Ayurveda is the Vedic system of healthcare that developed in India over 5000 years ago. The word “Ayurveda” is a compound of the word “Ayu” mealing “life”, “life principle” or “longevity” and the word “veda” refers to a “system of knowledge” or “wisdom”. Thus “Ayurveda” means the “wisdom for living” or “knowledge of a long life”.