10 things you should know about Ayurveda

1. ‘Mother of all healing’:

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian art and science of holistic healing estimated to have originated 5,000 to 10,000 years ago.

2. Modern results:

“The more I learn and the longer I put these practices into play the better I feel. It’s that simple.” (Tonya Fox, office administrator from Point Roberts, Wash.)

7. In Sanskrit:

Ayurveda means science of life: ayur + veda = life + sacred knowledge

3. Older is better:

Ayurveda is the only complete medical system that has been continually practiced since its inception and is considered the root of all natural healing systems, including the Hippocratic mode of Western medicine.

4. Number of people in U.S. who do yoga:

20 million.

5. Number of people in U.S. who practice ayurveda:

250,000 and growing

6. Number of ayurvedic practitioners in U.S.:

2,500 

8. ‘The issues are in the tissues’:

Our favorite quote from Dr. Vasant Lad, the foremost practitioner of ayurveda in America and founder of the renowned Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M.

9. Famous fans:

Ayurveda aficionados include Ellen DeGeneres, Gwyneth Paltrow, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Julia Roberts.

10. For best results:

Long ago, ayurveda defined the basic harmony of the universe in these principles:

Everything that exists in the external universe has its counterpart in the internal universe of the human body.

Air, fire and water are the three principles most fundamental to life.

Like increases like.

Whatever affects the body affects the mind, and vice versa.

Food is medicine, and medicine is food.