Ayurveda is a science of life based on the Vedas, the Hindu books of knowledge and wisdom. More than four thousand years old, Ayurveda is perhaps the most complete system of living, embracing not only medicine, but also philosophy, psychology, lifestyle, and health.

Ayurveda is based on the idea that the universe is composed of five basic elements. The five elements, known as the panchamahabhutas, combine to form the three vital energies, the doshas. The mix of the three doshas in each of us, an inherited trait, determines our physical constitution,
called prakrti

In addition to the three doshas, three types of psychic energies affect each of us. These
are the gunas.

The most basic idea of Ayurveda is the concept of balance. We are healthy and happy when our doshas and our gunas are properly balanced. Most disease results from an imbalance of our doshas. To heal the disease, the Ayurvedic practitioner attempts through various treatments to
restore the balance.

The balanced body then heals itself. In essence, Ayurveda is a system that uses the body's own defenses to restore and maintain health and happiness.

MOVE TO THE NEXT TOPIC
RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS TOPIC
EXPLORE THIS TOPIC IN GREATER DEPTH