The Chennai-based Cholayil group, manufacturers of the largest selling Ayurvedic soap Medimix, has initiated the new concept of 'food and healthcare multiplexes,' with a view to help people live and enjoy life with nature and to find effective solutions to health disorders and lifestyle diseases.

Cholayil has floated a separate entity 'Cholayil Sanjeevanam' to set up at least ten food and healthcare multiplexes in India and abroad within the next three years, and to set up a nature-cure theme village and treatment complex at its 140 acre medicinal plant garden at Vengal, abut 60 kilometers from Chennai. The food and healthcare multiplex in Chennai, set up at an investment of over Rs 2.5 crore, took off since July 5, this year.

"We are looking at ten centres in India, especially B class cities like Mangalore, Kochi etc. for setting up the multiplexes. Already we have enquiries from London and a few overseas countries for franchisee partnership to start multiplexes. We are yet to decide on this option, as our plan is to have the standards set up in Chennai in other centers as well, in terms of infrastructure and professional quality. As far as Cholayil is concerned, this is part of our brand-building exercise and our commitment to keep up our tradition and to propagate healthy way of living in tune to nature," A V Anoop, director, Cholayil told Pharmabiz.

The healthcare theme park and treatment centre at Vengal is likely to be ready within the next five to six months. Initially, the 140-acre healthcare village will have about ten cottages offering advanced naturopathy and Ayurvedic treatment facilities. Set in an ambience of scenic and stress free environment in the backdrop of the medicinal herb garden with over 300 species of rare herbs, the healthcare village will have replicas of state and culture specific ethnic village life, besides yoga therapy center and aroma therapy centre. "Already we have land and the herbal garden. Rest of the infrastructure is being created at an investment of another Rs 2 to 2.5 crore," said Anoop.

Elaborating on the concept of healthcare and food multiplex, he said the concept hinges on five basic elements of life, the Panchabhoothas, and its harmonious blending for a healthy living. The basic idea is promote the concept of healthy living in tune to the nature to avoid diseases instead of relying on treating and curing the diseases.

Considering the modern day healthcare needs and lifestyle diseases, Cholayil Sanjeevanam constitutes of five state of the art branches, the Sanjeevanam Punarjanee therapeutic centre for Ayurveda and naturopathy, Yauvanam -a natural hair and face care centre, Kadalivanam health restaurant and natural food products store, Maya Yoga centre, Srushtee natural product store and Thriveni, a banquet hall.

Punarjanee, a combination of Ayurveda, naturopathy and yoga treatments, has modern diagnostic tools and equipment and is manned by a team of six senior doctors and support staff. Therapies include Panchakarma, sirodhara, Pizhichil, Navarakkizhi, Ilakkizhi, nethra tharpanam, Sirolepanam, Sirovasthi and specialized treatments. Hydrotherapy facilities like spinal spray, hip-sitz spinal spray combo bath, under water massage, steam-mist bath, diet therapy, massage therapy, mud therapy, magneto therapy, acupressure, acupuncture etc will be available here.