About Us

The Meaning of Boncho

Boncho means Medicinal Herb in Korean (본초). It also has a double meaning to represent our philosophy: Bon (본) (本) means foundation, or root, to represent our desire to build a good foundation, holding true to the basis, root, and origin of Oriental Medicine. Cho (초) (初) means beginning, start, or inception to represent our desire to always stay true to the mission that started this company: to help those who are helping others to become healthier and happier.

 OMD Cho & Master Bon

We're the dynamic duo behind Boncho Friends. I'm Bora, the co-founder and CEO, and also a licensed acupuncturist. My partner, Isaac, is the co-founder and creative director, the brilliant artist behind all the drawings!

Both of us have backgrounds in art and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our journey with Boncho Friends began when Isaac and I met in 2018, sharing a passion for helping others become healthier and happier. We recognized the challenge that many TCM students and practitioners in the United States face in memorizing single herbs. In 2019, we decided to join forces and tackle this issue together. I gathered the information and organized, while Isaac brought each herb to life as a character and created icons for each property to aid visualization.

In 2021, I was involved in a serious car accident. Though I wasn't severely injured, it prompted me to reevaluate my priorities. I reached out to Isaac, expressing my desire to go all in on our work on Boncho Friends and support the TCM community. With a mission to "help those who are helping others become healthier and happier”, we aimed to make learning Chinese herbs simple, fun, and easy, drawing inspiration from Pokemon cards (Isaac's a huge fan!).

The road hasn't always been smooth sailing. We've had to work part-time and take on additional jobs to financially support our company. But hearing your success stories – passing school exams, board exams, becoming acupuncturists – motivated us to keep pushing forward and develop new products! 

We're incredibly grateful for our strong community that supports us with love and encouragement. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!