All definitions © Piatkus Dictionary of Mind, Body & Spirit by Paula Byerly Croxon

Ayurveda

Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Medicine is the traditional medical system of India that claims well-being is only possible through a balance between body, mind and spirit.

Ayurvedic principles are grounded in Hindu holy texts, the Vedas, written sometime between the eighth and seventh centuries BC.

Ayurveda is similar in philosophical nature to Traditional Chinese Medicine, in that it believes in the importance of the flow of life energy, or prana, to maintain physical and mental health.  Ayurveda also seeks to treat the whole person, focusing on the root causes of illness rather than merely its symptoms.