Ayurveda
This ancient Indian science has its basis in the sacred scriptures of Hinduism, and works through a holistic integration of mind, body and spirit.
Ayurveda, like yoga, reminds man that the ultimate goal of life is true freedom from the dependence on the outside world.
"Those who have a balance among: dosha (constitutive body factors ruling the physiological activities of the body), agni (those factors that are responsible for metabolism and digestion), dhatu (elements of tissues), mala (waste products or excretions), kriya (physical and mental activities), together with the happiness of soul, senses and the mind, are said to be people in perfect health."
(Susruta Sutrasthanam 15,14)
Based on those ethical principles such as non-violence and the respect for nature, it deals mostly with the physical and therapeutic aspects, integrating with yoga at the level of spiritual aspects.
The metaphysical vision of the body and the methodology for the maintenance of health is concretized by a practical and detailed study of the human being through the elaboration of a complete medical system, including all the branches from surgery, geriatrics, gynecology, pediatrics, the science of rejuvenation… whose techniques have been used as example and are still today applied in modern medical science.
Nowadays, moreover, Ayurveda is suggested among the “alternative” techniques for the maintenance of health thanks to its capacity of prevention through techniques of purification and elimination of toxins (panchakarma), the analysis of daily and seasonal routine, the employment of herbal mixes created according to ancient prescriptions, the practice of ayurvedic oil massages performed on the whole body, and the other manipulation techniques and the treatment of the body with oils, herbs, and powders.