Ayurveda is the oldest scientific medical system dating back more than 3000 years. It has its roots in the Veda, which are the knowledge books of ancient Indians. Ayurveda is a composite word, Ayur meaning life and Veda meaning knowledge. The word Ayurveda means the knowledge of life. The aim of Ayurveda is to achieve and maintain perfect health of the individual.

All living and non-living in the Universe are made up of the five fundamental elements, the Panchabhutha. Pancha means five and bhutha means elements. The five elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. In the living body these five condenses down to form three basic principles called Tridoshas, the Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Each individual has a unique constitution of the three doshas where either one or two of these will be dominant. Health is the state of dynamic doshic balance and disease is the state of imbalance of the doshas.