History

• The two principle texts of ayurveda, the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita, were written more than 2,000 years ago in Sanskrit. Today, about 80 percent of India practices ayurveda to some extent.
  
  

Constitution

• Ayurvedic treatments are based on an individual's constitution: the combination of physical, mental and psychological factors that influence general health and recuperative abilities.
  
  

Doshas

• In ayurvedic medicine, a person's health depends on his balance of life forces called "doshas," which correspond to all parts of a person's constitution. A dosha's balance might be disrupted by changes in age, diet, lifestyle, other body/mind factors and external forces. Imbalanced doshas bring about the symptoms of illness.
  
  

Holistic Treatment

• Treatments are different for each person, based upon his constitution. Instead of simply prescribing medicine to target the biological problem, ayurveda also prescribes changes in diet, lifestyle and habits in order to regain dosha balance.
  
  

Use of Medicinal Herbs

• Herbs play a big part in ayurvedic treatment. Hundreds of plants and herbal formulas are used to reduce symptoms, eliminate impurities from the body and increase the body's resistance to disease.