IIMA - Instituto Internacional de Medicinas Alternativas

What IIMA - Instituto Internacional de Medicinas Alternativas does

IIMA - Instituto Internacional de Medicinas Alternativas, Lda. is a privately held Portuguese limited company founded in 1994 and headquartered in Perafita, Matosinhos (Avenida Mário Brito, 3667, 4455-495). It operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform at iimanature.com distributing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other Non-Conventional Therapeutics products and instruments, including acupuncture, phytotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, and chiropractic. The company also runs training and dissemination activities and serves as a supplier to registered practitioners and sector distributors.

The product portfolio spans eight categories: herbal supplements in ampoule, capsule, tablet, and infusion formats (e.g., VIGORIMA, ASTRAGALUS, ANGELICA SINENSIS); acupuncture supplies; TCM technology equipment such as TDP electrothermal lamps, SDZ-III/V and SMY-10A electroacupuncture stimulators, and TENS+EMS devices; manipulative therapy tools (Gua Sha, kinesiology tape, vacuum therapy); external-use products; aesthetic equipment (Aqualinx detox, cavitation, RF manipulators); clinical furniture (marquesas/treatment tables, stools, trolleys); and didactic materials (anatomical and acupuncture models, textbooks, posters). Items are sourced from manufacturers in China and India and distributed within the EU with VAT-inclusive consumer pricing typically ranging from roughly €10 to €400.

Revenue is generated through one-time e-commerce product sales to end consumers and through a separate professional pricing program for registered TCM practitioners and Non-Conventional Therapeutics professionals, plus training and education services. Marketing relies on the iimanature.com storefront, Facebook, Instagram, an email newsletter, and EU-funded international trade promotion. The company has only 6 employees, operates a single physical location, and does not disclose financials. Historically, exports — primarily to Angola — represented about 50% of net business income before collapsing to roughly 8% by 2017 following Angola's political-economic deterioration and the company's lag in online retail. In 2019, IIMA secured a non-reimbursable €95,598 EU grant under Portugal 2020 (project NORTE-02-0752-FEDER-043333, €212,440 total eligible spend, concluded May 2023) to overhaul its e-commerce, reposition its brand as IIMA Nature, and re-enter or enter Angola, Mozambique, Belgium, France, and the UK, targeting 32% of revenue from exports and adding four staff in marketing and e-commerce.

Name

IIMA - Instituto Internacional de Medicinas Alternativas

Legal name

IIMA - INSTITUTO INTERNACIONAL DE MEDICINAS ALTERNATIVAS, LDA

Website

https://iimanature.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IIMA is a Portuguese e-commerce distributor founded in 1994 selling Traditional Chinese Medicine products, acupuncture equipment, clinical furniture, and educational materials to TCM practitioners, sector distributors, and end consumers across the EU and Lusophone markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Traditional Chinese Medicine distribution / specialty health retail

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421), Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423450)

SIC

Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical, Dental & Lab Supply Marketplaces (CRAFAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

OTC Medicines & Consumer Health Products Distribution (CRAOAHAB), Medical Supplies & Consumables Wholesale (Non-Device) (CRAOAHAE)

Keywords

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Herbal Supplements
• Acupuncture Equipment
• Alternative Medicine
• Clinical Furniture

Headquarters

HQ city

Perafita, Matosinhos

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (E-commerce): Sale of TCM products including herbal supplements, acupuncture equipment, clinical furniture, educational materials, and aesthetic devices through their online store. Products are sold to both professionals and end consumers.
2. Training and Education Services: IIMA provides training solutions in alternative medicine for all knowledge levels with diverse specializations and schedules adapted to professional needs.
3. Professional Accounts: Exclusive pricing programs for registered TCM professionals, distributors, and practitioners with account activation requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IIMA distributes and retails Traditional Chinese Medicine products, alternative-medicine equipment, clinical furniture, and didactic materials through its own Portuguese e-commerce store (iimanature.com) and a physical store at its Perafita, Matosinhos headquarters, while also providing training and dissemination services in TCM and other Non-Conventional Therapeutics. The range spans herbal supplements in ampoule/capsule/tablet/tea formats, acupuncture supplies, TDP lamps, electroacupuncture and laser devices, manipulative therapy tools, external-use products, aesthetic equipment, treatment tables, anatomical models, and textbooks. A separate Professional Account programme offers exclusive pricing to registered TCM practitioners and distributors, and the company runs training/education programmes across TCM, acupuncture, phytotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, and chiropractic.

