In Sanskrit “Ayur” means life and “Veda” means knowledge or science. Ayurveda is therefore translated as “the knowledge (or science) of life”.
Ayurveda is thought to be world’s most ancient natural healthcare system and it stems from the great Vedic civilisation of India.
The origins of Ayurveda
Ayurveda is sometimes cited as part of a 6,000 year-old tradition, but an exact historical date for the origins of Ayurveda will probably never be known.
This medical science is based on deep and holistic insights into the laws of nature that govern not only our body, but also our environment and the world we exist in and interact with. Therefore Ayurveda can be said to be both timeless and borderless.
One of the most profound insights, of the Vedic “seers” who cognised Ayurveda, is that it is possible to enliven the unlimited inner intelligence, energy and power inherent in both our mind and body. Once enlivened, this intelligence expresses itself in perfect balance, health, happiness and natural beauty.
The goal of Ayurveda – perfect health
Another profound insight by the seers of Ayurveda is that it is not only possible to achieve perfect health, but perfect health is our birthright.
When we violate the laws of nature we go out of balance and problems, such as sickness, occur. You could say that Ayurveda is part of the self-correcting mechanism of nature that brings us back into a state of balance and therefore health.
The purpose of this timeless, practical knowledge is to promote prevention, revitalisation, rejuvenation and cure in a natural way.
Fragmentation of knowledge
Knowledge, like everything else in nature, goes through cycles. There are times in history when knowledge is discovered and times when it is lost.
During the last 1,000 years India has gone through a great deal of political and cultural upheaval. The great Vedic universities of India, where amongst other subjects Ayurveda was taught, were destroyed. When these centres of learning disappeared, the holistic science of Ayurveda became increasingly fragmented.
