Athreya Herbs

About Athreya Herbs

Our story begins in India, where our founding members Jayagopal Parla (Jay) and Anupama Kizhakkeveettil (Anu) met. Jay grew up in India, and one of the earliest memories he had was his grandfather harvesting fresh herbs from the banks of the nearby river. His grandmother would grind the herbs using a stone grinder and produce hand-rolled pills. His grandfather didn't have any formal education in Ayurveda but was a self-taught practitioner. He saw a few clients and was able to heal some rare diseases at the time. With inspiration from his grandfather, Jay went onto study Ayurveda in college, where he had the opportunity to be surrounded by some enthusiastic classmates and inspiring mentors who shared his passion for Ayurveda. He studied with traditional practitioners and specifically sought out to explore the practices of indigenous tribes of India. Jay had a real passion for learning how herbs function in their native form. The nomadic tribes who lived in huts taught him the importance of reforestation and simple practices of harvesting herbs closest to their natural state.

The immersion with tribal groups and a deep understanding of herbs have allowed him to derive highly customized herbal combinations. When he first hears his client's symptoms, he can spontaneously identify the primary and secondary herbs necessary for healing. His intuitive technique allows him to validate his selection later and provide a unique and effective formulation. His advice to the thousands of students he has impacted is to make friends with the herbs, and then the herbs will reveal themselves at the right time.

Anu also grew up in an Indian village; from childhood, she had a great passion for becoming a healer. She always visualized healing to be surrounded with spirituality and unconditional love and care. With roots from Kerela, where Ayurveda continues to flourish, she was natural to study Ayurvedic medicine as Ayurveda integrates spirituality and science. She was exposed to many Ayurvedic practices during her childhood days and had fond memories of the herbs and wonderful Ayurvedic smells. While

studying Ayurveda, Anu realized that she had a passion for spreading knowledge but never could fathom how she would spread this wisdom. Now it is clear that Anu had realized her dream and inspired thousands of students over the years. Her students have become established clinicians and have opened successful practices.

Anu's first opportunity to practice Ayurveda was at a clinic in Mysore, India. While working there, she met Jay and eventually got married. They opened a small clinic in Bangalore, India, called Athreya Ayurvedic Care, with a shared passion for Ayurveda. As a result, they were able to serve and heal many clients. At its core, they wanted to provide exceptional service, and soon international clients would arrive and invite them to conduct lectures, workshops, and consultations internationally. As a result, they have been invited to various countries to provide Ayurvedic healing and education.

Jay is a world-renowned speaker, professor of Ayurvedic medicine, and a NAMA registered practitioner. He has 21 years of experience in Ayurvedic practice and teaching. Currently, Jay is a professor of Ayurvedic medicine. He is also a faculty member at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Japan School of Ayurveda. In addition, he is the founder and Director of Athreya Ayurvedic Integrative Health Center, Long Beach, California (www.athreyaayurveda.com).

Jay holds a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from Bangalore University, MD (Ayur) in Ayurvedic Medicine from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India. He also holds a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences, and he is a certified Yoga therapist.

Anu is a spirited orator and a NAMA registered practitioner. She has more than 19 years of experience in Ayurvedic practice. She is a Professor and Program Director at Southern California University of Health Sciences. Anu serves as a board member of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (CAAM), National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), and several national and international organizations.

Anu graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from Mangalore University, India, and received a Master's in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences and she holds a Ph.D. in public health. Anu is also a licensed acupuncturist and a certified yoga therapist and teacher.

Our Organization

They both settled in the U.S., began practicing Ayurveda, and found a need to access quality herbs. They decided to re-establish their small Athreya clinic from India into an organization that would produce Ayurvedic herbs and formulations. Their clientele would be U.S. clients, students, and practitioners. Their focus was to build relationships with eco-friendly suppliers that would deliver high potency herbs. They extensively researched the optimal regional conditions, and they were able to identify and source a variety of high-quality herbs.

Athreya was the first sage to codify Ayurveda in Sanskrit, and he intended to serve humanity. Athreya also has the meaning of one who is ready to help at any time. We deeply value serving our clients in their time of need. Our mission is to serve humanity by empowering everyone to access health using customized formulations.

We believe that to be healthy; you need a family support network. Athreya delivers that by providing an Ayurvedic knowledge platform, where clients, students, and practitioners have the necessary tools to live a healthy and vibrant lifestyle. Our vision is to see happy, smiling families all around the world.