DEFINITION Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine and healing that originated in ancient India over 5,000 years ago. The word “Ayurveda” is derived from the Sanskrit words “ayus,” meaning life, and “Veda,” meaning knowledge or science. It can be translated as the “science of life” or the “knowledge of longevity. “According to Ayurvedic philosophy, the human body is composed of three fundamental energies or doshas: Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (earth and water). These doshas govern various functions in the body and are responsible for maintaining health when they are in balance. Imbalances or disturbances in the doshas can lead to physical and mental ailments.