What Is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest systems of medicine, with roots in India that go back thousands of years. The word itself comes from two Sanskrit terms: 'Ayu', meaning life, and 'Veda', meaning knowledge. Together, Ayurveda is often translated as the 'science of life'.

In Ayurveda, health is not simply the absence of disease — it is a state of balance between the body, mind and senses, lived in harmony with the seasons and the rhythm of daily life.

Ayurveda looks at each person as unique. Two people with similar complaints may receive different guidance, because their constitutions, routines and circumstances are different.

Much of Ayurveda is remarkably practical: how you eat, when you sleep, how you move and how you rest. It offers daily and seasonal routines that are simple enough to follow in a modern life.

Ayurveda is not a replacement for modern medicine, nor is it opposed to it. A qualified practitioner uses assessment and judgement to decide when Ayurvedic care supports your wellness — and when conventional care may be needed.