How has Ayurveda Transitioned from a Traditional Practice to a Business opportunity?
The faith in the power of nature is limitless. Our ancestors had survived their days with the help and care of nature. In their time, there was no technology which could provide them with cures that are possible now. Time has evolved and now we are blessed with medicines and treatments that are capable of saving lives but using natural ingredients hasn’t gone anywhere. Ayurveda has been an integral part of lives since time immemorial. With more than 5000 years, Ayurveda has been the trusted medicinal system of many people. It is the most traditional form of treatment and still remains to be one. After losing its appeal to chemical based products and making a comeback, Ayurveda has gained back the lost interest of its customers.
Ayurveda- The Combination of Nature and Science
India is known for the emergence of various effective medicines with the help of Mother Nature. Ayurveda has been a part of our tradition and culture since a very long time. Using herbs, shrubs and various other plants with medicinal [properties has been used extensively in India. In earlier times, present day inventions were not a possibility but human race has to exist anyhow. Ayurveda has helped many generations to build health and high energy levels in the absence of the best technologies. It is a combination of nature and science which has been a boon to the mankind. Our traditional medicinal systems- Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, are mentioned in our Vedas and used all over the world. Their popularity originated from India and is now helping the world to heal and attain good health.
The Evolution
The emergence of Ayurveda can be traced back to more than 5000 years. The concept of using medicinal properties and giving the gift of life through it came to be known as Ayurveda. It appeared and developed between 2500 and 500 BC in India. The ancient system of healthcare was focused mainly on the human beings and their illnesses. Since Ayurveda provided a cure to life threatening illnesses, it gained the synonym of ‘the science of life and longevity’. Ayurveda’s capability to offer a long and healthy life through its various treatments and uses has been trusted and brought in use extensively. From using just plants and their juices for treatments to manufacturing pills, syrups, balms, ointments, soaps, lotions and what not the journey of Ayurveda has been an interesting one. Even in the 21st century, the human race is heavily dependent on the power of Ayurveda and swears by its magic of treating any and every health problem with ease.
The Industry
Various brands have taken up Ayurveda as a business as the popularity and need for it has been constantly growing. Ayurveda has grown to a good extent in terms of showcasing business opportunities and it still tends to attract so many more names to its market. Brands like Patanjali, Baidyanath, Dabur, Himalaya, Emami etc are all in the ayurveda industry since a long time. They have been creating and manufacturing products that are helpful to the customers and still see so much potential in the market which needs to be explored. Not only has the market been competitive for the already existing brands but it has been also attracting a quite a lot of new brands too. Some of the new names in the ayurveda game are Lever Ayush, Pratima, Jiva Apoha, Arya Essentials, and many others.
Expert Speak
“I would say that it is not a comeback; it is like that more people have got aware and more awareness has been created as there are many players in the Ayurveda market right now. Earlier, there were only a handful of traditional practitioners in the market and the information that used to go through them was also used to reach very less number of people. There are now a lot many corporates and new companies that are entering the Ayurveda sector. A lot of importance is being given to creating awareness about ayurveda. If we take Soothika, our objective is not only manufacturing and selling but also creating awareness about the need for postnatal care. I think it is a matter of content marketing savvy organisations that are in the ayurveda market who are creating more awareness. New target audiences are also joining in and becoming a part of this ayurveda journey. I would like to say that the number of people that come across ayurveda, maximum number of them become a fan of it as they realise how nature is caring for them, says Rekha Babu, Founder, Soothika.
The Ayurveda industry in India is now going in the right direction. Post government’s initiative in terms of patents, GST implication and benefit and Ayush ministry’s support; the awareness has been massive and hence, the ancient medicine is now widely getting accepted by the youth. Being a fusion of Spirituality and Science, Ayurveda is gaining huge mass appeal. Ayurveda has been going on for thousands of years, and there is no reason that it will not go on for more than thousands of years. It is a very effective means of treatment in India and is now being accepted and adopted by countries across the globe, says Chandrakala Purohit, Chief Operating Officer, JMD Medico.
Conclusion
As we celebrate National Ayurveda Day today along with Dhanteras, it gives full support to the concept of ‘health is wealth’ which we need to keep in our mind at all the times. Ayurveda has made a long and quite interesting journey from being a part of ancient treatments by Vaids to being manufactured in small capsules. Ayurvedic medicines are being used by more than 60% of the Indian population and it has also gained a lot of steam abroad. With the success of many brands in the Ayurvedic industry, it is clear that there is a lot of growth and scope in it. In the times to come, people are going to adopt more of ayurveda as the awareness grows.
