The Ayurvedic Medicine Industry in India

6/30/2014 The Ayurvedic Medicine Industry in India

http://www.itmonline.org/arts/ayurind.htm 1/13

return to itm online

THE AYURVEDIC MEDICINE INDUSTRY IN INDIAby Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon

Ayurvedic medicines are produced by several thousand companies in India, but most of them are quite

small, including numerous neighborhood pharmacies that compound ingredients to make their own remedies. It is

estimated that the total value of products from the entire Ayurvedic production in India is on the order of one

billion dollars (U.S.). The industry has been dominated by less than a dozen major companies for decades,

joined recently by a few others that have followed their lead, so that there are today 30 companies doing a

million dollars or more per year in business to meet the growing demand for Ayurvedic medicine. The products

of these companies are included within the broad category of "fast moving consumer goods" (FMCG; which

mainly involves foods, beverages, toiletries, cigarettes, etc.). Most of the larger Ayurvedic medicine suppliers

provide materials other than Ayurvedic internal medicines, particularly in the areas of foods and toiletries (soap,toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), where there may be some overlap with Ayurveda, such as having traditional herbal

ingredients in the composition of toiletries.

The key suppliers in Ayurveda are Dabur, Baidyanath, and Zandu, which together have about 85% of

India's domestic market. These and a handful of other companies are mentioned repeatedly by various writers

about the Ayurvedic business in India; a brief description is provided for them, arranged here from oldest tonewest:

Dabur India Ltd. is India's largest Ayurvedic medicine supplier and

the fourth largest producer of FMCG. It was established in 1884, and

had grown to a business level in 2003 of about 650 million dollars per

year, though only a fraction of that is involved with Ayurvedic medicine.

Last year, about 15% of sales volume was pharmaceuticals, theremaining 85% were mostly non-medicine items such as foods and

cosmetics. Dabur's Ayurvedic Specialities Division has over 260

medicines for treating a range of ailments and body conditions-from

common cold to chronic paralysis. These materials constitute only 7%

of Dabur's total revenue (thus, less than 50 million dollars). Dabur

Chyawanprash (herbal honey) has a market share of 70% and

chewable Hajmola Digestive Tablets has an 88% share. Other major

products are Dabur Amla Hair Oil, Vatika (Shampoo), and Lal DantManjan (Tooth Powder).

Sri Baidyanath Ayurvedic Bhawan Ltd. (Baidyanath for short) was

founded in 1917 in Calcutta, and specializes in Ayurvedic medicines,

though it has recently expanded into the FMCG sector with cosmetic

and hair care products; one of its international products is Shikakai

(soap pod) Shampoo. Baidyanath has a sales volume of about 350

http://www.itmonline.org/

http://www.dabur.com/EN/Home/Home.asp

http://www.baidyanath.com/



million dollars, but most of the product sales are in the cosmetic range.

The company reports having over 700 Ayurvedic products, made at 10

manufacturing centers, with 1,600 employees. Included items are herbalteas, patent medicines, massage oils, and chyawanprash.

Zandu Pharmaceutical Works was incorporated in Bombay in

1919, named after an 18th-century Ayurvedic. The company focuses

primarily on Ayurvedic products (in 1930, pharmaceuticals were

added, but the pharmaceutical division was separated off about 30

years later). However, today Zandu has a chemicals division and

cosmetics division. Its total sales volume is about 45 million dollars. One

of its current projects is to develop a dopamine drug from a plant

extract, applying for new drug status in the U.S.

The Himalaya Drug Company was established in 1934 in

Bangalore. It currently has a business level of about 500 million dollars

and has a U.S. distribution division (Himalaya USA). It is known in theU.S. for the product Liv-52, marketed as a liver protector and therapy

for liver diseases like viral hepatitis; the product was first marketed inIndia in 1955.

