How has the synergy between ayrveda modern medicine been evolving in India?
Until recently, traditional medical systems such as ayurveda were considered obscure, esoteric and shrouded in mysticism. Modern science, however, is rapidly unlocking the way these methods achieve results, resulting in a new system of medicine using ancient techniques, under scientific management.

The new system called Active Ayurveda in sync with tools of modern biochemistry is helping us rediscover ancient wisdom. Rather than create new drugs that cure a disease but have unpredictable and often negative side-effects,, these scientific tools are unlocking the wisdom in herent in balanced ayurvedic herbal formulations.

Active ayurveda started as a peek into the past-but may become our future. It is developing quickly, so we now understand much better how traditional ayurvedic formulations, and modern ones that integrate tradition with modern science, relly do work to help rebalance body systems.

In laboratory studies, individual herbs have begun to shed their mystical shadows and reveal the specific, often subtle, mechanisms by which they may improve health.

What kind of activities has Himalaya Drug initiated?
It's year since we launched Pure Herbs. In the last one-year we have received an overwhelming response from consumers across India. Our thrust is in the area of distribution expansion and marketing efforts and we will continue to focus on this. We are very positive and anticipate a healthy growth for our OTC healthcare segment. As a part of our marketing strategy and in an effort to promote Pure Herbs we have just launched a new series of multilingual TV commercials for Ashvagandha and Neem.

How do you ensure quality in the case of herb extracts?
Himalaya Pure Herbs is a range of individual herb extracts. The actions of these extracts benefit the body, irrespective of the individual's constitution, state of health and metabolic functions. Everyone can benefit from the goodness of these herbs. Irrespective of age, sex, body type or other health related factors.

The Himalaya Pure Herbs Range in a nutshell is a herb in a capsule, with all its attendant benefits. The action of a herb works typically to eliminate excesses and counter deficiencies. While it may have a therapeutic and nutritive value for a weakened body, its primary action is to stimulate or ameliorate particular organic functions.

Unlike allopathy, where the molecule structure does not very, there could be a vast differentiation in the herb depending on the place, season & soil it is grown in. Quality assurance at Himalaya ensures that every single herb conforms to quality requirements and delivers the properties consistently. In the 72 years, Himalaya has developed a unique technique to check this consistency and quality of the herbs that are used to manufacture our products.

The pharmacological activities of individual herbs are well-defined. The herbs that feature in the Pure Herbs range have remarkable benefits. The research process begins with raw herbs chosen from traditional texts and from observation and experiences with indigenous plants. The sources of the herbs are subjected to extreme scrutiny with regard to cultivation, quality of crop, methods of harvest, strong and transportation, etc. The scientific testing and modern extraction process unique to Himalaya ensures that benefit of the herb is consistent and without any batch-to-batch variation.

What are the prospects for the herbals market in India? How many herbs has Himalaya Drugs launched?
Though ayurveda is the oldest and purest system of medicine known to humanity, the herbal healthcare segment consists of an assortment of unorganised players. The products manufactured by the unorganised players lack quality and purity, resulting in the end consumer receiving sub-standard ayuvedic products.

Going back to nature is truism that has caught on world over and in India during the last decade. Science and medicine have today advanced to a level where nature can be appreciated rather than discounted. Currently, there is a renaissance occurring with herbal healthcare being integrated into the conventional healthcare system.

Currently, Himalaya has a range of 12 herbs available across chemists and leading departmental stores. We have an additional range of 17 pure herbs available only at 25 Himalaya retail outlets across the country. At Himalaya we have built a genetic bank over 500 herbs, the largest database of its kind the world.