Āyurveda
The ancient science of life, given to humanity through the Vedic tradition. Āyurveda — literally the knowledge (veda) of life (āyus) — teaches that health is not the absence of disease but a state of radiant balance between body, mind, and consciousness. It is Hinduism's gift to the world of living well.
5 topics
Tridoṣa
Tridoṣa
Charaka Saṃhitā
The three biological forces — Vāta (movement and space), Pitta (transformation and fire), and Kapha (structure and stability) — whose unique balance in every individual determines their physical constitution, mental tendencies, and susceptibility to disease.
Explore Tridoṣa →Pañcakarma
Pañcakarma
Charaka Saṃhitā
The five classical purification therapies of Ayurveda — a systematic, physician-supervised process of deep internal cleansing designed to remove accumulated toxins (āma) and restore the natural balance of the doshas.
Explore Pañcakarma →Dinācaryā
Dinācaryā
Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam
The Ayurvedic art of the daily regimen — a complete morning-to-evening routine that aligns the individual's biological rhythms with the rhythms of nature, cultivating lasting health, vitality, and mental clarity.
Explore Dinācaryā →Prakṛti
Prakṛti
Charaka Saṃhitā
Your unique psycho-physical constitution determined at the moment of conception — Prakṛti is the Ayurvedic understanding of individual nature, the precise proportion of the three doshas that defines who you are at your biological and temperamental core.
Explore Prakṛti →Rasāyana
Rasāyana
Charaka Saṃhitā
The Ayurvedic science of rejuvenation and longevity — Rasāyana encompasses the herbs, formulas, and lifestyle practices that nourish the deepest tissues of the body, enhance immunity, sharpen the mind, and slow the process of ageing.
Explore Rasāyana →Frequently Asked Questions
Ayurveda (Sanskrit: Ayus, life; Veda, knowledge) is the ancient Indian science of life and health, considered an Upaveda (subsidiary Veda) of the Atharva Veda. It is one of the world's oldest holistic health systems, with roots dating back more than 5,000 years. Rather than treating isolated symptoms, Ayurveda views health as a dynamic balance between body, mind, and spirit, shaped by one's constitution (Prakriti), diet, lifestyle, relationships, and environment. Its classical texts include the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridayam.
Ayurveda describes three fundamental bio-energetic principles called Doshas that govern all physical and mental functions. Vata (composed of space and air) governs movement, breathing, and nervous system activity. Pitta (composed of fire and water) governs metabolism, digestion, and intelligence. Kapha (composed of earth and water) governs structure, lubrication, and immunity. Every person has a unique combination of all three Doshas at birth (Prakriti), and health is maintained when they remain in that natural balance.
In Ayurveda, optimal digestion, called Agni (digestive fire), is considered the cornerstone of good health. When Agni is balanced, nutrients are absorbed well and waste is eliminated efficiently. A weakened or irregular Agni leads to the accumulation of Ama (undigested metabolic waste), which Ayurveda regards as the root cause of most disease. Practices such as eating according to one's Dosha, eating at regular times, avoiding incompatible food combinations, and using digestive spices are central to Ayurvedic dietary guidance.
Ayurveda remains a living, practised system of health and medicine. In India it is officially recognised as a traditional medicine system alongside modern allopathic medicine. Millions of people worldwide use Ayurvedic herbs, dietary principles, oil therapies (Panchakarma), and daily routines (Dinacharya) as part of preventive healthcare. Global interest has grown significantly as people seek systems that address the root causes of imbalance rather than only suppressing symptoms.
Panchakarma (Sanskrit: pancha, five; karma, actions) is Ayurveda's comprehensive detoxification and rejuvenation therapy. It consists of five classical purification procedures: Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (purgation), Basti (medicated enema), Nasya (nasal administration of medicinal oils), and Raktamokshana (bloodletting, now rarely practised). Preceded by preparatory therapies including oil massages (Abhyanga) and steam treatments, Panchakarma is designed to root out deep-seated imbalances and restore the body's natural intelligence.