Ayurvedic healing includes herbs, nutrition, panchakarma cleansing, acupressure massage, Yoga, Sanskrit and other non-invasive forms of therapy.

Ayurvedic medicine is said to have originated from the ancient Hindu sacred texts the Vedas, but these actually contain few medical references. Modern scholars believe it evolved, gradually absorbing influences from Buddhism and other traditions along the way.

Swami Ram Dev says he is dedicated to the promotion of yoga and ayurveda. He says, "These ancient sciences are millions of years old. Though people have lost touch with these and moved to allopathy, these ancient sciences help to cure, while allopathy only suppresses the disease". Substantiating his claim, he narrates cases of his patients who have been cured.

Swami Ram Dev says "this Western science has failed to find cure for joint problems and spinal problems". "They recommend operations while I say these can be cured with ayurvedic methods. These operations only make the problem dormant for some time," he claims.

There is no typical Ayurvedic session - even the methods of diagnosis may vary from practitioner to practitioner. The basic diagnosis is known as the three-point diagnosis and involves detailed observation of your appearance, examination by touch, and a detailed questionnaire about your life and health. After diagnosis comes treatment, and the range of treatments is vast, however, you will be given guidelines for healthy living and instructed in the diet, which will soothe and correct imbalances in your body type. You may be prescribed a course of purification to eliminate toxins from the body and to energize the body's elimination mechanisms. Herbal preparations may be prescribed. A host of other healing techniques including massage, exercise, breathing and meditation may be used.

This understanding that we are all unique individuals enables Ayurveda to address not only specific health concerns but also offers explanation as to why one person responds differently to another.

The sanskrit term 'Ayurveda' is composed of two words- Ayus Veda. Ayus means life and Veda means knowledge. So the literal meaning of Ayurveda is science of life.

Current Studies:

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine tested the effects of guggul lipid on high cholesterol. Over the 6-month period of this study, they did not find that adults with high cholesterol showed any improvement in cholesterol levels. In fact, the levels of low-density lipoproteins (the "bad" cholesterol) increased slightly in some people in the group taking guggul. In addition, some in the guggul lipid group developed a skin rash. This team is conducting further studies on herbal therapies used in Ayurveda for cardiovascular conditions, including curcuminoids (substances found in the root of the plant turmeric).

At the NCCAM-supported Center for Phytomedicine Research at the University of Arizona, scientists are investigating three botanicals (ginger, turmeric, and boswellia) used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammatory disorders. They are seeking to better understand these botanicals and determine whether they might be useful in treating arthritis and asthma.

A compound from a plant called Mucuna pruriens, also known as cowhage, is being studied at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The research team is investigating the compound's potential to prevent or lessen the severe, often disabling side effects that people with Parkinson's disease experience from prolonged treatment with conventional drugs.