'AYURVEDA' is a Indian System of Medicine. The word 'Ayurveda' composed from 'Ayur' and 'Veda'. 'Ayur' means 'Life' and 'Veda' means 'Knowledge'. So Ayurveda means 'Science of Life. It is considered divine in origin and is also known as 'Upa Veda' (Branch) to 'Atharvaveda'. There are many references to Health, Disease, Treatments, description of Medicinal plants etc. available in 'Atharvaveda'. Ayurveda originated from this Veda. Ayurveda is said to be 5000 years old Medical Science.

AYURVEDA - "A gateway to Indian Medical Heritage."

Ayurveda in Sanskrit means "the science of Life". It is an ancient, unfailing system of diagnosis and treatment based on medicines prepared from herbal plants found in abundance in India. Ayurveda is the traditional, natural system of medicine of India, which has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. Ayurveda provides an integrated approach to the prevention and treatment of illnes. Ayurveda is often called the "Mother of All Healing". Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science.
Ayurveda is a natural science. It teaches an Individual to live naturally by outlining certain Behavioral, Dietary and Treatment patterns. Ayurveda has been specifically appreciated for it's holistic approach to man and non-provocative application of medicine.

Ayurvedic treatments can be classified under two groups - tonification and reduction. Reduction therapies decrease excesses in the body while tonification methods nurture insufficiency in the body. Reduction therapy has two parts called pacification and purification. Pacification is done with herbs, fasting, exercise, sunbathing and exposure to wind. Purification is a special form of therapy for elimination of the disease causing humors. The power of Ayurvedic elimination therapy is its system for guiding the toxins to their sites for elimination. It consist of five parts - The pancha karmas - cleaning enemas, nasal medication, Purgation, Emesis and blood letting. All these require preliminary Ayurvedic practises of oleation and sweating. Kerala a southern state of India, has developed its own Ayurvedic treatment modalities like Dhara, pizhichil, Navarakizhi, Elakizhi, Sirovasthi, Thalapothichil etc. which are highly effective in a number of diseases which include Motor neuron diseases, Arthritis of various kinds, skin diseases, heart diseases, peptic ulcer, Asthama, Peripheral vascular diseases and Gynecological disorders.

Ayurvedic pharmacology is based upon the concepts of rasa, veerya and vipaka. A vast variety of plants, metals, minerals, animals, birds and even mud and sand are used as medicines in Ayurveda.

Knowledge about Ayurvedic type of medicine is divided into eight branches. The branches are 1. Kaya chikilsa (general medicine), 2. Shalya (surgery), 3. Shalakya (ENT and Ophthalmology), 4. Graha (Psychotherapy), 5. Damshitra (toxicology), 6. Bala (Pediatrics and Gynecology), 7. Jara (rejuvenation) and 8. Vrishya (Aphrodisiacs).

Of the above the seventh one, that is rejuvenation therapy is a unique method which Ayurveda performs. Until death our body is engaged in a continuous struggle against the aging process. Hence the body is called Shareeram - something that degenerates.

Ayurveda strongly emphasizes on Prevention, Promotion, Cure and Rehabilitation. For this, it advocates to follow the principles of health, observation of principles- Dincharya (daily regimen), Rutucharya (Seasonal regimen), Ratricharya (Night routine), Sadvritta and Achar Rasayan (Ethical and Moral activities), Aahar (Food), Nidra (Sleep) and Brahmacharya (Regulated Action).

In Ayurveda the diagnostic procedures are very critical in nature and the physician has to apply his deep knowledge and experience before starting the therapy.

The Ayurvedic treatment firstly insists on removing the causative factors. They practice and use single or compound herbal preparations, herbo-mineral preparations and suitable dietary advices, daily activities etc. In very chronic disorders, they advice Panchkarma therapy, which has special identity in Ayurveda. These Panchkarmas (Five procedures ) are aimed to clean the whole body and prepare the body in a way that it could not get the problem again and again. According to Ayurveda everything in this world (living and non living creation) is composed of the five proto-elements (Panch Mahabhuta- Akash, Vayu, Agni, Jal and Prithvi), which turn into the Tridoshas to cause life.

Man is made of matter and mind. Matter represents the Doshas, Dhatus and Malas while mind represents the Atma, Indriyas and Manas. '' The balanced state of the Doshas, Dhatus, Malas and Agni and the happy state of Atma, Indriyas and Manas is called Health".