Ayurveda is the science of life. —Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Deepak Chopra introduced Ayurvedic medicine to the United States in 1984. He has emerged as one of the world’s leading proponents of the innovative combination of Eastern and Western healing.
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Ayurvedic medicine (also called Ayurveda) is one of the world’s oldest, and many credit it with being the oldest, medical system. It originated in India and has evolved there over thousands of years. It developed from Hinduism, one of the world’s oldest and largest religions and ancient Persian thoughts about HEALTH and HEALING. Ayurveda means “the science of life” and is built on theories of HEALTH and ILLNESS and on ways to prevent, manage, or treat HEALTH problems. It is holistic, as it integrates and balances the body, mind, and spirit. The balance is believed to lead to contentment and HEALTH and to help prevent ILLNESS, and it treats specific health problems, whether they are physical or mental. One goal of Ayurvedic practice is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease to reestablish harmony and balance (Fugh-Berman, 1996, pp. 36–38).
In the Ayurvedic philosophy, people, HEALTH, and the universe are said to be related, and HEALTH problems can result when the relationships are out of bal- ance. Herbs, metals, massage, and other products and techniques are used with the intent of cleansing the body and restoring balance. Many of the Ayurvedic practices were handed down by word of mouth and were used before there were written records. Two ancient books, written in Sanskrit on palm leaves more than 2,000 years ago, are thought to be the first texts on Ayurveda: Caraka Samhita and Susruta Samhita. They cover many topics, including
• Pathology (the causes of illness) • Diagnosis • Treatment • How to care for children • Advice for practitioners, including ethics
Ayurveda is the main system of health care in India, and variations of it have been practiced for centuries in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. About 70% of India’s population lives in rural areas and about two thirds of rural people still use Ayurveda and medicinal plants to meet their pri- mary health care needs. In addition, most major Indian cities have an Ayurvedic college and hospital.