Moving to Coimbatore brought many joys, one of which was the proximity to a full fledged AVP center. AVP aka Arya Vaidya Pharmacy.

I have great affinity for this medical institution. In my youth, I had many afflictions which allopathy doctors were failing to cure. They started experimenting heavy medicines on me, which not only failed but caused significant side effects.

Finally, somehow a visit to the AVP center in Mumbai happened. And their medicine made me feel better in a day than what I had felt in months with allopathic doses. And their medicine course had only begun.

Since then, ayurveda is at equal footing to allopathy as a medical system in my mind. Or rather a better, holistic system.

However, in Mumbai, ayurveda treatments have become very expensive over the years. And the centers are smaller, limited and more for “therapy” than hard core medicine.

Having a major AVP center in Coimbatore has been a great joy for me.

Here are some details if you wish to visit.

Visiting the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy Main Center in Coimbatore

There are multiple AVP centers in the city. But the main one is the Ramanathpuram center with the Dhanvantari temple, map location. They have a fairly large complex with many rooms for patients to stay and pursue their treatments. The ambiance is very lovely, serene and traditional. It is a good health retreat option for detox courses and other healing.

• In the consultation building, they have multiple doctors in a typical OPD style.
• Some specialized doctors are also there. But they may have specific timings. Best to call first and enquire the right time come.
• when you visit for the first time, there is an extra process of taking your vitals – weight, height, bp. And an exhaustive questionnaire about various health and lifestyle situations. Past history too. This will take an hour or so.
• Then would be the doc consultation, which is simpler cause they already have the whole tome of data to look at. They may check your naadis.
• At the end of the course, they will typically, prescribe you medicines. Ayurvedic medicines tend to be quite voluminous, i.e. many medicines to have in one course. And if they give a lot of complex ones like kadhas (liquids) which you have boil before having, you can ask if there are tablets instead.
• If you are opting for ayurveda then you should be ready for some processes… Like applying oil or other kind of instructions. This medicine is not usually the quick fix kinds that allopathy provide.
• They may also prescribe massages or other in-center treatments, but only if you are free for that, or if that is the only option for you. I have found the doctor pretty helpful in easing my medicine routine, so I can easily manage it with my work and travel stuff.
• To procure these medicines we have to go to the pharmacy in adjacent building. They also have the option of getting them couriered somewhere if that makes sense.
• A lot of times the specific medicines need to be prepared – as it may be a mixture of two oils or pastes or some such. This takes time.

Some concerns,

• this whole process can take a looong time. Typically, I take 4-5 hours to finish my full run. There is waiting at every stage. They give an “appointment time” but when you get there, there is a token system first cum first basis. So if someone else comes before you and takes the token, then appointment time or not, they get access first. Not sure how this all works but it’s a long wait. I suggest going as early as possible and getting your token number
• the pharmacy sometimes gives us less medicines if it is out of stock or muddles up the quantity – so do check your medicine bag properly before leaving. Otherwise, it causes trouble for us later.

Thankfully, the surrounding is amazing.

• Online appointments are now available in these COVID times. That really reduces the need to wait for hours at the premise. Phew.

Official site: https://www.avpayurveda.com/

They have a great canteen for delicious, satvic food. While they do add onion and garlic, you can ask if they have food without it. Often they prepare no-onion-garlic food for certain patients, thus we may get some too 🙂 Their south Indian thali is delicious. Often I try to make my trip around lunch time so while waiting for the pharmacy to prepare my medicines, I go and have lunch in the canteen.

Really happy to have found this place. And have been happy with my doctor consultation and over all experience so far.