Ayurveda in Sanskrit means "The Knowledge of Long Life".
It is a system of traditional Hindu medicine based on bringing the body back to balance. Every human is viewed as a small cosmos in itself constructed from the elements of space, air, earth, fire and water. The unique mix of these elements determines susceptibility to illness.
A person who eats the right foods balances the elements of life. Eating the wrong foods enhances the body's problems.
A person with much fire in their system for example, must stay away from food and activities that will inflame them and throw their body out of balance, avoiding for example coffee, alcohol, overworking and overeating. These things might not do the same damage in someone who is Vata.
Ayurveda is about true individualized health, through diet and lifestyle. This ancient healing system includes herbs, nutrition, cleansing, acupressure massage, Yoga, Sanskrit, and Jyotish (Vedic astrology).