Charak Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1947, and currently hasthree distribution centers in India; it produces liquids, tablets, andveterinary supplies. It has gained a large advantage with its new productEvanova, a preparation containing 33 herbs and minerals and non-

hormonal active ingredients used as a menopause treatment alternativeto HRT. Soya is one of the main ingredients in this product. The

product also contains Ayurvedic herbs that act like selective estrogenreceptor modulators as well as asparagus root (shatavari), which

reduces the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.

Vicco Laboratories was established in 1958. It mainly producestopical therapies based on Ayurveda and is best known internationally

for its toothpaste product, Vajradanti, which has been marketed in theU.S. for more than 25 years.

The Emami Group, founded in 1974, provides a diverse range ofproducts, doing 110 million dollars of business annually, though only aportion is involved with Ayurvedic products, through its Himani line; the

company is mainly involved with toiletries and cosmetics, but alsoprovides Chyawanprash and other health products.

http://www.zanduayurveda.com/main.htm

http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/index.htm

http://www.charak.com/index.asp

http://www.viccolabs.com/index.htm

http://www.emamigroup.com/index.htm



Aimil Pharmaceuticals Ltd., incorporated in 1984 and engaged inmanufacturing and sale of both generic and proprietary Ayurvedic

medicines, with a business level of about 20 million dollars annually. Itswide range of Ayurvedic herbal formulations, covering most therapeutic

segments, was honored by the Indian government's National Award forQuality Herbal Preparations and National Award for R & D in the year

2002. It is known for its proprietary formulas for hepatitis, diabetes,menstrual disorders, digestive disorders, and urinary diseases.

Several small companies that have grown rapidly in recent years envision themselves as primary players in

the Ayurvedic market. As an example, Viswakeerthy Ayurvedic Pharmacy promotes itself as one of the largestsuppliers of Ayurvedic medicines in India. It presents the following on its website:

Viswakeerthy Ayurvedic Pharmacy, was founded by Dr. K. Mohammadkutty a great friend of

Nature and Ayurveda. Started in 1977, as a fledgling pharmacy, Viswakeerthy today is one of thelargest manufacturers of Ayurvedic Medicines with a formidable presence all over Kerala. The

dynamic leadership of Dr. K. M. Kutty, complemented by the energetic drive of his team of youngenthusiastic professionals has taken Viswakeerthy Ayurvedic Pharmacy to new heights. The

philosophy behind the inception was to "Serve Humanity Through Ayurveda-The Authentic Way" bypropagating and practicing genuine Ayurveda and producing quality Ayurvedic medicines. Today, this

philosophy has taken Viswakeerthy to new heights of Ayurvedic excellence. Realizing the importanceof standardization of medicines and the modernization of production, Viswakeerthy took thesignificant step of updating the technology of the existing pharmacy and establishing a sophisticated

private limited company, Viswakeerthy Herbals Pvt. Ltd. at Kalpakanchery, Malappuram District ofKerala.

The market for Ayurvedic internal medicines is dominated by Chyawanprash, an herbal honey comprised of

about 3 dozen ingredients, with amla (emblic myrobalans) as the key ingredient. The leader in this field is Dabur,

http://www.viswakeerthy.com/html/flashhome.htm



which had a 69% market share at the end of 2002; followed by Baidyanath, with nearly 11%, and Zandu andHimani (Emami Group) with about 7.5% each. A variety of individual herbs, traditional formulations, and

proprietary medicines make up the rest of the health products section involving internal remedies, while theremainder of the market is taken up by toothpastes and powders, skin creams, massage oils, shampoos, and

other topical preparations. Aside from Chyawanprash, the following are among the major traditional remedies:

