Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine that originated thousands of years ago in India. The word Ayurveda is derived from ayu and veda. Ayu means life. Veda means science or knowledge. Ayurveda means the science of life.

Charaka defines "That the science designated as Ayurveda is that which deals with advantages and disadvantages as well as happy and unhappy states of life along with what is good and bad for life, its measure and life itself" (Charaka Sutra 1-4).

Ayurveda covers all living beings, human and non-human. It is divided into three main branches, namely, Nara Ayurveda, which deals with human life; Satva Ayurveda, the science dealing with animal life and its diseases; Vriksha Ayurveda, the science dealing with plant life, its growth and diseases.

It is quite clear that Ayurveda is not only a system of medicine but also a way of life for complete health and spiritual attainment.

Ayurveda believes that positive health is the basis for achieving four cherished goals of life: chaturvidh purushartha, namely Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. All these four goals cannot be achieved without good positive health.