Definition: A 5,000-year-old Eastern Indian medicinal philosophy that literally translates as "science of life" from the ancient Sanskrit words "ayur" (life) and "veda" (knowledge or science.) In Ayurveda, health is a state of balance between body, mind and consciousness. Ayurvedic doctors diagnose illnesses and imbalances through darsana (observing the way a person moves, walks and behaves); sparsana (touching) and prasna, (asking questions). The goal is detoxification and restoration of one's overall balance. Treatment includes a prescribed diet, yoga, meditation, and massage to prepare the body for elimination of waste, called agni. Ayurveda is recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective health science.
Also Known As: Ayurvedic medicine
