Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, is fast gaining popularity in the UK with Indian companies setting up treatment centres here.
A Kerala-style "panchkarma" treatment centre opened by the India-based Santhigram company in Milton Keynes earlier this year has proved to be a success.
The company has now opened another centre in Southall, which has a large population of Indian origin.
Alternative medicine and healing therapies have a large market in Britain. Yoga-based courses run by groups such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation are popular with local groups meeting regularly across Britain.
Santhigrams centre in Southall was opened this week by Virendra Sharma, the Labour MP for Southall Ealing.
Sharma acknowledged the usefulness of alternative systems of medicines in the present healthcare scenario and wished Santhigram all success in its endeavour to spread authentic ayurvedic therapies in the United Kingdom.
Gopinathan Nair, chairman of the company, unfolded a plan to set up a series of such centres across Britain in the near future.
Gregory Pius, managing director of the Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Centre, who heads the companys UK venture, said two more centres would be opened at Hayes and Liverpool in the next two months.
The companys centres in Milton Keynes and Southall are manned by qualified and experienced ayurvedic consultants and panchkarma therapists.