Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, is the ancient medical system of India.Ayurveda can be defined as a system, which uses the inherent principles of nature, to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

One of the most exciting alternative systems of medicine and self care that has stood the greatest test.

The test of time,5000 years. The word Ayurveda is formed by the combination of two words - "Ayu" meaning life, and "Veda" meaning knowledge. Ayurveda is regarded as "The Science of Life" and the practice involves the care of physical, mental and spiritual health of human beings.

Ayurveda is a qualitative, holistic science of health and longevity.

The two principle objectives of Ayurveda are:

1. To prolong life and promote perfect health
2. To completely eradicate the disease and dysfunction of the body.

According to Ayurveda, all matter is thought to he composed of five basic elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Space.

These elements interact and exist in combination, The human body is composed of derivatives of these five basic elements.

According to the laws of Ayurveda, these elements are manifested in each individual through doshas (nature), or body types; there are three main types of doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Dosha means, “that which tends to go out of balance easily”. The elements, the seasons, your astrological chart, your genetic inheritance from your parents and environmental factors, all of these contribute to the potential for imbalance within the doshas.

Maintaining the balance of your dosha is the key to successful Ayurvedic practice.

Ayurvedic medicine is founded on the belief that all diseases stem from the digestive system and are caused either by poor digestion of food, which is the body’s major source of nourishment, or by following an improper diet of your dosha (nature).

At a time when high technology medicine is pushing back barriers in areas such as gene therapy, laser surgery and high-resolution body scanning, it seems paradoxical that natural medicine is also enjoying a remarkable renaissance.

While traditional folk remedies are the first and often only healthcare option for most of the world’s population in developing countries, surveys show that between one third and half of those in affluent Western nations, where science-based medicines are readily available,are willing to use complementary therapies.

As pharmaceutical companies pour money into isolating and synthesizing chemical components found in plants, sales of herbal remedies containing these substances in natural form are among the fastest growing health markets in Europe, North America and Australia.

The popularity of complementary medicine has obliged the medical profession to take non-conventional therapies more seriously, and their use alongside-rather than instead of-mainstream is growing. Many health professionals are willing to subscribe to a “holistic” approach to healthcare that takes in account the individual’s physiological condition, psychological, social, environment and even spiritual dimensions that may reveal underlying factors contributing to illness.

The holistic approach of complementary medicine has much to offer. Good nutrition and exercise are undeniably important, but attention is being paid to the inner world of the emotions and spirit, and the way the interaction of these and other elements contribute to the well-being.

Complementary therapies aim to mobilize self-healing process to restore the harmonious working of the physical and biochemical elements of the body, the mind and the emotions.