What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is the oldest form of holistic healing. In his book "Selbstheilung mit Ayurveda" [Ayurveda: The Science of Self-healing] (O.W. Barth), Vasant Lad describes it as follows: "Ayurveda is the art of daily life in harmony with the laws of nature. The aim of this ancient primal knowledge is to maintain health while healing illnesses". It is based on the interplay of mind, body and spirit, behaviour and environment.
The knowledge of Ayurveda dates back to the high Vedic culture of ancient India. It has been passed on orally over thousands of years. The oldest Sanskrit writings date back 50 years. "Ayus" means life, while "veda" means "knowledge, science". Ayurveda is the "science of a long and healthy life".
The first known treatises on hygiene, diagnosis and treatment date back to between 30 and 80 BC. Ayurveda flourished from 700 BC to 1000 AD. Ayurveda is also termed "the mother of medicine". It had a significant influence on Chinese medicine and the medicine of ancient Egypt. Even the writings of Hippocrates include ayurvedic elements. The practice of Ayurveda was brought to a halt by the importation of western technology during the colonial era. Since 1958, Ayurvedic expertise has again been promoted by the government, and systematic Ayurvedic training is provided for doctors.
