The R&D department of the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Ltd., one among the leading Ayurvedic houses in South India, has initiated a major effort to tablet the traditional Ayurvedic formulations in user-friendly form in tune to modern time, and developed a few novel drugs and herbal cosmetics.
This is the first major initiative among Ayurvedic industry to convert traditional Kaashayams, Lehyams and Choornams in to user-friendly tablet form, except for a similar ongoing effort by the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, which has experimented it for some of its drugs, according to informed industry sources.
Talking to Pharmabiz.com, Dr.P.T.Chacko, General Manager (Technical) of AVP, said the move is to popularize and change the image of Ayurvedic drugs as a not so user-friendly medicine stream for regular and easy use. "Many people do not prefer Ayurvedic drugs for its strict dosages, taste especially in case of Kashayams (in liquid form), different combinations and various procedures to be followed like certain tablets that require dilution in kashayams for consumption etc. Our effort is to popularize and make it user friendly to any people of any age and class" said Chacko.
In the first phase, AVP is converting 16 choornams (powders) into tablet form, and the process has been started for Thaleesapathram, Vyoshadhi Vadakam and Adhipathi Choornam. In the next phase, the company will make available some of its popular and fast moving Kashayams into tablets form from its product basket of more than 450 formulations.
"We have ensured to maintain the quality and efficacy of the drugs while converted into tablets. Our new WHO-GMP certified plant at Thennalapuram has the required facilities and expertise to manufacture the drugs in tablets form' said Chacko.
He said the R&D wing at AVP and its sister concern Heal Ayurvedic Products, which manufacture OTC herbal products, are launching few more value added drugs and herbal cosmetics, of which many would be in tablet form. This includes innovations like Chyavanaprasham lehyam for kids as a memory and growth enhancer, and 'Diet' Chyavanaprasham tonic for diabetic patients. Heal is launching Pookkula Lehyam for post pregnancy care, Sarppagandhadi tablet for controlling blood pressure, and Heal anti-diarrheal tablet.
AVP has also developed Ksheerabala 101 and Dhanwantharam 101 tablets, two important drugs widely used in Ayurveda for various treatments, so far in liquid form.
Another innovation of AVP is a patient-friendly drug for rheumatoid arthritis, easy to use even during travel. It is a premix of Cheriya Rsanadi kashayam and Yogaradi Gulgulu Thikthakam, which the user has to consume by just adding water to the prescribed dosage.
Heal, which has about 16 products under its fold, has developed herbal cosmetics like Mrigadi hair oil, Jwalini skin ointment and Sugandhadi general massage oil, besides contract manufacturing herbal soaps Nirmal and Nimba for a Delhi based company, said the General Manager.