For most of us, Ayurveda is known as a term from the field of lifestyle and wellness, but in fact it is much more than that. Ayurveda is many thousands of years old, making it one of the oldest – if not the oldest – health systems in the world. It has its origins in a region we now call India. Translated, Ayurveda means the knowledge about life. This also describes the holistic approach: It is about the whole person, his body, his mind and his soul.

Ayurveda teaches us how to maintain our health and heal our diseases, but what does health mean? At any rate, it is more than the absence of illness. Ayurveda defines health as follows:

• The 3 Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – can be understood as bio-energies. They are in a balanced state.
• The digestive system functions without problems.
• The human body with its components such as skin, muscles, bones etc. is in good condition and full of vitality.
• The excretory processes function efficiently and regularly.
• The senses and sense organs work smoothly.
• The mental condition of the human being is characterized by a high degree of satisfaction.
• A healthy person according to this definition will experience satisfaction on all 3 levels of our existence – the physical, mental and spiritual.

Interestingly, the Ayurvedic definition of health is confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which declared in 1998: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

Maintaining our health should be our top priority according to the Ayurvedic tradition. For it is the basis of our life and all our activities. Ayurveda gives precise instructions on how to stay healthy. It is up to us to take the necessary steps to achieve this goal.