AyurvedNews.com

Himalaya Drug Company plans to expand its retail presence over the next two years, focusing on “differentiated products that will marry science with cosmetics,” according to Saket Gore, business head for Himalaya’s consumer products division.

The company plans to ramp up the count of its exclusive stores to 300 by the end of 2009, from the present 150. it also reports success in experimenting with 60-70 sq ft self-contained shop-in-shop model in large retail format departmental stores. It now plans to will set up more of them.

According to the company, the shop-in-shop model worked really well in the South, which has seen a proliferation of 30 such shops.

Himalaya markets 130 products across various divisions, including pharmaceuticals and consumer products. The consumer products division’s focus at the present time is on skin, hair and oral care segments. The company reportedly has several launches in the offing over the coming months, and is capitalising on the ‘neem’ category by developing a complete range around it.

The ‘neem’ category includes a face wash, face pack, neem supplement, with the company planning the launch of a soap and a face wash in a different delivery format sometime soon. The neem face wash is the largest independently selling product in the category with a 16 per cent market share, even though Garnier has a larger 18.5 per cent share of the market in the category, on account of a larger number of variants.

Himalaya’s consumer products division reports the skincare segment growing at 30-35 per cent annually, accounting for 50 per cent of the turnover. The hair care segment bring in 32 per cent of turnover. The company has launched a new TVC, which urges consumers make Himalaya their first option, not the last resort.

In a shift in its advertising strategy, the company has launched a new TVC, significant in that this is intended to be a sustained campaign after a gap of almost three years. Earlier advertising, a year ago, was sporadic. This advertising urges consumers to turn to Himalaya first, not as a last resort. It has also dispensed with the grandmother that the company’s advertising was famous for, as its objective now is to appeal to youth. “The older advertising established the brand, spoke of the relevance and efficacy of Ayurveda. Now, we need to speak to the youth,” says Mr Gore.

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Ayurveda and Yoga – Where Science Meets Consciousness, an International Conference, co-promoted by Spiritual Journeys, Inc. will be held in Rishikesh, India, 21 to 25 February, 2008

Boston, MA, October 17, 2007 –(PR.com)– Ayurveda and Yoga have their origin in the Vedas, and thus share the same fundamental philosophical aims. Ayurveda’s predominant current aim is the treatment of disease, whilst Yoga has aimed at spiritual development. For communities following these lifestyles, the diet and lifestyle regimen propounded by Ayurveda was, and to some extent still is, the foundation for an all round sense of well-being. Yoga too was traditionally practiced in the context of an Ayurveda lifestyle. Today, these two sister knowledge systems have developed their own identities and are seemingly going their separate ways. Thus, many practitioners of Yoga are unfamiliar with the principles of Ayurveda, and likewise practitioners of Ayurveda fail to appreciate the significance of integrating Yoga practice into their treatment regimes.

This international conference will delve deeper into the respective practices, as well as exchange ideas, views and aspirations by bringing some of the world’s most renowned practitioners of Ayurveda and Yoga together on a common platform to explore the relationship between Ayurveda and the practice of Yoga. Combining the wisdoms of Ayurveda, the Knowledge of Life, and Yoga, the practice of which brings about the Union of Mind, Body and Soul, enables us to come to a more profound understanding and experience of physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

For more information contact:
Spiritual Journeys, Inc
Deepak Singh
508-358-4267
deepak@spiritualjourneys.net
www.spiritualjourneys.net

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Chandigarh, October 15: A high-level committee headed by S K Mishra on Monday presented an interim report and a draft bill for setting up an Ayurveda University at Kharkan in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab.

As per the draft bill of the Punjab Ayurveda University Act, 2007, the varsity would have the power to grant recognition to all institutes providing education in non-allopathic systems including Ayurveda, Homeopathy and other streams, an official spokesman said here.

Besides, it would have full control for affiliation, academic and administrative autonomy and standardization of curriculum of all non-allopathic systems of education.

The bill also suggested standardization of education for non-allopathic streams with a focus on research and development activities in these fields. It also suggested setting up of specialization in these fields by introducing post-graduate courses, the spokesman said.

A herbal garden on piece of land measuring five acre would come up in proposed campus to provide on-hand education to the students and also to provide seeds of rare herbs to the small farmers. The draft also suggested a special package for small farmers opting for   the cultivation of herbs in Punjab.

Source: PTI

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Ludhiana, October 14:  Anubhuti Chiktsa Sambhasa Parishad today held a conference on promoting the Ayurvedic system of medicine at Arya College.

Medical Education and Research Minister Tikshan Sood, various Ayurvedic experts, doctors and students participated in the conference. The conference focused on fighting diseases like cancer through ayurveda.

Speaking at the function, Sood said that he was committed to promoting the Ayurvedic system in the state. He added that the state would soon have an AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) University that would benefit the alternate systems of medicines.

When asked about the lack of basic facilities like telephone that the District Ayurvedic Office still does not have, Sood replied, “Even the offices that are equipped with telephones may not work properly. It is not necessary that lack of telephone is looked upon as some kind of setback for the department.” He added that the government would ensure that the district office soon has connectivity through telephone.

