For a Noble Cause: How an Ayurveda Physician distilled the Essence of Entrepreneurship

They say “There are no secrets to success; it is the result of hard work and learning.” Dr. Roopashree, an Ayurveda physician, is an embodiment of this adage, for whom new age business was akin to Greek and Latin. yet, that did not stop her from learning, gaining knowledge about the field, and realizing the essence of entrepreneurship. She started her venture Chetana Chikitsalaya to treat chronic ailments, and recently Samhitha, to aid Covid patients and new mothers through Ayurveda. Dr. Roopa shares her inspiring journey in the field of Ayurveda and entrepreneurship with HerMoneyTalks.

 

Hailing from a poverty-stricken huge family with not so well educated parents. Dr. Roopa had to give it her all from the word 'go'. She used to help her mother, who used to prepare and sell condiments for a living. This is where she was introduced to the world of business initially.

 

The roots of Samhitha

 

During the first wave of the Covid pandemic in 2020, Dr. Roopa witnessed the wide spread of anxiety prevalent among the people. It struck her that she could help people with good quality Ayurvedic immunity boosters.

 

“There are several preventive remedies in Ayurveda that prevent contagious diseases. I wanted to make a complete kit including all such items, so that people would get them all in one package.” The idea clicked and she was able to sell a decent number of kits in a small span of time.

 

There are several preventive remedies in Ayurveda that prevent contagious diseases. I wanted to make a complete kit including all such items, so that people would get them all in one package.

 

The essence of entrepreneurship had kicked in. This marked the beginning of Samhitha. Postnatal care being one of her favorite subjects, Dr. Roopa also came up with Ayurvedic products to help new mothers.

 

Breathing life into business through networking

 

Even though Dr. Roopa had expertise in the field of Ayurveda and dealing with chronic ailments through varieties of Panchakarma treatments, her knowledge of business and entrepreneurship was minimal. Albeit, she was confident and ready to further imbibe the essence of entrepreneurship to help young and new mothers.

 

Each time when I wanted to withdraw, the group has come to my rescue and motivated me to keep going. These networks and groups provided the necessary booster doses.

 

Practicing in a village as an Ayurvedic physician is a different ball game. So naturally, Dr. Roopa was very much confused in her journey of business. “But I wanted to test the waters by starting slowly, without taking a huge financial risk. 'So, at the most, I may lose this much' gives a sort of confidence,” confided the physician-turned-entrepreneur.

 

Dr. Roopa had joined different online business groups, who supported her to a great extent. “Each time when I wanted to withdraw, the group has come to my rescue and motivated me to keep going. These networks and groups provided the necessary booster doses,” she adds with a twinkle in her eye, speaking on the importance of networking.

 

Money, women, and hacks for holistic financial health

 

From her personal experience, Dr. Roopa feels that getting this business mindset for a woman when she has immersed herself in household management, cooking, and rearing kids is not easy. Yet, she believes that this shouldn’t stop women from starting their venture and managing finances as it is need of the moment and there is always a window for learning.

 

Though running a business has a thousand nuances that need to be addressed, ultimately everything boils down to the finances! Without understanding and managing finance, one cannot understand business.

 

Dr. Roopa swears by three simple hacks learnt from her mother and business, which can be adopted by not just entrepreneurs but by everyone:

 

(1) Find ways to save within your means. It is very necessary.

 

(2) Invest those savings in a planned and systematic way.

 

(3) Use debt with caution.

 

Dr. Roopa dreams of building a women-centric Ayurvedic supplementary food and preventive care products business. She aims to provide the correct preventive medicine and food supplements, massage, and hair oil for postnatal care of new mothers, an underserved market currently.

 

Clearly, Dr. Roopa has distilled a very strong, fragrant essence of entrepreneurship through her experiences and insights.