Arya Vaidya Sala,Kottakkal, (AVS) is an 119 years old Charitable Institution engaged in the practice and propagation of Ayurveda, the ancient health care science of India. AVS offers classical Ayurvedic medicines and authentic Ayurvedic treatments and therapies to patients from all over India and abroad.

AVS was established at Kottakkal in Kerala State of India in 1902 by the visionary physician and philanthropist, the late Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier. Started essentially as a village clinic, it has now grown into a multi-unit, multi-disciplinary, multi-functional and multi-crore organisation. It has operations in different areas of Ayurvedic practice. AVS runs Ayurvedic Hospitals at Kottakkal, Delhi, and Kochi. All classical Ayurvedic medicines, therapies and expert medical advice are available there. AVS has three modern medicine manufacturing units attached with well equipped quality control labs. These factories produce more than 550 classical and new generation formulations which are made available to patients through 26 Branch clinics and 1650 authorised Dealers spread across the country. AVS is also engaged in research activities, publishes Ayurvedic periodicals and books, cultivates medicinal plants and conducts educational programmes. AVS also runs a Kathakali Academy where the classical theatre of Kathakali is taught and performed.

AVS was founded in 1902 by the late Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier at Kottakkal in Malappuram district of Kerala State. The nearest Railway station is TIRUR (Malappuram Dist), on the Chennai-Mangalore railway line, at a distance of 16 km. Kozhikode is the nearest airport at a distance of 28 km. Kottakkal is situated at a distance of about 165 km from Kochi, 160 km from Coimbatore and 48 km from Calicut (Kozhikode) by road.

AVS is a Charitable Trust of public nature having three drug manufacturing units, at Kottakkal, at Kanjikode, and at Nanjangud where more than 550 genuine ayurvedic medicines are manufactured.

The Ayurvedic Hospital & Research Centre at Kottakkal has 204 rooms with necessary amenities. Other similar Hospitals are located at Kochi, Delhi and Aluva. Classic Panchakarma and other Kerala special treatments are made available in these hospitals administered under the supervision of expert Ayurvedic Physicians. These treatments are found effective for various kinds of debilitating ailments.

A charitable hospital located at Kottakkal, where deserving poor patients are provided with both ayurvedic and allopathic treatments, medicines, accommodation and food free of cost. Clinical research activities are also undertaken in Charitable Hospital with a focus on cancer and also to validate new drug development.

There are 26 Branch clinics in major cities and towns of the country where medical consultation and authentic Kottakkal medicines are made available. These medicines are also made available to the patients through 1650 authorised Dealers.

An Ayurveda Pathasala was established by P S Varier in 1917 as a formal education institution. This Padhasala later became the Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier Ayurveda College affiliated to The Kerala University of Health Sciences. The college has Graduate and Post Graduate courses in Ayurveda. AVS extends financial and administrative support to the college as per the provisions of the Will of the founder.

AVS undertakes the task of planned cultivation of medicinal plants in herbal gardens as part of a project of conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants.

Hospitals at other locations across the country other than Kottakkal to provide ayurvedic treatment, to patients from northern parts of India as well as abroad.

The Research & Development Department of the institution is actively engaged in research work for modernisation of production and quality control of Ayurvedic drugs. The Centre for Medicinal Plants Research (CMPR) was established at Kottakkal in 2003 to undertake modern research in the various aspects of medicinal plants. CMPR is now recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Department of AYUSH of Government of India.

The Publications Department brings out various books on Ayurveda and allied topics. A quarterly medical journal "Aryavaidyan" is also published.

Vaidyaratnam, a connoisseur of arts, founded a dramatic troupe which was later converted to the famous Kathakali troupe, P.S.V. Natyasangham. This troupe has eminent artistes who stage Kathakali performances in India and abroad.

AVS is also engaged in academic activities. Conducting of annual Ayurveda Seminars and holding competitions for Ayurveda professionals and students are part of those efforts aimed at strengthening Ayurveda knowledge base.