Various Ayurvedic doctors and experts from all across the state, Delhi and Aligarh took part in the conference. Those present on the occasion included Dr Ashwani Sharma, Director AYUSH and also principal of Government Ayurvedic College, Dr RD Kaushal, District Ayurvedic Officer, and others.

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Renowned yoga guru Swami Ramdev is holding a week-long workshop in Toronto from October 12 to teach his unique brand of pranayama (breathing) exercises, which has won him thousands of followers across the world.

The yoga exponent had recently toured the US and Britain. “The week-long workshop will provide an opportunity to Canadians to get a feel for the anatomy of poses and pranayama, where asana and Buddhist mindfulness merge,” said Anil Bhasin, spokesperson for the workshop.

Bhasin said the workshop, which will begin on October 12, would provide an opportunity for participants to “invoke their innermost ‘centre of excellence’ or the link between spiritual and social activism”.

Ramdev will also impart training on how to apply the benefits
of yoga in personal relationships, he said.“Yoga concentrates on breathing techniques called Pranayama, postures for body flexibility and alignment, and creating a higher consciousness level by harmonising the body and mind for stress free living,” Bhasin added.

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THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore, on the birth centenary year of its founder, Arya Vaidyan P.V.Rama Varier, is opening a new in-patient wing at Peroorkada. The outlet will be functioning opposite to the Thankamma Stadium. The centre will be equipped with three treatment rooms. The Panchakarma centre will have facilities to perform all kinds of traditional ayurveda treatments, ayurveda body care and beauty therapies. The two-tier birth centenary programmes have been designed as a year long programme by the institution. Regional celebrations will be organized in all districts where Arya Vaidya Pharmacy branches are functioning. In connection with the celebrations an eminent Ayurveda practitioner from each district who has contributed significantly to the growth and development of Ayurveda will be honoured by the company.

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Bangalore, Oct 7: To make Ayurveda more appealing to the younger generation, it should be reinvented and made relevant, said G.G Gangadharan, Joint Director of the Foundation for Revitalization for Local Health Traditions (FRLHT).

Speaking at a seminar on the “Contribution of the Indian philosophical systems to Ayurveda” organised by FRLHT here on Saturday, Dr. Gangadharan said this traditional system of medicine should be brought into the mainstream. Traditional food occupied an important place in Ayurveda and they should be studied in depth, said A.V. Prakash, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore.

India had more than 15,000 traditional food. Traditional formulations and nutraceuticals had preventive properties that helped the body to fight infections, he said.

These traditional systems of health care should be supported by science and research. “Science might have difficulty in proving the benefits of traditional systems such as Ayurveda. Even if it does not validate this system, science should at least try to support it for the time being,” he said.

The event was supported by the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Himalaya Drug Company and Arya Vaidya Pharmacy.

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New York, Oct 7: The ancient Hindu healing methods of Yoga and Ayurveda have found an increasing number of Americans learning the Indian practices.

Numerous Yoga and Ayurveda centres now dot New York City, which offer meditation and exercise sessions.

The Prana Mandir, a yoga studio in New York, is just one of the several centres that are mushrooming in the city and offers it clients’, classes in the principles of Ayurveda and also different forms of Yoga, which include Kundalini Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and also meditation.

Bhaswati Bhattacharya, a Yoga and Ayurveda instructor, at the Prana Mandir said the response has been tremendous.

“We do find them to be receptive and they do come to the classes wanting to learn about Ayurveda, wanting to learn about natural and holistic health and wanting to learn how to better their own practise and how to take care of themselves,” she said.

While Ayurveda (”ayu” means life and “veda” knowledge in Sanskrit) is an ancient Indian system of holistic healing with herbs, metals and minerals that are believed to have therapeutic benefits, Yoga - which literally means the union of body and mind - is an ancient school of Hindu philosophy that prescribes physical and mental disciplines for attaining oneness with the ‘Supreme Being.’
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Oct 6, Mumbai, India: Leading ayurveds in Maharashtra have welcomed the state government’s decision to constitute a study group under the chairmanship of the Minister of Medical Education and Research.

Addressing the media today, leading ayurved Vaidya Ravi Sharma said ”We have been demanding a separate university for Ayurveda for a very long time and the government’s decision to set up a second study group will benefit the people, who are interested in studying Ayurveda.” States like Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Gujarat have a university for Ayurveda and many other states are following suit.

Mr Sharma added that there are 2 Ayurveda colleges in America, which has recognised the importance of this branch of medicine.

Maharashtra, however, is lagging behind in this section, he lamented.

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The Union Commerce Ministry has decided to make the proposed ‘certification scheme’ for the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani exporters voluntary for one year after which the ministry will assess the scheme to make it mandatory for exporting these products.

Earlier, the ministry’s proposal had evoked stiff resistance from the ayurveda industry which termed the scheme as introduction of yet another inspection agency and would increase the time and cost for the products being exported from the country.

According to sources in the Union Commerce Ministry, a decision to this effect was taken at a recent meeting chaired by joint secretary, commerce ministry, Rajiv Kher. The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the department of Ayush.

As per the decision, the ministry will soon issue a notification making the certification scheme voluntary for the exporters of ayurveda, sidda and unani (ASU) for one year. During this one year, the ASU exporters will be free to use the certification scheme to prove their quality standards. If they wish to use the certification scheme they can use it or they can use their own mechanism to ensure quality standards.

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