When i was kid that time i heard about Ayurveda, but never knew what is Ayurveda, and in young age i had chance to know a bit, but still not aware about this ancient medicine of India.
                At the age of 24 i had chance to work as a Yoga therapist in Ayurveda College under "Swasthvritta Department". i worked there almost more than 3 years, and learned so many things....
                  Ayurveda is a ancient pure Indian medical science with modern medical knowledge, In India have   special degree courses for this Ayurveda study for 5 years called B.A.M.S. and Yoga is one subject in this course, because Yoga is also a ancient therapy science of India and this already mentioned in Ayurveda too. I had a chance to teach this part to B.A.M.S students.
So now here we are going to know actually what is Ayurveda ?

Ayurveda an ancient medical treatise summarizing the Hindu art of healing and prolonging life; sometimes regarded as a 5th Veda. In Ayurveda Doctors are using special herbs and traditional ways to cure the problem without any side effects and without modern medicines. Somehow i think this is little similar to Chinese Medicine, because Chinese medicine also based on herbs and plants. i can't speak about this because i don't much about Chinese Medicine.
                         Ayurveda provides both curative and preventive measures towards optimal physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The word "Ayurveda" is from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, and literally means "Knowledge of Life". Inherent in Ayurvedic principles is the concept that you are capable of taking charge of your own life and healing.

                       More than simply medical care, Ayurveda offers a philosophy whereby one may prevent unnecessary suffering and live a long, healthy life. Known as the mother of all medical systems, Ayurveda has undergone continuous research, development and refinement over past 5,000 years. Originally from India, Ayurveda is currently experiencing world-wide popularity as a revival sweeps in all continents. Ayurveda employs the judicious application of nutritional guidance, herbal medicines, exercise therapy, transcendental meditation  and many special rejuvenation and purification therapies. Preferring to focus on the type of person who has the disease, rather than just understanding the type of disease the person has, Ayurveda is a patient-orientated system of healing.

          Widely regarded as the oldest form of health care in the world, Ayurveda is an intricate medical system that originated in India thousands of years ago. The fundamentals of Ayurveda can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom. The Rig Veda, which was written over 6,000 years ago, contains a series of prescriptions that can help humans overcome various ailments.

Basic Principles of Ayurveda :

Ayurveda is based on the premise that the universe is made up of five elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether. These elements are represented in humans by three "doshas", or energies: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. When any of the doshas accumulate in the body beyond the desirable limit, the body loses its balance. Every individual has a distinct balance, and our health and well-being depend on getting a right balance of the three doshas ("tridoshas"). Ayurveda suggests specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to help individuals reduce the excess dosha.

A healthy person, as defined in Sushrut Samhita (book on Ayurveda), one of the primary works on Ayurveda, is "he whose doshas are in balance, appetite is good, all tissues of the body and all natural urges are functioning properly, and whose mind, body and spirit are cheerful..."

What is 'Tridosha' or the Theory of Bio-energies ?:

The three doshas, or bio-energies found in our body are:

• Vata  pertains to air and ether elements. This energy is generally seen as the force, which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination.
• Kapha  pertains to water and earth elements. Kapha is responsible for growth and protection. The mucosal lining of the stomach and the cerebral-spinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal column are examples of kapha.
• Pitta  pertains to fire and water elements. This dosha governs metabolism, e.g., the transformation of foods into nutrients. Pitta is also responsible for metabolism in the organ and tissue systems.

    Next topic we will know more about Ayurvedic shodhan kriyas cleansing process of Ayurveda is called "Pancha Karmas".

Namaste Ji,

Yogi Manu.