AYUSH , Kottakkal Heralding the Renaissance of Ayurveda

P S Varier’s historic first The Mantle passes on to Dr P K Warrier step...... Marrying tradition with technology n 1902, Vaidyaratnam P.S. Dr P.K. Warrier, the nephew of P.S. Varier, is the Varier set out on his pioneer- present Managing Trustee and Chief Physician of Arya Iing journey to revive the tra- Vaidya Sala. He introduced technology in drug manufac- ditional Indian healthcare sys- ture, improvements in dosage presentation, new research tem of Ayurveda, with a modest and documentation activities, enhanced medicinal plant beginning at Kottakkal, a small cultivation and brought in overall modernisation in every village at that time, nestling in domain of AVS operations, which resulted in the growth refreshing verdant surround- and expansion of AVS. He is instrumental in scaling up ings in the Malappuram district P. S. Varier, Founder of Arya the hoary tradition of Ayurveda into a modern day medi- Vaidya Sala (AVS) cal discipline. He is the recipient of numer- ous accolades includ- of . That was a ing the Padmabhushan time when ayurveda award. Following the was passing through a demise of the founder, dark phase in its cen- P.S. Varier, in 1944, and turies old history with as per the provisions of both the government his reputed will, Arya and Indians neglecting Vaidya Sala became ayurveda. Equipped a charitable trust. Its with his arduous gu- management was vest- rukula training in the ed in a Board of trustees science and practice comprising a managing of ayurveda and with trustee and six other further practical train- trustees including P. ing in modern medi- cine (allopathy) and, motivated by a clearly thought out th Raghava Varier, C.A. Varier, mission, he established Arya Vaidya Sala on 12 October, Dr. N.S. Unnikrishnan, Dr. P. 1902 in his true spirit of entrepreneurship. This became Madhavankutty Varier, Dr. the historic first step from the visionary P S Varier that K. Muraleedharan and Adv. led to the revival and resuscitation of ayurveda in . C.E. Unnikrishnan. From its humble origins as a village clinic, it has had a remarkable journey, having grown into a leading multi- unit, multi-disciplinary and multi-crore organisation. In 1917, P.S. Varier established the Arya Vaidya Pathasala, ….And Today one of the first educational institutions that taught Today, Arya Vaidya Sala Ayurveda. He introduced innovative methods of produc- (AVS) has become a name tion and distribution. synonymous with authentic ayurveda. Kottakal has come to be recognized as a global Dr. P.K. Warrier, Managing destination which offers a Trustee and Chief Physician

88 The Indian Practitioner, Annual q Vol.68. No.6. June 2015 AYUSH

Centre for Medicinal Plants Research (CMPR) new lease of quality life to the suffering humanity. AVS 700 different types of raw herbs are sourced from across has now grown into a multi-unit, multi-disciplinary and the country for producing these medicines. The raw ma- multi-crore charitable organisation with considerable terials and the medicines pass through rigorous quality presence in clinical service, medicine manufacture, re- check by employing modern scientific methods. search, documentation and allied functions. AVS offers classical ayurvedic medicines and authentic ayurvedic treatments and therapies to patients from all over India A centre of excellence in medicinal plants research and abroad. About 30 percent of those seeking treatment As part of its activities to strengthen the knowledge and care at Kottakkal are from foreign countries. AVS base of ayurveda as well as to spread the message of manages hospitals at Kottakkal, Delhi, Kochi and Aluva, ayurvedic healing system, AVS is proactively engaged in where all the classical ayurvedic medicines, therapies research and educational efforts. and expert medical advice are available. All these hospi- The Centre for Medicinal Plants Research (CMPR) was tals are provided with spacious and comfortable living set up in 2003 to address the very crucial issues of quality area and treatment rooms. The hospitals are managed by and quantity of medicinal plants which are facing a grave experienced senior physicians with the support of other threat of extinction. Inaugurated by the then President of able physicians, skilled para-medical and support staff. India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, is now recognized by the Care is always taken to ensure that proper palliative mea- Central Government as a centre of excellence. Several sures and standard comforts are provided to the patients collaborative research programmes are undertaken here and their families. AVS has two modern medicine manu- jointly with ICMR, DBT, AYUSH, etc as it is affiliated to facturing units, has well equipped quality control labs, Kannur University as a learning centre. Other research has research activities, publishes ayurvedic periodicals activities in progress at AVS pertain to areas of clinical re- and books, cultivates medicinal plants and conducts edu- search, process improvement and new drug development. cational programmes. Parallel allopathic treatment is also Some of these programmes are taken up in collaboration available. AVS operates three GMP accredited drug man- with national apex bodies like DST, DAE, IIT, MAHE, etc. ufacturing units at Kottakal, Palghat and Nanjangud. The The publications department of AVS publishes a quarter- unit at Nanjangud, Karnataka is the latest one which is ly journal on ayurveda, apart from bringing out reference dedicated to the production of a series of new-generation manuals and other texts in , Hindi, Sanskrit formulations. and English. Holding of annual ayurveda seminars and More than 500 classical formulations are manufac- other academic events also forms part of the activities di- tured at the two factories at Kottakal and Kanjikode and rected to propagating the practice of ayurveda. they are made available to patients across the country through 27 branch clinics and more than 1600 authorised Truly, P.S. Varier’s pioneering efforts have led to dealers. Another 25 new-generation formulations are pro- the resurrection and renaissance of ayurveda, not only duced at the new unit at Nanangud. All the three factories in India, but also globally. No wonder, a small town, are GMP accredited. The medicines are prepared based Kottakal, has now become a generic word for Ayurveda. essentially on classical specifications. Simultaneously, ap- propriate technology has been incorporated. More than X

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