Ayurveda Massage Centres in Kerala to be Regulated

Ayurvedic massage parlours in Kerala, which are immensely popular with foreign and domestic tourists, will soon come under the government scanner, Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy said Saturday.

While tourist resorts offering ayurveda massage do roaring business during the peak monsoon season, Sreemathy said the government would see to it that no exploitation takes place at such centres.

"We have reports that certain undesirable activities do take place in the name of ayurveda in certain places. At no cost will we tolerate this," he said here, while releasing a new publication on ayurveda.

Ayurveda is most effective during the rainy months of June, July and early August. It is the best season for administering the treatment, as the human body is best suited for ayurveda during this time.

The most popular packages on offer at resorts are the one-week, two-week and three-week packages.

Most of these packages include body massages with different types of herbal oils and powders.

The minister said that her department is working out rules and regulations that would have to be adhered to by all those engaged in ayurveda tourism.

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"We just can't spoil the huge advantage that we have as far as ayurvedic tourism is concerned. No other state has this advantage and if we do not have proper checks and balances things could go out of hand," Sreemathy told IANS.

The current rate for a simple rejuvenating body massage is as low as Rs.250 while an intensive four-week package could be priced as high as Rs.350,000.

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"We intend to classify all tourists resorts depending on the facilities being offered in ayurveda. There would be clear bench-marking allowing the tourist a fair deal," said the minister.

(Source: IANS)