Many PCD partners who build their business on allopathic ranges add a small Ayurvedic range: syrups, tablets and oils that sell through the same chemists and are sometimes recommended by the same doctors. Ayurvedic products follow different rules from allopathic medicines, though, so it is worth understanding the differences before you add them.
This guide looks at an Ayurvedic range from the trade side: who buys it, the forms partners stock, the rules that apply, and how to choose a starting set.
Where the demand comes from
- Ayurvedic practitioners (BAMS doctors) prescribe Ayurvedic products directly.
- General practitioners in many areas also recommend some Ayurvedic products.
- Chemists and general stores sell Ayurvedic syrups, tablets and oils, often on customers’ own request.
Demand depends heavily on the area: in some towns Ayurvedic practitioners are a large share of the doctors you will visit.
In practice, Ayurvedic demand is uneven: strong in some districts and towns, small in others. Before investing time in the range, ask the chemists you already visit how much of their business comes from Ayurvedic products, and count the Ayurvedic practitioners in your area.
What partners usually stock
Ayurvedic ranges usually include:
- syrups, which are often the largest group;
- tablets;
- oils for external application.
Ancare’s Ayurvedic range, for example, has 9 products at the time of writing: 7 syrups, 1 tablet and 1 oil. Detailed compositions for this range are shared with the price list on request.
The rules are different
Ayurvedic medicines are regulated separately from allopathic medicines, under the provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs, and the licensing and labelling rules are not the same. Before you add an Ayurvedic range:
- check with your state’s licensing authority (in many states, the AYUSH or Ayurvedic drugs department) what you need to stock and sell Ayurvedic products in your situation;
- check the labels: Ayurvedic products carry their own manufacturing licence details and ingredient lists;
- keep the stock separate from allopathic medicines in your records, so each is handled under its own rules.
Advertising rules also apply. The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act restricts claims that a product treats certain diseases, and it applies to Ayurvedic products as well as allopathic ones.
Dosage forms and handling
- Syrups are heavier and more fragile in transit; check deliveries for leaks.
- Oils need sealed packing and upright storage.
- Tablets are simple to store.
- Keep all products away from heat and direct sunlight.
Planning a starting set
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How many Ayurvedic practitioners are in your area? | Decides how much of your effort the range deserves |
| What do you need to sell Ayurvedic products where you work? | Rules differ from allopathic products; confirm before ordering |
| Which forms do local chemists sell most? | Syrups usually lead; oils and tablets follow |
| Do you have space for bottles? | Syrups and oils take more room than strips |
A common approach is to start with a few syrups that local practitioners and chemists already ask for, and add tablets and oils as orders come in.
Building the range over the first year
Months 1–3: confirm the rules, then start small. Before ordering, confirm what you need to sell Ayurvedic products in your state. Then start with a few syrups that local practitioners and chemists already ask for.
Months 4–6: add forms. Add tablets and oils once the syrups are moving, and note which products chemists reorder without being asked.
Months 7–12: decide the range’s place. By the end of the year you will know whether the Ayurvedic range is a useful addition to your allopathic ranges or a separate line of business in its own right. Plan your visits accordingly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming allopathic rules apply. Licensing, labelling and record-keeping differ; check before you order.
- Mixing records. Keep Ayurvedic stock and sales records separate from allopathic medicines.
- Over-claiming. Advertising rules restrict disease claims for Ayurvedic products too. Describe ingredients and forms, not outcomes.
- Overstocking bulky products. Syrups and oils take space and need careful transport.
How to tell whether the range is working
Ayurvedic products often sell on chemists’ and customers’ requests as well as prescriptions, so watch both:
- chemists reordering the same syrups without being asked;
- Ayurvedic practitioners writing your products regularly;
- steady orders that do not take time away from your allopathic ranges;
- little stock ageing on your shelves.
If the range sells well with little effort, it deserves more of your time; if it needs constant pushing, keep it small and focus on the ranges that move.
Questions to ask the company about this range
- Which Ayurvedic syrups, tablets and oils are in the range, and in which pack sizes?
- Are full ingredient lists available with the price list?
- Under which licence are the products manufactured, as shown on the label?
- How are syrups and oils packed for transport?
- What promotional material is available, and does it avoid disease claims?
Ask for the ingredient lists before you order, so that you can describe each product accurately to practitioners and chemists.
Working the range with your other ranges
An Ayurvedic range is usually an addition to allopathic ranges rather than a starting point. It works best where you already visit chemists who sell Ayurvedic products, or where Ayurvedic practitioners are a meaningful share of the doctors in your area. Keep it small until orders show it deserves more of your time.
Promotion
Present each product’s ingredients and form accurately, make no claims about treating or preventing disease, and follow the advertising rules that apply to Ayurvedic products.
Ancare’s Ayurvedic range
Ancare Life Sciences, Panchkula, markets 9 products in its Ayurvedic range; compositions are shared with the price list on request. See how to start a PCD pharma franchise for choosing your first ranges, or contact us for the price list and compositions.