A growing trend towards Ayurvedic healthcare products has led Himalaya Healthcare to open their flagship store at Suria KLCC.

Vincent Low used to love sports and the active lifestyle that went with it. After he started his career and married life however, the usual stresses caught up with him and he piled on the kilos. Which is when his sister introduced him to an Ayurvedic medicine. "What has survived the test of time must have something to it," says Vincent. Bernie a popular VJ, actress and Model couldn't get rid of acne. She was then gifted a bottle of ayurvedic capsules that purify the bloodstream and hence cure the acne. "They worked fantastically," says Bernie. For marketing executive Xiao Wen, cholesterol is hereditary, so it was no surprise when she discovered she had high cholesterol at 25. However, she chose Ayurveda over allopathy, "I preferred to take scientifically backed, well researched Ayurvedic medicine," says Xiao adding, "I chose not to take non-herbal medicines because I am worried of its long-term side effects on my organs, particularly the liver." Xiao, Vincent and Bernie are only a few among the growing number of people Ayurveda. And prevention and maintenance of good health, rather than cure seems to be the catchword of this growing trend.

IT IS NO WONDER THEN that Himalaya Herbal Healthcare has opened a standalone store at the Suria KLCC - one of the most prestigious shopping destinations at Kuala Lumpur not to mention their numerous store-in-stores at the Gurdian and Watson's chains.

THE HIMALAYA HERBAL Healthcare boutique, done in the signature orange and green colours, occupies prime position at the mall. With an open plan, people are free to walk in and handle the products. Any queries or doubts regarding the products are addressed by the helpful and friendly store assistants. Literature on the products is easily available at the store to help one decide the kind of products that would best suit their particular problem - which could be health or beauty related. "I am very happy that our Himalaya Herbal Healthcare boutique will allow us to provide a one-stop herbal wellness at affordable price for the entire family in the heart of Kuala Lumpur," said Ravi Prasad, President and CEO of Himalaya Herbal Healthcare who was present at the launch.

HIMALAYA IS TARGETED at the young working person who maybe allergic to allopathy or who would prefer to go the herbal or natural way. The brand has a legacy of researching nature forms with the use of modern science to rediscover and validate the goodness of natural herbs. The success of Himalaya Herbal Healthcare for 76 years, worldwide and in Malaysia is mainly because Himalaya offers high-sicence, efficacious, and safe products. While Suria KLCC attracts a number of tourists due to its prime position near the Twin Towers, an equal number of locals visit the mall that houses some of the best international and local brands.

"WITH PERCEPTION ON health witnessing a paradigm shift towards greater health maintenance and wellness, people are looking for natural and herbal products which will help them lead healthier lives," says Sue Ong, CEO of Embun Elit Sdn. Bhd., the sole distributor of Himalaya Herbal Healthcare in Malaysia. "Our lifestyle is increasingly being influenced by the west," Says Sue, "The food we eat and the fact paced life takes a toll on our bodies. Fortunately, the more educated ones are aware of the long-term benefits of herbal Ayurvedic medicine." And, if store visitors are anything to go by, then it's not just the women who buy the personal care and healthcare products at the store, but even the men who are interested. "We are committed to taking Ayurveda out of the shallowness it has been in to the seriousness of allopathy." says Prasad.