Formula Designation Ingredients Main Uses

Triphala

Three Myrobalans

Terminalia chebula, Terminalia Belerica,

Emblica officinalis

Rejuvenative tonic,

harmonizer, treatment

for intestinal disorders

Trikatu

Three Pungents

Piper longum, Zingiber officinale, Piper

nigrum

Spicy stimulant to

digestion

TrikuluThree Fragrants

Ellettaria cardaomomum, Cinnamomumarundinacia, Eugenia caryophylla

Aromatic base fornumerous formulations

Gokshuradi GugguluTriphala plus Trikatu plus Tribulus terrestris,

Commiphora mukul, Cyperus rotundus

Treatment for urinary

tract disorders

Sitopaladi churna

Bombusa arundinacia, Cinnamomum

zeylanicum, Elettaria cardamomum Piper

longum

Alleviates cough and

associated respiratory

disorders

Two of the largest companies involved with providing traditional medicine products, such as the above, are

Himalaya Drug Company and Universal Medicaments (in Nagpur). Universal Medicaments has a joint venturefor research and manufacturing of herbal products with Cipla Ltd. and Lupin Ltd, two leading pharmaceutical

companies of India. Universal is engaged in manufacturing and exports of both pharmaceutical formulations and

research-based herbal medicines.

Exports of Ayurvedic medicines have reached a value of 100 million dollars a year (about 10% the value of

the entire Ayurvedic industry in India). About 60% of this is crude herbs (to be manufactured into products

outside India), about 30% is finished product shipped abroad for direct sales to consumers, and the remaining

10% is partially prepared products to be finished in the foreign countries (see Appendix 1 for examples ofAyurvedic distribution from India with products available worldwide).

STATUS OF AYURVEDA IN INDIAThe Indian government and non-government organizations have been collecting statistics on the Ayurvedic

system in India and these data about the manpower and institutional aspects of Ayurveda have emerged:

Number of registered medical practitioners: 366,812

Number of dispensaries: 22,100

Number of hospitals: 2,189

Number of hospital beds: 33,145

Number of teaching institutions (undergraduate): 187

Number of upgraded postgraduate departments: 51

http://www.mahassi.com/universal/



Number of specialties in postgraduate medical training: 16

Number of pharmacies manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines: 8,400

In India, 60% of registered physicians are involved in non-allopathic systems of medicine. In addition to the

nearly 400,000 Ayurvedic practitioners, there are over 170,000 homeopathic physicians; India has about

500,000 medical doctors (similar to the number in the U.S., but serving nearly 4 times as many people). Relianceon Ayurvedic medicine is heavy in certain regions of India, such as Kerala in the Southwest. Many Ayurvedic

practitioners in small villages are not registered. One of the famous clinics of India is described in Appendix 2

and a new clinic complex is serving visitors from abroad is mentioned in Appendix 3.

MODERN MARKET DEVELOPMENTSThe SAARC (South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation) was formed in 1985; its member countries areIndia, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. These countries all have been influenced

by Ayurvedic medicine. Trade in Ayurvedic medicines within the SAARC is mostly limited to raw materials that

grow in one region (e.g., high mountains, northern climate) and are then exported to other regions (e.g., lowland

southern areas). Because of the large number of very small factories that try to service the local communities,with products labeled with the local language, there is little opportunity for suppliers in one SAARC country to

send finished products to another SAARC or even abroad.

Entrepreneurs in these countries (mainly in India) seeking to break into the market for natural products have

determined, rightly, that the demand for traditional style Ayurvedic medicines both inside and outside the region is

limited, despite growth trends as high as 20% annually encountered in the late 1990s. They have aimed to bolster

interest by carrying out scientific research into promising herbs and formulas that are based on Ayurveda but notnecessarily reflecting traditional practices. Of necessity, such research eventually focuses on finding of active

ingredients, and this has led to the development of isolates from plants that are sold as "nutriceuticals"

(substances not registered as drugs, but used like nutritional and dietary supplements, sold over the counter in

various formulations with specific health benefits portrayed for them). For these, there is a growing worldwidedemand. The main suppliers of nutriceuticals are Japan, China, and the U.S., but India stands to become a

significant contributor.

