Vision and Mission

Vision

To lead in Ayurvedic pharmaceutics and alchemical sciences by combining traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern science, advancing safe and effective Ayurvedic medicine for improved health and wellness.

Mission

• To provide in-depth education and hands-on training in Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, preparing skilled Ayurvedic professionals.
• To preserve and enhance traditional Ayurvedic formulations with modern quality standards for safe, effective therapeutic use.
• To conduct meaningful research in Ayurvedic medicine, creating bioavailable herbal and mineral-based remedies.
• To offer clinical services that extend the benefits of Ayurveda to the community, supporting students in practical, real-world applications.
• To inspire and equip students to become leaders in Ayurvedic science, dedicated to advancing healthcare globally.

Academic and Research Excellence

As a center of academic and research excellence, our department offers comprehensive programs at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. Students are guided by a faculty of experienced Ayurvedic professionals who impart traditional knowledge alongside modern pharmaceutical techniques. The department actively encourages postgraduate students to participate in national and international seminars, where they present their research on Ayurvedic formulations, earning accolades such as Best Paper Presenter Awards. We also take pride in our recognition as the Best Department for three consecutive years.

Research within the department focuses on traditional and modern Ayurvedic pharmaceutics, ranging from herbal and mineral drug identification to bioavailability studies, ensuring our students gain skills that meet modern quality and therapeutic standards.

Teaching Pharmacy

The Teaching Pharmacy is a cornerstone of our department, providing hands-on experience in Ayurvedic formulation and production. Equipped with two practical labs, a Putam Room with puta pits and bhattis, students engage in advanced Rasa preparations, such as Kupipakwa Rasayanas, Bhasmas, and Pottalis. The pharmacy supports the skill development of students and provides medicines to college hospitals, contributing to their practical knowledge and understanding of quality control measures essential in pharmaceutical practice.

Our Departmental Museum displays a curated collection of rare herbal, mineral, and metal specimens, while our library offers an extensive repository of classical Ayurvedic texts and contemporary references, supporting students’ academic pursuits.

Pharmacy

The Ayurveda Pharmacy at Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, operates under the direct supervision of the Professor and Head of Department, ensuring consistent production of high-quality classical Ayurvedic formulations year-round. The pharmacy runs 365 days a year to meet the needs of the three college hospital campuses, supplying essential Ayurvedic medicines free of cost to both Outpatient (OP) and Inpatient (IP) departments.

Production is organized into five specialized sections: Kashaya, Arishtasava & Churna, Taila, Mechanical, and Packing sections. This structured approach allows for efficient manufacturing of a wide range of Ayurvedic medicines. The pharmacy regularly supplies 32 types of Kashayas and Kashaya Churnas to meet hospital requirements, as well as Tailas, Churnas, Arishtasavas, and Gulikas as needed. These formulations are essential to providing comprehensive Ayurvedic care, ensuring that all patients receive safe and effective treatments in line with traditional Ayurvedic practices

Drug Testing Laboratory

Our Drug Testing Laboratory ensures the quality of all raw materials and finished products produced in the Teaching Pharmacy. Managed by a Scientific Officer and a Scientific Assistant, this lab performs extensive quality checks on various materials, including raw drugs, oils, plant parts, minerals, resins, honey, and wax. The lab also verifies the consistency and efficacy of prepared medicines, such as Kashaya Choorna, medicated oils, ghees, arishtas, and asavas. Additionally, the lab offers training for PG and PG Diploma students in standardization techniques, supporting both their academic work and the department's commitment to producing safe, high-quality medicines

Clinical and Community Services

Our department serves the community through a Research Outpatient Clinic (OPD) operating on Tuesdays and Fridays, alongside inpatient (IP) services. These clinical services enable students to gain hands-on experience while providing community access to specialized Ayurvedic treatments based on rigorous research.

Training Programs

a) Undergraduate (UG) Training

We offer in-depth training in Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana to second-year BAMS students (88 students per batch), covering herbal and mineral drug identification, classification, and processing. This training provides students with foundational knowledge in transforming raw materials into safe, bioavailable therapeutic forms for clinical use.

b) Postgraduate (PG) Training

Our postgraduate education, initially launched in 1974 in Pharmacy and Dravyaguna, evolved into Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana in 1985. In 2001, these programs were further specialized, offering distinct pathways in Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana. Currently, an integrated postgraduate program in Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana admits 13 students per year, training them in advanced drug identification, formulation methods, and practical production. Postgraduates gain exposure to interdisciplinary research with collaborations from CSIR, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, and various biotechnology institutions, helping them develop skills in adapting classical formulations to suit modern therapeutic needs.

c) PG Diploma Training

Initiated in 2019, our two-year PG Diploma program in Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana admits two students each year, providing specialized training and project-based learning that contributes to applied research in Ayurvedic pharmaceutics.

d) PhD Training

As a designated PhD research center by Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS), the department offers extensive support and mentorship to PhD candidates selected through AYUSH NET and KUHS entrance exams. PhD scholars engage in interdisciplinary research, with full access to the department’s resources and the opportunity to work alongside leading experts.

e) Pharmacy Certificate Course

To meet the demand for skilled Ayurvedic pharmacists in hospitals across Kerala, we offer a one-year Pharmacy Certificate Course. This program equips students with the expertise required to effectively manage pharmaceutical services in Ayurvedic healthcare settings.

Achievements and Community Impact

The department’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its many achievements, including the Best Department Award for three consecutive years. Our postgraduate students consistently earn accolades for their research presentations at various conferences. Undergraduate students are encouraged to engage in research, with several projects selected for SPARK, a government initiative that supports innovative Ayurvedic research.

Through rigorous academic programs, research innovation, and community service, the Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana remains a leader in Ayurvedic education and pharmaceutics, advancing both the science of Ayurveda and its practical application for community benefit.