About Us
Martuvam Healing Forest is a 7 acre medicinal forest and garden in the western periphery of Auroville near the Tamil village of Annainagar. Beginning in 2002, Sivaraj, his wife and three children, and friends of Auroville have used traditional cultivation and harvesting techniques to turn their barren plot of land into a multi-dimensional healing centre and educational haven. Friends from the Farm Group, Forest Group, Green Group and Pitchandikulam Bio Resource Centre in Auroville (where Sivaraj once worked) gave enormously of information, seedlings and their moral support, which have grown into a lush, natural forest and have provided the raw materials for the centre’s herbal medicines.

Mission
Our aim is to grow and provide medicinal herbs to the community. We are committed to educating all peoples about the traditional Indian medicine system of “Siddha” and encouraging a holistic lifestyle. Furthermore, we seek to bring the traditional, local medicinal knowledge back in the nearby villages. We work to improve the livelihood of the people in the surrounding villages by offering skill building courses and access to herbal healthcare.

Martuvam is home to thousands of medicinal plants, bushes and trees of more than 100 varieties. Material from the forest and garden are used directly in medicine prepared at the Siddha Clinic.

Under the Siddha guru Dr. Salvarasu (one of South India’s renowned Siddha practitioners), Sivaraj has received a Diploma in Siddha Medicine(DSMS), which is a traditional form of South-Indian healing that is similar to Ayurvedic herbal healing. Using plants harvested from Martuvam and around Auroville, Sivaraj provides consultations and treatments, massages, workshops in different alternative healing methods, and education and information about herbal wellness practices. In collaboration with Dr. Charles, BIMS, AMRC. Sivaraj provides his services to the community at Martuvam Ayurvedic Healing Centre with prior appointment.