The Pharmaceutical Corporation (Indian Medicines) Kerala Ltd or Oushadhi is a herbal Ayurvedic medicines production company under the direct control of Kerala Government. Instituted in 1975, it supplies Ayurvedic medicines to 1,000 plus Ayurvedic treatment centers functioning under Kerala Govt. Their medicines are also available in the market. The company also supplies medicines to other state Governments in India. Madhya Pradesh, Rajashthan, Haryana, Maharasthra, Punjab, Chathisgarh, Orissa, state agencies and Pondichery source Ayurvedic medicines from Oushadhi.

The annual national conference aimed at education on medicinal plants is conducted under the aegis of Oushadhi. Continuing Medical Education for Ayurvedic practitioners is another positive step by the company. It has a wide product range of more than 450 medicines, 15 of them are patented to the company.

An Ayurvedic hospital with panchakarma treatment facilities is the latest major development by the company.

Tradition has a prominent position in the method of medicine production and treatment methods adopted at Dhanwantary Vaidyasala. No one feel wondered at the use of earthen pots and tanks to prepare and store medicines, if he knows that a person who has completed his education in ancient gurukula is behind this Vaidyasala. CNN Namboodiri started a small vaidyasala (Ayurvedic treatment center at his home at Thodupuzha in Kerala.

Now the Vaidyasala has grown to a 25-bed capacity hospital, Dhanwantary Vaidyasala. The pharmaceutical department of the vaidyasala produces 310 medicines. They also produce 26 other medicines for exclusive in house use at the vaidyasala.

Dhanwantary Vaidyasala is not so much open to manipulation of traditional methods for the sake of modernity. Persons seeking Ayurvedic treatment must reach the hospital. However, online consultancy is provided. Treatment directions are given over internet. Many patients from countries like Germany, Australia etc reach the vaidyasala.

Dhanwantary Ayurvedics was started as a small unit in 1989, their first product was Pankajakasthuri, a natural herbal granule mix to prevent and treat a variety of respiratory diseases including asthma. The product was an instant hit among the people of Kerala, India, South Asian and Gulf countries.

The quick growth of the company prompted its director, Dr. Harindran Nair to rename the company to its flagship product. Thus Dhanwantary Ayurvedics was renamed Pankajakasthuri Herbals India Ltd.

The R & D division of Pankajakasthuri herbals has developed several products like Ilogen Excel for diabetic patients, Somoton for BP related problems; PK tablets for Asthma are few among them. LiveCare Plus tablets for Hepatitis, Pectotone capsules for peptic ulcer, Orthornervin tablets for arthritis, Dermotone tablets for skin diseases, Urotone capsules to treat kidney and bladder stones, etc are also patented to Pankajakasthuri Herbals.

Herbal cosmetics products from Pankajakasthuri include Kaveri Herbal Fairness Cream, Kasthuri herbal soap, Kasthuri sandal soap. Kasthuri Baby Soap is one of the first herbal baby soaps. Kasthuri hair tonic is a herbal oil for the protection of hair.

Research and Development wing, Pankajakasthuri Herbal Research Foundation does researches on variety of medicinal herbs available in the country. The main research is to utilize the power of plant biotechnology for the general benefit of humankind. The attached herbal garden has more than 300 different medicinal plants.

Pankajakasthuri Panchakarma Centers spread across the state are licensed centers to provide panchakarma therapy. The company has started a training center for Ayurvedic therapy methods, which now has grown into a full fledged Ayurvedic medical college. Pankajakasthuri Ayurvedic Medical College, near Kattakada in Trivandrum offers a variety of certificate training courses, diploma courses and degree courses.

Pankajakasthuri Charities provide financial assistance to deprived young women, students, and patients.

Santhosh Pharmacy is quite a known name for Ayurvedic medicines among the people of Kerala and in India. Based at Malappuram Dist of Kerala, Santhosh Pharmacy developed and manufactures a variety of medicines. Among them Santhosh Brahmi is the most famous one. Santhosh brahmi is known for its immunity properties and its use as a brain enhancer. The main customers of Santhosh Brahmi is children below 15 years, because of its brain enhancement properties.

