As an Ayurvedic centre that is steeped in tradition, we also produce our own medicines here. An experienced team of specialists is responsible for this process, notably Dr Sundareswaran, who oversees quality assurance. He was brought up in the Ayurvedic tradition and even as a child he showed an interest in this Indian therapeutic practice. Later he worked as a senior consultant at a public hospital in Kochi. But ultimately he decided to focus on the production of medicines. He tell us how this came about and why Ayurveda is superior to western medicine for the treatment of many clinical conditions.
Dr Sundareswaran was involved with Ayurveda from early on. His grandfather and great-grandfather both promoted Ayurvedic teaching and his father-in-law was a well-known Ayurvedic doctor in Kerala. The latter was Dr Sundareswaran’s great role model and the person who inspired him, even before leaving school, to dedicate his career to Ayurvedic medicine.
After completing his studies in Ayurvedic medicine and with a specialisation in Ayurvedic toxicology, Dr Sundareswaran worked in various state and private hospitals in Kerala. With over 52 years of experience working in the Ayurvedic domain, in 2014, Dr Sundareswaran was appointed the head of our medication production facility.
“Lots of producers just want to sell their medicines to customers without any regard for potential health consequences. Here in Somatheeram, we choose our suppliers very carefully and our products undergo continuous quality controls. I can go home with a clear conscience in the knowledge that what I’ve done today will have been beneficial to people.”
In terms of the crucial differences between western medicine and Ayurveda, Dr Sundareswaran says: “Western medicine treats the illness, but Ayurveda treats the person. In India you go to the Ayurvedic doctor before you get ill. As a consequence, preventing illness through an annual Ayurvedic treatment regime is hugely important. But even once an illness has occurred, the approach to treatment is often very different to that in western medicine. For instance, sleep problems are often the result of underlying psychological issues linked to the patient’s current circumstances. In Ayurvedic teaching, insomnia is tackled through yoga and meditation sessions in addition to Ayurvedic treatments such as pouring oil over the forehead (Sirodhara). This approach helps regulate any psychological imbalance (Vata derangement), which makes it easier to tackle the current stressful situation and the underlying mental processes. Many of our guests will confirm the positive impact of the Ayurvedic approach to treatment.”
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