The West has a tendency to dilute and distort and commercialise everything

Gopi Warrier

The system of medicine takes into account the differences between individuals, and believes that there are three human body types - vata, pitta and kapha.

Celebrity appeal

It has become increasingly popular in the West, with celebrities such as Cherie Blair, Naomi Campbell and Madonna reported to be among those undergoing treatment.

Health and beauty retailers, including the Body Shop, have also begun to sell Ayurvedic herbal remedies.

Ancient healing techniques will be used

But the hospital's founder, Gopi Warrier, whose family runs several Ayurvedic hospitals in the Indian state of Kerala, says the new hospital is not for rich celebrities but for ordinary people.

"The West has a tendency to dilute and distort and commercialise everything, including sacred knowledge," he told the BBC.

"You see a lot of media coverage about Naomi Campbell and Madonna using Ayurveda. It doesn't matter to us," he said.

The hospital will offer treatment on a first come-first served basis to all patients - rich or poor - whom doctors feel they can successfully treat.

Ancient remedies

Attention will be given to serious ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis, depression, mental illness and asthma.

Residential treatment, which could take a number of weeks, would involve dietary and life style restrictions as well as detoxification therapies.

The Indian medical establishment, for personal and financial reasons, are far more sceptical about Ayurveda

Gopi Warrier

Mr Warrier believes that most of his patients would be people for whom Western medicine has failed.

But he says that Ayurveda can work as an integrated system with Western medicine.

"The Indian medical establishment, for personal and financial reasons, are far more sceptical about Ayurveda.

"In fact the West is returning to Ayurveda but ... I want to ensure that in [the] hype of this new age western thinking this is not intellectually pilfered from India," he added.

The Ayurvedic hospital will receive funding for the first six months from trustees.

After that it, will need financial support from donors to contribute towards running costs estimated at $4m.