Velayudan Vaidyar, the son of famous Kiliyankandi Ayyappan Vaidyar started Santhosh Pharmacy in 1969. The research department of the pharmacy developed a treatment for aanirogam that affects the feet. This gave Santhosh Pharmacy a good breakthrough as a known Ayurvedic pharmacy company in Kerala.

Santhosh Hair Tone, a hair tonic to prevent hairloss is another prestige product of the company. Kumari Kalpam for women is another special product of Santhosh Pharmaceuticals Kerala.

Probably the most heard about Ayurveda company of Kerala, SD Pharmacy based at Alappuzha Dist of Kerala is well known in India and abroad as well.

SD Pharmacy believes in retaining the traditional methods of preparing medicines. Sree Dhanwantary (SD) pharmacy started as a very small scale Ayurvedic treatment center and a medicine production center by P S Kesavan Vaidyar in 1939.

Oriental Medicines, Oriental Extracts, Keraleeyam Ayurvedic Resorts, etc come under the wings of SD Pharmacy.

SD PharmacyÂ’s experiments to produce Ayurvedic medicines in capsule form became successful. SD Pharmacy Chyavanaprasham is a good medicine for general weakness. It also gives better mental strengths to students. Thalees tablets and Gastrone are other famous products by the company.

Sitaram Ayurvedic Pharmacy is the first company in India to get Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Certificate. It is also the first joint stock company in entire South India. Sitaram Ayurvedics works in Thrissur Dist of Kerala. Perhaps this is one among the oldest Ayurvedic institutes in Kerala. Its history dates back to 1921, when the company started with the blessings of Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi princely state, Rama Varma.

Scientific comprehension of Ayurvedic information and scientific methods of preparing medicines is the main points about Sitaram Ayurveda laboratory. The laboratory has got recognition from Kerala and India Government Agencies. The production also observes strict in house standards to ensure highest quality in medicines.

They have over 450 medicines; 25 of them are patented medicines.

Glycohr pills for diabetes, Allercants powder for allergy, Sitaram Hair Tone, etc are the main products by the company.

The companyÂ’s latest venture is a multi-specialty Ayurvedic hospital, which has the facilities to practice all the eight branches (ashtanga) of Ayurveda as described in Ashtangahridayam. Panchakarma clinics by Sitaram function in places like Mumbai, Goa, etc. Good Clinical Practise (GCP) is the declared goal of Sitaram Ayurvedic treatment wing.

Vaidyaratnam Oushada Sala, Managed by Thrissur Thaikkattusseri Eledathu Thaikkattu Family, one among the Ashtavaidya families of Kerala, Vaidyaratnam institutes have a prominent place in Kerala Ayurvedic research and development and treatment.

Production of Ayurvedic medicines, hospital and an Ayurvedic Medical College are the main institutes under the flagship of Vaidyaratnam.

Vaidyaratnam Oushadasala (oushada means medicine and sala is a building or institute) was instituted in 1941 by Ashtavaidya E T Neelakandan Moose. He had won prestigious Padmasree award for his contributions to Ayurveda treatment. Vaidyaratnam Ayurvedic Nursing Home was started in the year 1955 and Ayurvedic Medical College in 1976. The nursing home has facilities for panchakarma chikitsa or panchakarma therapy.

Astavaidya Neelakandan Moose Memorial Research Center is an excellent conglomeration of tradition and modern research facilities. They utilize both traditional knowledge and modern facilities in the production of Ayurvedic medicines.

The company concentrates on improving their R & D, treatment facilities than on hitting the market with glitzy advertisements.

Knowledgeable people with the backing of a long tradition – Vaidyaratnam institutes have a unique place in Ayurveda in Kerala.

One of the oldest Ayurvedic pharmacies in Kerala, Vasudeva vilasom has a special place in Kerala Ayurveda map. N Vasudevan Unni, the kottaram vaidyan (palace doctor) of Travancore princes, started this institution in 1885. The founder of this Ayurvedic treatment center was also the first director of Ayurveda training center, which later became the biggest Ayurveda College in the country at Thiruvananthapuram.

The thirummu chikitsa (massage therapy) at Vasudevavilasom is very famous. Well qualified doctors administer the therapy in the most traditional methods. The medicines and oils are prepared in own pharmacy.