Formulation With Purpose
Behind every Pure Essence formula lies a philosophy that goes deeper than simply blending ingredients. Our founder, Jerry Cochern, believed that true formulation is a blend of science, tradition, and respect for nature. Drawing on systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine while applying modern plant chemistry and strict quality controls, Jerry created supplements designed not just to exist on a shelf, but to truly support human health. His approach transformed an industry and continues to guide everything we do today.
The Engineering Goals of Formulation
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Efficacy: choose actives and doses that produce and support normal body functions.
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Synergy: combine herbs so their ingredients help each other work better — either by making them easier for the body to absorb or by increasing their biological effects.
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Bioavailability: use extracts, carriers, and processes that make molecules absorbable.
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Stability & consistency: As some ingredients vary from harvest to harvest, we strive to make every batch, every lab run, consistent to match the one before it.
Why Jerry Built the Method He Did
Jerry treated formulation like functional systems engineering. His priorities were: sourcing integrity, extraction precision, dose rationalization, and classic combinations. He didn’t copy modern single-molecule norms — he translated whole-plant science into repeatable products.
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Sourcing First: Most ingredient suppliers provide spec sheets; Jerry set our internal specs to be stricter and more aligned with cleaner, more consistent ingredient profiles than the industry standard.
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Extraction Choices: He favored different extraction methods to pull the desired plant chemicals from the actives.
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Dose and Activity Factor: He matched extract strength to realistic dosing and chose end delivery forms to maximize efficacy.
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Quality Control: Jerry built testing into the process — during production and after — to ensure every batch met our standards.
The Synergy of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Jerry used Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles because both systems are functional frameworks built over a millennium for combining botanicals to address patterns (the root cause), not just symptoms.
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Ayurveda's dosha model and TCM's diagnostic system emphasize using multi-ingredient formulas. Jerry drew on these traditions to create blends that help restore balance within the body.
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Both traditions teach specific herb pairings that support target actions. Jerry honored those pairings while confirming their value through modern plant chemistry.
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Grounded in centuries of practice, these traditions seek to restore balance at the root rather than mask symptoms. Their holistic design supports lasting wellness with minimal side effects.
Raising the Bar for an Entire Industry
Jerry didn't just make products; he operationalized principles that others copied:
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Raised extraction standards: Mainstream brands moved from raw powder blends to targeted extracts and higher potency.
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Integrating classical frameworks with modern science: Jerry started the food-based supplements trend when he founded Rainbow Light in 1981. The industry quickly followed suit.
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Product architecture: Jerry often created tiered potency product lines offering solutions for clear entry, performance, and clinical tiers, so customers could start low as their needs or tolerance grew.
Legacy That Lives On
Formulation is where art meets engineering, and Jerry mastered both. His principles brought together traditional wisdom and modern science, ensuring every product is consistent, effective, and rooted in integrity. While Jerry is no longer with us, his vision lives on in every capsule, tablet, and powder we produce. By honoring his rigorous standards, clean sourcing, precise extraction, and thoughtful formulation, we carry forward the legacy of a man who forever changed the way supplements are made.