Similar to traditional Chinese medicine, both were developed about 3000 years ago. Ayurveda is based on the principle that the universe is made up of the five elements of ether, air, fire, water and earth. It operates on the precept that various materials of vegetable, animal, and mineral origin have some medicinal value. Over many years the medicinal properties of these materials have been documented by the practitioners and have been used for treating a variety of illnesses such as arthritis, sinusitis, eczema, asthma, anxiety and depression, insomnia, infertility, allergies, digestive and weight problems, migraine, paralysis and hypertension.

Ayurvedic medicaments are made from herbs or mixtures of herbs, either alone or in combination with minerals, metals and other ingredients of animal origin. The metals, animals and minerals are purified by individual processes before being used for medicinal purposes. Ayurveda practitioners believe that we all need different types of exercise including breathing exercises, meditation for relaxation, increasing our memory control and keeping fit with a range of activities, all these can enhance suppleness and posture and balancing the mind, body and spirit.