Product overview

IIMA operates as an e-commerce platform specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and non-conventional therapies. Since 1994, the company has been dedicated to training, dissemination, and distribution of products and instruments in TCM and other alternative therapies. The product portfolio is organized across eight main categories: (1) Fitoterapia - herbal supplements in various forms including branded products like VIGORIMA, ASTRAGALUS, and ANGELICA SINENSIS targeting various health conditions; (2) Acupuntura - acupuncture supplies and needles; (3) Tecnologia MTC - TCM technology equipment including TDP lamps (electrothermal therapeutic plates), electroacupuncture stimulators (SDZ-III, SDZ-V, SMY-10A), TENS+EMS devices, laser equipment, and acupuncture point detectors; (4) Técnicas Manipulativas - manipulative therapy tools including Gua Sha instruments, Kinesiology tape, vacuum therapy pumps; (5) Uso Externo - external use products; (6) Estética - aesthetic equipment including aqualinx detox devices, cavitation machines, and RF (radiofrequency) handles; (7) Mobiliário Clínico - clinical furniture including treatment tables (marquesas) in various configurations and colors, stools, trolleys; (8) Material Didático - educational materials including anatomical models, acupuncture models, textbooks and posters. The platform also offers B2B pricing for authorized professional customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Nature: Herbal supplement product line sold through the IIMA online store.