As an example of development of Ayurvedic nutriceuticals, Sabinsa Corporation, a U.S. company withaffiliates in India that represents the Indian tradition, though it also takes on similar projects involving herbs from

other sources. The company was founded by Dr. Muhammed Majeed. He was born in Kerala, India; after

graduating in Pharmacy from Kerala University, Majeed emigrated to the U.S. in 1974, where he continued hisgraduate studies and then worked at pharmaceutical companies for 15 years. Then, in 1988, he founded Sabinsa

Corporation. Soon after, in 1991, Majeed set up a research and development group at Bangalore, India called

Sami Labs Ltd. That facility now has over 500 employees.

Sabinsa produces extracts and special powders such as the following (uses are typical applications sought

by product manufacturers and may not reflect traditional Ayurvedic uses):

Product Name Composition Uses

Adhatoda Vasica- (Adhatoda vasica)

Standardized Extract

1.0% vasicine

2.0% total alkaloids

respiratory support,

cough-cold aid

Amla- (Emblica officinalis) 40% tannins rejuvenating agent

http://www.saarc-sec.org/

http://www.sabinsa.com/




Andrographis paniculataStandardized Extract

10% andro-grapholides liver support

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)


1.5% withanolides

1.0% alkaloids

adaptogen

Asparagus Racemosus


2.5% shatavarin ii

2.5% shatavarin iv

Adaptogen

Bacopin (Bacopa monniera)Standardized Extract

20% bacosides a & b memory support

Bioperine (Piper nigrum)


95% piperine nutrient bioavailability

enhancer

Boswellin (Boswellia serrata)


70% total organic acids

20% β-boswellic acid

anti-inflammatory,

arthritis support

Boswellin Forte (Boswellia serrata)Standardized Extract

75% total organic acids40% ß-boswellic acid

anti-inflammatory, arthritis support

Calcium Sennosides (Cassia

angustifolia)Standardized Extract

20% total sennosides laxative action

Centellin (Centella asiatica)


8% total triterpenes skin health, general tonic

Coleus Forskohlii


1%, 10%, or 20%, or 95%

forskolin

Traditional use:

circulation support; new

uses: sports nutrition,

weight management

Curcumin C3 Complex® (Curcuma

longa)Standardized Extract

95% curcuminoids antioxidant, anti-

inflammatory

Fenusterols ® (Trigonella foenum

graecum)Standardized Extract

50% steroidal saponins sports nutrition

Ginger Dry Extract (Zingiber

officinale)


5% gingerols digestive aid

Ginger Soft Extract (Zingiber

officinale)


20% gingerols digestive aid

Gugulipid® (Commiphora mukul) 2.5% or 7.5% healthy cholesterol



Standardized Extract guggulsterones

Gymnema Sylvestre (Gymnemasylvestre)


25% or 75% gymnemicacids

healthy blood sugar

Hot Sip® (Combination of 4 herbs)Powdered Extract

combination of: Adhatodavasica, Alpinia galanga

Glycyrrhiza glabra, Piper

longum

cough & cold aid

Inula Racemosa


2% alantolactone circulation support, skin

health

Licorice - (Glycyrrhiza glabra)


20% glycyrrhizinic acid Expectorant

Momordicin® - (Momordica

charantia)


7% bitter principles

0.5% charantin

blood sugar support

Mucuna Pruriens 10% & 15% l-dopa tonic, energy

Neem Leaf Extract (Melia

azadirachta)


3% bitter principles Antiseptic

Phyllanthus Amarus (Phyllanthus

amarus)


3% bitter principles liver support

Picroliv® (Picrorhiza kurroa)


4% kutkin

8-10% bitter principle

liver support

Piper Longum


1.5% piperine respiratory support,

thermogenic

Rubia Cordifolia


0.1% total alkaloids skin health

Silbinol™ (Pterocarpus marsupium)


5% pterostilbene

0.01% (-) epicatechin min.

