One of my first ports of call at any new locality which we move into is the local Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala (AVS). I got introduced to this institution of Kerala while I lived and worked at that state. For a fever more than 24 years ago, I went to their clinic on M.G. Road at Kochi where I got free consultation and their trademark kashayams and aristhams to set my doshas in order and put me back in shape. I lived at Aluva for 5 years of my stint at Kerala and there I relied on Amrutham hospital of Kerala Ayurveda Pharmacy Limited (KAPL), a listed ayurvedic company. Now even AVS has a hospital at Aluva. Thereafter, at Yelahanka after we moved to Bangalore in 2000, I found out Arya Vaidya Sala has a clinic at Yelahanka New Town, which I frequented for many years. Their products did me good for Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) I developed after becoming a laptop user. At Chanidvali in Mumbai where we moved in 2007, I found out that at Powai opposite the IIT Campus in the first floor of a residential building, Arya Vaidya Sala had a franchisee. Though not very appealing, due to cramped space and dark interiors, they had a functional massage room too, where I headed for a problem back and shoulder pain. After a week's oil massage there for a nominal sum I could actually feel my muscles loosen up and become supple. At Thane where we have been for past 2.5 years I have been going to their clinic and pharmacy off Pokhran Road No.1 on the first floor of Asiatic Arcade building. AVS has 4 clinics at Thane of which the one at Brindavan Society is closest to residents of Rustomjee Urbania.
The AVS clinic at Pokhran Road No.1 filled with medications and advertisements of Arya Vaidya Sala products evokes an ambience of Kerala. There are two Malayalee staff at the pharmacy and devotional music plays in the background (at every AVS clinic you typically find Malayalee doctors and staff and most patients too are those who hail from Kerala). The store is cramped with the mezzanine set up for a masaage table and the regular floor overflowing with products. Arya Vaidya Sala now also has cosmetic products like soap and hair oil and those are promoted through small placards. At the Pokhran Road clinic, they have two doctors, one lady and another a man and they do not charge any consultation fees. Typical medication of AVS is three-fold with variations mandated by the ailment: the first, powders, prescribed traditionally, are now dispensed as tablets;. the second, extracts of medicinal plants, called asavas, are to be taken as liquids diluted in luke warm water; the third, alcohol based formulations called aristhams round up the typical three-course AVS prescription. AVS does have other formulations such as lehyams (semi-solid products like Chyavanprash) and even ointments. They are an ayurvedic company that keeps innovating the delivery mechanism of formulations always looking for user convenience and making the products appealing and acceptable to the modern generation.
At AVS pharmacies, pharmacists now thoughtfully mix tablets and liquids and give the mixture to the patient. Earlier, patients were to do that but AVS has now wisened up to making things simple and convenient to their customers by asking them only to pour out and consume mixtures They even thoughtfully give a measuring flask and one pharmacist even marks it black at the 30 ml. Mark which patients are supposed to follow. At less than five to eight hundred rupees, patients are set for a week's course of medication for minor health problem.
AVS is a great institution founded in 1902 by Vaidyarathnam P.S. Varier at Kottakkal. The small clinic he founded has now grown to a large institution that is into manufacturing, hospitals, clinics and even teaching ayurveda. As Vaidyarathnam Varier was a keen patron of the arts, they even support a well known Kathakali troupe. They have mostly text book (classical ayurveda) formulations but re-engineered for the modern age. They have products for just about everything, more so for chronic health problems. Their no consultation-fee is an indictator of their quiet social service across India and for decades now. They have 4 hospitals of their own and 27 branches (nearest one to Mumbaikars is one at Vashi, Navi Mumbai). Their products which I vouch after more than 2.5 decades of use, are the best and more importantly very effective for a range of health conditions. For an authentic ayurvedic treatment do head to the nearest Kottakkal AVS pharmacy. The great thing is through franchising, AVS has been set up throughout India at 1650 locations. It is a place Malayalees head to for nostalgia and tradition, but non-Malayalee too should head to for authentic ayurveda. In the 21st century AVS is as close you'll get to ancient ayurveda, the Indian Science of Life.