What is Ayurveda ?

Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a more than 2,000 year old and originated in India. It is a comprehensive system of medicine based on a holistic approach rooted in Indian Vedic culture. The word ayurveda means knowledge (veda) of life (ayur) or ‘Science of Life’. It deals elaborately with measures for healthful living during the entire span of life and its various phases.
Besides, dealing with principles for maintenance of health, it has also developed a wide range of therapeutic measures to combat illness. These principles of positive health and therapeutic measures relate to physical, mental, social and spiritual welfare of human beings. Thus Ayurveda becomes one of the oldest systems of health care dealing with both the preventive and curative aspects of life in a most comprehensive way and presents a close similarity to the WHO’s concept of health propounded in the modern era.

Ayurveda is form of "alternative therapy". It is a tried and tested form of traditional medicine. Ayurveda was a health care system that had been supporting many cultures and large civilisations.

There are now several universities and institutions that specialise in qualifications in ayurveda all around the world, such as in India, UK and USA (Try searching ayurvedic universities in the search box above).

There are recognised ayurvedic degrees and qualifications such as Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, and registers such as the British Register of Complementary Practitioners.

In summary, Ayurveda represents a system that considers both the states of mind and body in its diagnosis and treatment. Ayurveda took into consideration the fact that many illnesses are caused by foreign agents and small organisms that may require intervention. Patients are classified by body types, or prakriti, which are determined by proportions of the Three doshas. Illness and disease are considered to be a matter of imbalance in the doshas. Treatment is aimed at restoring harmony or balance to the mind-body system.