blood sugar support

Terminalia Arjuna


0.5% arjunolic acid circulation support

Terminalia Belerica Standardized Extract

40% tannins rejuvenating agent

Terminalia Chebula


40% tannins rejuvenating agent

Tinofolin ® (Tinospora cordifolia) 2.5% bitter principles urinary health



Standardized Extract support

Trikatu (Ayurvedic Formula)Powder

combination of Piperlongum,

Piper nigrum, Zingiber

officinale

respiratory support,thermogenic, digestive aid

Triphala (Ayurvedic Formula)


40% tannins; combination of

Terminalia belerica,

Terminalia chebula,

Emblica officinalis

digestive aid

Tulsi Extract (Ocimum sanctum)


2.0% ursolic acid blood sugar

support, rejuvenating agent

Tylophora (Tylophora

indica/asthmatica)


0.1% total alkaloids respiratory support

As examples of how traditional Ayurvedic ingredients are converted to modern products, it has been found

that myrrh yields guggulsterones and frankincense yields boswellic acids that are now in high demand. For both

these herbs, the original research and product development originated in India as part of an ongoing effort to

investigate and make more useful the tradition of Ayurvedic medicine. Much of the guggulsterone and boswellic

acid currently used in manufacturing products today comes from Sabinsa.

Guggulsterones are reputed to lower blood lipids, including cholesterol, a problem recognized currently, butnot an issue of traditional Ayurvedic medicine. The standardized nutriceutical available for most manufacturing of

products is 2.5% guggulsterones; preparations of 7.5% and of 10% guggulsterones are produced, but the high

sterone products are soft and more difficult to use in manufacturing. The Sabinsa product is trademarked

Gugulipid. Boswellic acids are reputed to have potent anti-inflammatory activity, as demonstrated in laboratory

experiments; its traditional use would indicate an anti-inflammatory action. The standardized boswellic acid

preparations list their content as 50-70% boswellic acids, though it has been suggested that these are actually

total organic acids from frankincense, with boswellic acids as the major component. The Sabinsa product istrademarked Boswellin.

This trend towards nutriceutical development has not been adopted by all. Some are still interested in

promoting the ancient tradition and sell the well-known prescriptions or make up new proprietary formulas. An

example of a company that sells complex Ayurvedic compounds is Surya Herbal in New Delhi. They are the

manufacturers and exporters of a wide range of Ayurvedic generic, branded specialties and other OTC herbal

healthcare products. The company provides 15 formulations, which match, for the most part, the categories of

natural therapeutics in demand worldwide. The products include: Memory-Loss Capsules/Syrup; Mental Stressand Fatigue Relieving Capsules; General Weakness Tonic for Men & Women; Liver Disorder Curative

Tablets/Syrup; Piles & Varicose Veins Tablets; Throat & Other Minor Infections Therapy Tablets/Syrup;

Menstrual Regulatory Capsules/Syrup; Cough Relief Tablets/Syrup; and Constipation Regulatory Tablets/Syrup.

Another example is Universal Medicaments Pvt. Ltd., a part of Universal Pharmaceuticals Group. The

company is best recognized for its formulations Karnim (Anti-diabetic supplement), Herbokam (Anti-stress



formula), Chetak (Stimulant), Tonabilin (Iron supplement), Minitone, U-Gyanetone, and Unicough Syrup. All

together, the company has about 15 main proprietary products. Key elements in both these companies is a

gradual move away from traditional Ayurvedic products to the new formulations ("research-based") and new

dosage forms (e.g., capsules and syrups to replace, as examples, teas and ghee preparations) that suit the current

demands. The direction today is to deal with broad issues, such as lowering cholesterol and lipids, lowering

blood sugar (in diabetes), and improving cardiovascular health overall. Products in high demand also include

menopause formulas, sexual stimulants, treatments for liver disease, and detoxifying regimens.

The biggest supplier of Ayurvedic herb products for the U.S. and other Western countries is Maharishi

Ayurveda Products International, Inc., currently located in Colorado. Despite its dominance in the field, which

came about because of the popularity of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in his teaching of transcendental meditation, the

company still has only a limited market presence and small staff. The Maharishi had attracted a few medical

doctors to his program, and they have been vocal proponents of the products, which is the reason for their

continued use. There are about two dozen products in their catalog.