Products and services

• Herbal Supplements (Fitoterapia) Curated collection of TCM herbal supplements sold in ampoule, capsule, tablet, and tea/infusion formats, covering formulations (e.g., Green Nature line) intended for Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and individual consumers.
• Acupuncture Supplies Acupuncture needles, accessories, and specialised tools for acupuncture practice, offered to TCM practitioners and clinics.
• TCM Technology Equipment (Tecnologia MTC) Traditional Chinese Medicine technology equipment such as TDP electrothermal lamps, SDZ-III, SDZ-V and SMY-10A electrostimulators, laser acupuncture devices, and acupuncture point detectors for clinical use.
• Manipulative Therapy Tools (Técnicas Manipulativas) Tools and instruments for manipulative therapy techniques, including Gua Sha instruments, Kinesiology tape, vacuum therapy pumps, and sphygmomanometers.
• External Use Products (Uso Externo) Products designed for external application as part of alternative-medicine treatments.
• Aesthetic Equipment (Estética) Aesthetic and body-contouring equipment including Aqualinx detox devices (€243.54), cavitation handles (40KHz, €263.82), and bipolar/monopolar/tripolar RF manipulators with control plates.
• Clinical Furniture (Mobiliário Clínico) Clinical furniture including 2- and 3-section treatment tables (marquesas) in various materials and colours (e.g., MARQUESA-205 at €204.32, MARQUESA-302 at €235.75), stools, and transport trolleys.
• Educational Materials (Material Didático) Didactic and training materials for TCM and alternative-medicine education: anatomical models (skeletons, vertebrae, hearts, skulls), acupuncture ear and body models, horse acupuncture models, textbooks such as Auriculotherapy Practice, Modern Acupuncture, and Acupuncture Anesthesia Principles, plus anatomical posters.
• Training and Education Services in Alternative Medicine Training and dissemination services covering Traditional Chinese Medicine and other Non-Conventional Therapeutics (acupuncture, phytotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic), with multiple specialisations and schedules adapted to professional needs.
• VIGORIMA AMPOLAS Herbal supplement in ampoule form containing Mel, Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, Fructus Lycii, Polygonum multiflorum, Curculigo orchioides, Radix Morindae officinalis, Desertliving Cistanche, and pear juice; sold at €29.46 (VAT included).
• ASTRAGALUS Herbal Supplement Herbal supplement ampoule containing Radix Astragalus membranaceous, Fructus Lycium barbarum, Radix Glycyrrhiza glabra, Sucralose, and purified water; sold in boxes of 30 ampoules.
• ANGELICA SINENSIS Herbal Supplement Herbal supplement ampoule containing Angelica sinensis extract (8000 mg), Schisandra chinensis extract (400 mg), Acacia honey (8400 mg), potassium sorbate, and purified water; sold in boxes of 30 ampoules.
• TDP Lamps (Electrothermal Therapeutic Plates) TDP lamps with mineral plates that emit far-infrared heat, in models including TDP-CQ27 (single small head 124 mm), TDP-CQ33 (two large heads 166 mm), TDP-CQ36 (single large head 166 mm with digital timer), and TDP-LY607A (digital, large head); priced from €178 to €368.
• Electroacupuncture Stimulators Electroacupuncture devices including SDZ-III, SDZ-V, and the computerized SMY-10A model; priced from €157 to €409 for clinical acupuncture use.
• TENS + EMS Digital Equipment (TE-14) Digital TENS + EMS device (TE-14 model) priced at €185.87, used for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and electrical muscle stimulation in clinical settings.
• Clinical Treatment Tables (Marquesas) Wooden clinical treatment tables with 2 or 3 sections in colours such as blue, beige, black, cream, and violet; models include MARQUESA-205 (2 sections) at €204.32 and MARQUESA-302 (3 sections) at €235.75.
• AQUALINX DETOX Aesthetic Device Two-output detox/aesthetic device priced at €243.54, supplied with basin and accessories for aesthetic treatments.
• Cavitation and RF Equipment Cavitation and radio-frequency equipment including 40 KHz cavitation handles (€263.82), bipolar RF handles (€211.83), monopolar and tripolar RF handles, and control plates for aesthetic treatments.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mayway Corporation: Long-established US-based distributor of Chinese herbal medicine products and acupuncture supplies, serving both practitioners and consumers. Directly comparable as a wholesale/B2B distributor of TCM herbs, supplements, and clinical supplies with a professional-practitioner customer base.
• Spring Wind Herbs: Supplier of Chinese herbal products and topical preparations for licensed practitioners. Comparable product focus on TCM herbs and external-use formulations targeting professional acupuncturists and herbalists.
• Lhasa OMS: Specialist distributor of Chinese herbs, acupuncture supplies, and TCM equipment to licensed practitioners. Closely comparable product mix (herbs, needles, moxa, clinical accessories) and professional-only B2B distribution model.
• Golden Flower Chinese Herbs: Manufacturer and distributor of Chinese herbal formulas and supplements, including branded granule and tablet lines. Directly comparable as a TCM-formula supplier with practitioner channels and international distribution.
• Eastern Currents: Canadian distributor of acupuncture and TCM supplies including needles, electro-stimulation devices, and herbal products. Comparable as a specialty B2B distributor combining TCM equipment and herbal supplements under one roof.
• KPC Herbs: Taiwan-based manufacturer and distributor of concentrated Chinese herbal extracts and supplements. Comparable in distributing branded Chinese herbal formulations through professional channels with international shipping.

Regional players

• Arkopharma: French pharmaceutical laboratory specializing in natural health products and phytotherapy. Comparable as a European player in plant-based health products, though focused on broader herbal medicine rather than traditional Chinese medicine specifically.
• Dietmed: Portuguese dietary supplement and natural health product company. Comparable as a Portuguese-market natural health products operator, though broader than TCM and not focused on acupuncture equipment.

Broad incumbents

• Solgar: Global vitamin and dietary supplement brand with strong European retail distribution. Comparable only at the consumer-supplement layer; does not address TCM-specific equipment or professional practitioner channels.
• Holland & Barrett: Major European health-food and supplement retailer with extensive herbal, vitamin, and natural health ranges. Comparable only at the consumer-health retail layer; not a TCM specialist and does not serve professional practitioner needs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/iimanature
• Instagraminstagram.com/iimanature
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iima---instituto-internacional-de-medicinas-alternativas

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IIMA - Instituto Internacional de Medicinas Alternativas