that only one had the medical efficacy she was seeking. In her studies she observed strong T-lymphocyte activity. The ability to promote T-lymphocyte activity is highly desired as a natural way to stimulate the body’s immune defenses.
She experimented with growing Crinum in various locations until she determined the optimal locations, soil, water and geographic conditions to promote her desired result. At one point, Dr. Tram uprooted her family from their home in Hanoi, after announcing to them, “It won’t grow here . . . we’re moving!”
Through years of careful breeding and cultivation practices, Dr. Tram promoted the evolution of the DNA in her plants increasing the beneficial properties in her Crinum plants.
From Plants to Factory to You
It is from these unique and proprietary plants that Dr. Tram has developed Crila® and her line of proprietary products, Crila® for Prostate, Crila® for Menopause and Crila® Uterine Health. These products are only made from the plants grown on her family-controlled plantations and processed using her proprietary extraction methods in her family-run factory.
Nguyen Tien Manh, "Mike” Plantation Manager
Mike received his BA in Economic Development at the Hanoi University of Economics. His study focused on Agricultural Development, and he first met Dr. Tram when he was a student. Upon graduation, he was hired to manage her first plantation. Mike met and married his wife, who came from a village near the plantation. She was an office worker at an industrial park, but now also works on the plantation to be near her husband and their young daughter. Mike also oversees the ongoing plantation expansion in a nearby province. He has worked for Dr. Tram since 2000.
Nguyen Van Thien. Factory Manager
Thien received his BA in Administration and Marketing from the Hanoi University of Economics. He is married to Dr. Tram's daughter Trang, and they have one son. Factory supervision is frequently a 24 hour requirement, so Thien often spends days and nights at the factory away from his family. At other times he commutes to Ho Chi Minh City to be with his family. Thien has worked for Dr. Tram since 1999
C. Sue McKinney
Sue McKinney is a California attorney, business consultant, and entrepreneur who has been living and working in Vietnam since 1994. Sue has exported thousands of high quality products from Vietnam to well-known American companies such as Costco, SurLaTable, Wildwood Lamps & Accents, and Martha Stewart. A native of California, Sue graduated from Mills College and received her law degree from the University of Santa Clara.
Sue has had the pleasure of witnessing and taking part in the extensive economic and social growth that Vietnam has experienced in the last 17 years. She immediately became involved in many non-profit endeavors to give back to Vietnam. Initially she worked on a project to develop the first pediatric ICU at Vietnam’s largest Cancer Hospital. Since then she has helped to facilitate several Rotary Club projects to: distribute over 1,000 wheelchairs, build 3 libraries, fund orphanage programs and the building of surgical care units through Operation Smile Vietnam, construct a home for unwed mothers, and sponsor business development scholarships for 25 young Vietnamese professionals to attend Rotary programs in the US.
Through her ability to bring people together both within the United States and Vietnam, Sue was contacted by US citizens to help them obtain Crila®. Sue met Dr. Tram and formed a strong relationship with her. Dr. Tram's dedication, the positive performance of Crila® in the Vietnam market combined with Sue's experiences as an attorney and international businesswoman eventually resulted in a partnership that led to Crila Health. Crila Health is the only authorized distributor outside of Vietnam. Sue continues to work closely with Dr. Tram and the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Health and with the Crila Health team in the United States to provide this safe, organic herbal supplement available to benefit men and women worldwide.
Duc Duy Do
Duc Duy Do attended school in Vietnam as well as two years in the United States. Duc earned his Bachelor of Economics, majoring in Foreign Trade from Hong Bang University in Ho Chi Minh City. He lives with his wife in Ho Chi Minh City.
Duc began working with Sue McKinney over ten years ago focusing on export trade and business development. Following an inquiry from a client Duc identified Dr. Tram as the expert on Crinum latifolium and was instrumental in forming a strong business relationship with Dr. Tram..
Duc now works closely with Dr. Tram, and her managers at both the plantations and the factory. He travels with Dr. Tram, interpreting on her behalf for international scientists and journalists, the World Bank, conferences with research doctors in Europe and America..
Howard Janssen
Howard Janssen, a California attorney, over a year ago has dedicated his time to bringing Crila® to the international market. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, also a lawyer working on Crila®.
Howard is a native Californian, educated at University of California at Davis and University of California, Hasting College of the Law. He began his legal career at the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, and was later a director at Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May focusing on complex civil trials throughout the United States. He taught trial advocacy programs as an adjunct professor at Hastings College of the Law for 10 years and remains an active member of the prestigious College of American Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Lawyers and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers.
After meeting Dr. Tram through Ms. McKinney and reviewing the research and learning of the successes of Crila® in Vietnam he decided to take on a greater role within the company both as an investor and as a business team member.
Howard is interested in the potential relief that Crila® can provide for men and women around the world suffering from BPH and menopause and uterine fibroids. He is also a proponent of comprehensive approaches to medicine and the combination of traditional eastern and western medicine practices as a more holistic means of addressing health issues in the twenty first century.
Christina Janssen
Christina Janssen recently retired from a Fortune 50 company after 20 years as Managing Counsel with extensive experience in international business transactions, compliance regulation and transnational trade policies. She also served as General Manager of Public Policy which included responsibility over the Corporate Responsibility and Community Engagement departments. Christina taught as an adjunct professor at University of California, Hastings School of Law and remains committed to public education volunteering as Co-Chair of the University of California, Berkeley's Cal Parents Board. Christina graduated from University of California, Davis and received her law degree from University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
After meeting Dr. Tram and seeing first-hand, the extensive quality control at the factory and plantation, she too became interested in Crila®. Christina decided to offer her international business experience and become a part of the team of people responsible for making it available to the international market. She believes that the use of traditional remedies, such as Crila® produced by Dr. Tram, in conjunction with Western medical care provides the best answer to helping people and their families experiencing discomfort due to menopause, uterine fibroids or an aging prostate.