In America, Europe, and other countries, it has long been recognized that it is difficult to promote traditionalmedicine systems because of their complexity, so individual herbs become the focus of attention. The main herb

of interest from India is ashwaganda. It is not promoted as much based on its role in Ayurveda, rather, it has

been compared, with considerable hyperbole, to ginseng, which was for many years the biggest selling medicinal

herb on the international market. So, it is called "Indian ginseng" by some (though to do so now in the U.S. is

illegal) and promoted as an "adaptogen," as a sexual tonic, and as an immune enhancer, but usually without any

reference to its characteristics as recognized by Ayurveda. It is included in formulations, but mostly with non-

Ayurvedic ingredients. Previously, the best promoted herb from Ayurveda was Centella asiatica, one type ofBrahmi. This herb became popular almost entirely on the basis of one product (which contained two other non-

Ayurvedic herbs), that was heavily promoted. Confusion over the source led to substitution of a Chinese herb in

most products recently. However, this Ayurvedic herb is still promoted as an energizer (in Ayurvedic medicine it

is a sedative), and as a tonic for the brain (which is consistent with some Ayurvedic indications for it).

There are serious problems with traditional Ayurvedic medicine in the West. In a separate article (Status of

Ayurveda in the U.S.), I have described significant barriers that exist to development of the field here, whereChinese medicine has done fairly well. Visitors to India bring back distressing stories about the status of

Ayurvedic medicine education in India, which indicates that there are problems arising in the source country.

Other issues influence the potential spread of Ayurvedic medicines. With the popularization of herbal

medicine in recent decades, along with the rapid growth in population, numerous species used in making

traditional formulas are becoming endangered. A good example is Nardostachys (jatamansi), which is now

permitted only in manufactured products and cannot be otherwise exported; it is mainly obtained in Nepal.

According to one estimate, 120 economically useful plants in India are endangered, 35 of which are said to beimportant medicinals.

Quality control issues have come to the fore, with worries about contamination of plant products by heavy

metals, pesticides, and other substances, yet few Ayurvedic factories are large enough and affluent enough to

invest in the necessary testing procedures to demonstrate the quality of the finished materials. The ones

mentioned above, Surya and Universal, do have the capabilities and produce certificates of analysis for their

batches of product that reveal test data on cleanliness and purity of the product.



September 2003

Note: The author would like to thank Lokesh Gupta, in Noida, India, for providing background

information relevant to the development of this article. Any inadvertent errors in representation of the

industry activities or its member companies are the sole responsibility of the current author.

APPENDIX 1. Ayurvedic DistributionThe development of international trade in Ayurvedic medicine came about at the same time that the internet

became a popular means of rapid communication. Most Ayurvedic suppliers provide at least minimal contacts,

and some provide extensive contacts, via the internet.

Follow this link for a sampling of 150 sites related to Ayurvedic medicine suppliers and consultants on the

internet (thanks to 123India.com).

APPENDIX 2. The Story Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, an Ayurvedic Medical Center

Founded in 1902, by Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier, the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala is

today the largest and most trusted institution of its kind in India. Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala

is a charitable institution offering authentic Ayurvedic medicines and treatments to patients

from all over India and abroad. The Arya Vaidya Sala also manages one Ayurvedic Hospital

at Kottakkal in Kerala and another at Delhi, cultivates medicinal plants, manufactures

medicines, conducts research programs, publishes books and seminar reports on Ayurveda

and related subjects, and runs a Kathakali Academy. Sri Varier, scion of an illustrious familyof Kottakkal in the Malabar region of Kerala, was a renowned Ayurvedic scholar and

academician, an able practitioner, a successful entrepreneur, and a genuine philanthropist. Sri

Varier studied Ayurveda under the classical Gurukula system. He also acquired proficiency

in the practice of Allopathy. In 1933, in recognition of his valuable services to humanity, Sri

P. S. Varier was conferred the distinguished title of "Vaidyaratna" by His Excellency the

Viceroy and Governor General of India.

http://dir.123india.com/health_and_medicine/ayurvedic/

http://www.aryavaidyasala.com/



Left: Some of the 500 Ayurvedic formulas developed by Arya Vaidya Sala; Right: Home of S. Varier, the

organization's founder.

