The term Ayurveda is taken from the Sanskrit words ayus, meaning life or lifespan, and veda, meaning knowledge. It has been practiced in India for at least 5,000 years and has only recently became popular in Western cultures. The "contemporary" form of Ayurvedic medicine is mostly derived from several sacred Indian texts which were written in Sanskrit between 1500 BC and 400 AD. The basic principle of Ayurveda is to prevent illness by maintaining balance in the body, mind, and consciousness through proper drinking, diet, and lifestyle, as well as herbal remedies.

Ayurveda is a system of Indian medicine now practiced all over the world as a complementary system. Ayurvedic practitioners have identified a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for curing various ailments and diseases, not completely curable in other systems. Many of its methods—such as herbs and massage, can be applied along with other systems, too

Advantages of Ayurveda

1. It is preventive, protective, health primitive and curative in nature. At the same time herbal remedies are self contained, and nutritive rendering them harmless and non toxic. This provides a constructive approach against destructive forces.
2. Ayurveda is not man made but is believed to be divine gift. It is for us to study, seek, search and take the benefits from the treasure of knowledge.
3. Ayurveda is mainly based on herbs, plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables and all vegetation that grows around us in plenty. It is our native system based on the peculiar indian conditions. Further whatever is available on our own country is bound to be more suitable in creating good health to us rather than borrowed knowledge as well as materials. Charaka samhita stresses the same point.
4. Ayurveda begins when everything fails and when the treatment is uncertain and prolonged, ayurvedic approach is the right choice since it cures chronic and stubborn diseases by its deep-rooted treatment procedures and drugs.