Ayurveda now gets a foothold in Korea as well

Ayurveda treatment is slowly picking up not only in USA, Britain and Gulf nations but in Korea too, say a group of Korean professionals, who are now undergoing a short term course in this traditional method of treatment at Thrissur.

Prof. Eum, leader of the group, who is teaching in Masan University, said that currently there are 30 Ayurveda centres in Korea and Korean people are now aware of this oriental system of medicine, especially for stress management and IT related disorders.

In Korea, Masan University has already included ayurveda in the medical syllabus and the first semester is now going on. She said that some other universities are also planning to start courses of different durations in ayurveda.

Masan university will soon sign an MoU with Vaidyaratnam group of ayurveda hospitals for conducting basic classes, sending faculty to Korea and for export of medicines and medicinal plants.

She also said that PC and mobile phone related disorders are high in Korea as computer professional are engaged in their work upto 14-15 hours, a day. Korea is having a traditional system of medicine, HANYAAK and according to the group, ayurveda is similar to this to some extend.

One of the students who is running a beauty parlour in Korea said that massaging with ayurvedic oils and beauty therapy with herbs is very effective and attracting customers.

E T Neelakandhan Moos, managing partner of Vaidyaratnam hospitals said that students from UK, USA and other countries are now coming to Kerala to have first hand information on ayurveda.

The company is having seven modules for the short term course for foreign students which includes introduction to ayurveda, neuorology, orthopeadics, sports medicine and IT related disorders.

He said that western countries like USA and UK had not approved ayurveda as a treatment system but recommended it as food supplements and nuetraceuticals.

In Korea also it is not officially approved, but demand for alternate system of medicine is on the increase.

Some of the Gulf countries had approved this traditional system and allowed medical practice. Demand for ayurveda medicine is high in Russia too.

Total world market of herbal medicines is around Rs 5,000 crore annually, in which India's share is below Rs 500 crore. China is the market leader in this sector though they have a tradition of 500 years in alternate medicine system whereas ayurveda has 5,000 years tradition.

He also said that Kerala market is having a total annual sales to the tune of Rs 200 crore in the organised sector which can be raised by Rs 300 crore within a short span of time according to a study conducted by ORG.

Better marketing initiatives and more user friendly medicines of China gives them advantage in the global market.