Prelude Ayurveda is often described as an ancient system of health, but that description barely scratches the surface. The word itself already points to a wider ambition.The word Ayurveda is formed from two Sanskrit roots: ayus, meaning life or lifespan, and veda, meaning a system of knowledge. The term veda itself comes from the root vid, “to know.” In this sense, Ayurveda literally means a structured body of knowledge concerned with life and long-term well-being. Ayurveda d