What you see – The Gayatri Mantra resonates in your ears when you enter Charaka, an Ayurvedic center that is also into research. Located in a residential area, Charaka is easy to locate because of the boards that direct you to it. It is a humble setting with no frills attached. The footwear outside the glass door indicates that there are customers inside even though it is just 9 AM. Well, an office-goer wanted to get treated before he got onto the treadmill of life, we were told.
What you get – Charaka is about five years old and offers treatment for ailments like paralysis, back pain, obesity, arthritis, spondylitis, migraine, stress, allergy and the like. Treatments primarily comprise massages, medication, oil bath or steam bath and last for a duration of 14 days to one month based on the ailment.
In terms of massages, they have the general body massage and even the kalari ones. The kalari massage is basically something that a master in kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art form of south India is trained in. It includes full body massage with oil wherein pressure is applied by hand and feet to specific parts of the body. Massages cost about Rs. 500 and last for close to two hours.
Charaka has both mail and female massage technicians trained in Kerala. It has 12 therapists and two doctors. It also sells tonics, powders, tablets and pastes as medication for various ailments.
According to the chief physician and managing director of Charaka, Dr. M Chandra Shekhar, they have also been doing research on cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis, motor neuron diseases and multiple sclerosis.
Doctors’ consultation time is from 9 AM to 1 PM and from 5 PM to 7.30 PM.
Our verdict – Charaka offers all the treatments that other Ayurvedic centers in the city offer. The fact that they are also into research adds value to their work. Costs are on par with their competitors. Since it is located in a residential area parking is not really a problem. The center could, however, improve on its décor. So could it, with respect to its cleanliness. A scurrying cockroach in the reception area wasn’t something we were looking forward to meeting here.
Drive to – Charaka,
#1-8-49/1, Krishna Nagar Colony,
Prenderghast Road,
Secunderabad – 500003.
Call at – 040-27896644
Anytime between – 9 AM – 7.30 PM
(Early hours treatment based on appointment)
Posted on: Nov 15, 2007
