As per the Ayurveda texts such as Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, herbs must be sourced from the natural habitats where they originated or are believed to be grown. This ensures that the herbs possess organically grown, high-quality, pure, and potent active constituents, which are essential for a particular herb to deliver high efficacy and better health benefits. For example, the Ashok tree belongs to the central and eastern Himalayas, eastern Bengal, and southern India.
Ayurvedic medicines are primarily sourced from natural ingredients, including herbs, minerals, metals, and animal products. The sourcing process follows a traditional yet structured supply chain, which involves wild harvesting, commercial farming, quality assessment, processing, and distribution.
Ayurveda ingredient sourcing and supply chain is a complex process that involves many steps, such as herb collection, sorting, cleaning and drying, quality testing, compliance checks as per industry regulations, packaging to maintain shelf life, and finally, distribution to markets.
Sourcing of Ayurveda ingredients is like two sides of a coin—where there are opportunities, challenges also come hand in hand.
Challenges of Sourcing Ayurveda Ingredients:
Adulteration: Using a different part of the same herb or a similar-looking herb species. Lab-grown synthetic products are created to substitute the real ones. Adulteration leads to reduced efficacy and increased toxicity.
Over-Harvesting: Many herbs are in high demand, which leads to unsustainable over-harvesting and habitat destruction.
Quality Control and Standardisation: Maintaining batch-to-batch consistency in Ayurvedic formulations is challenging due to variations in raw material potency, processing techniques, and environmental factors.
Storage and Preservation: Many herbs are perishable and are prone to degradation when they come in contact with air and water. Therefore, maintaining optimal storage conditions—including temperature, humidity, and light exposure—is essential to prevent degradation and ensure product efficacy.
Seasonal/Climate Variations: The availability of Ayurvedic herbs fluctuates based on seasonal conditions, requiring advanced inventory planning to meet year-round demand.
Regulatory Compliance: Lack of awareness and non-compliance with regulations and guidelines by Ayurveda ingredient traders result in substandard raw material.
Opportunities of Sourcing Ayurveda Ingredients:
Growing Domestic and Global Demand: Due to increased awareness, consumers are moving towards Ayurveda’s holistic approach to curing disorders, leading to high demand for herbal supplements in both domestic and global markets.
Research and Development: In the current scenario, many Ayurveda ingredient manufacturing companies are investing in R&D and adopting modern technologies to ensure the purity and credibility of herbal ingredients.
Organic Farming: As we know, per capita income has increased, and so has the demand for safe, organic ingredients. Consumers are now willing to pay more for natural and organically grown products. By adopting organic farming to produce Ayurvedic herbs, we can reduce the adverse health effects of pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
Free of Side Effects: Generally, Ayurvedic herbs are considered safe for long-term use and have minimal side effects. Because of these facts, consumers are increasingly turning to Ayurvedic herbs to treat their ailments.
Optimised Logistics: Efficient logistics ensure the timely delivery of fresh, high-quality raw materials.
By addressing the challenges and leveraging the opportunities, the Ayurvedic industry can promote sustainable sourcing, ensure high quality, maintain the long-term availability of herbal ingredients, and contribute to a healthier planet and people around the globe.