Sri Varier, called the "savior of Ayurveda in the South" died in 1944. He had executed a will prior to his

demise, which converted his proprietary concern into a charitable trust of public nature, to be run by a trust

board consisting of seven members; as per the provisions of its founder's will, Arya Vaidya Sala functions as a

charitable trust.

Dr. P. K. Warrier,

Managing Trustee & Chief Physician

The major share of the earnings from its activities is exclusively

spent on medical aid-on both outpatient and inpatient basis-to

deserving persons. Financial support is also provided for managing

an affiliated Ayurveda college; conducting research; holdingseminars and training programs; producing books and publications;

cultivation of herbal gardens; and for running a classical dance

academy. The remaining funds are pooled back for the

development of the institution. No financial gain accrues to any

individual or family. The Trust Board is headed by Dr. P. K.

Warrier, a nephew of the founder. Dr. Warrier serves also as Chief

Physician, ably assisted by other senior and experienced physicians.

Dr. Warrier, under whose leadership Arya Vaidya Sala has growninto a large organization with 14 branch clinics, has been honored

with several awards, including the prestigious Dhanvanthari Award

for 2001.

APPENDIX 3. Ayurvedic Natural Health Center, Goa, IndiaProviding Ayruvedic health care services for tourists from around the world is one of the goals of the modernAyurvedic medicine industry. Although herb products can be shipped everywhere, the services of Ayurveda-

epitomized by the week-long Panch Karma regimen-are obtained by staying at a special clinic. The Ayurvedic

Natural Health Care Center is a group of sites in Goa where people can visit for two weeks to experience a

http://www.goahealthholidays.com/index-2.html



wide range of therapies. The Ayurvedic system is particularly focused on cleansing (detoxifying) approaches, anduses numerous methods for promoting elimination and relaxation, many of them involving application of

medicated oils.

The Ayurvedic Natural Health Care Center was established just a fewyears ago by Dr. Gopalakrishnan Valiyaveettiv. He was born in the Kerala

area where Ayurvedic medicine has a strong base. Dr. Valiyaveettiv belongedto a family specializing in Ayurveda, and he attained a vast understanding ofAyurveda from his parents. In 1990 he graduated from University, majoring in

Zoology, and then went on to formally study Ayurvedic medicine. In 1996 hecompleted his Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery from

Vaidyaratnam P.S Varier's Ayurvedic College, in Kottakkal (see Appendix1).

Herbal PharmacyA collection of Ayurvedic remedies are

available at the clinic to be prescribedaccording to the ancient system of treatingthe three doshas: vata, pitta, kapha. A

specialty of the clinic is use of Rasayana,which are the rejuvenative tonics Specific

dietary recommendations are given toaccompany the herbal preparations in

making a complete program of therapy.

Shirodhara

A continuous stream of medicated warm oil (or herbaldecoctions, medicated milk, or buttermilk) is poured

onto the forehead for 20 to 40 minutes. Thisprocedure often induces a mental state similar to atrance, which creates profound relaxation of the mind

and body. It is deeply relaxing and revitalizes thecentral nervous system. Shirodhara gives the best

results when taken after an Abhyanga, a whole bodymassage with herbal oils.



Kati BastiA special technique aimed at providing relief for back pain using warm medicated oils or herbal

decoctions when bathing the lower back for 20 to 30 minutes.

The Ayurvedic Medicine Industry in India

Documents

Transcript of The Ayurvedic Medicine Industry in India