Ayurveda is an ancient system of treatment that studies the physical and psychological attributes of people and prescribes ways to synchronise these with their environment so as to enable them to lead healthy, happy, and inspired lives. Ayurveda is a 5,000 years old comprehensive medical system, which is considered the oldest surviving treatment system in the world. The meaning of the word Ayurveda is the “science of life” as such this system focuses on creating balance of the three elemental substances Vata, Pitta and Kapha as the only means of leading a happier and a healthier life. It is widely believed that the Chinese as well as classical western medicine have their roots in the Ayurveda system of medicine.
Ayurveda originated in ancient India, and has been practiced and followed ever since. It is recognized as one of the primary systems of health care in India, and is a widely trusted treatment for all sorts of ailments and disorders. However, the 1960s witnessed the adoption of Ayurveda as a popular therapeutic approach in the by the West. Ever since, thousands of people across the globe have turned to Ayurveda. The word map today is scattered with numerous Ayurveda clinics and practitioners, and this stands testimony to the effectiveness of Ayurveda. Hospitals and clinics offer it, the media reports on it,researchers examine it, and people love it. Ayurveda has stood the test of time; people continue to practice it privately and openly, from small clinics in India to large spas all over the world. The word is out today– ‘Try Ayurveda, it works’. One of the main reasons of its popularity is the fact that Ayurvedic practitioners regard body, mind and the interaction between these two as a unit. Secondly, Ayurvedic therapeutic approach is quite wide in its scope as it excepts the use of herbal medicines, mineral or metal supplementation, surgical techniques, and application of oil by massages. As such, this holistic approach in diagnosis and therapy has made Ayurveda a highly effective system of health that is being more and more recognized in the West.