Ayurvedic medicine Ayurveda is a more than 5,000-year-old system of medicine that originated in India. Its foundation lies in the idea of harmony between mind, body, and spirit as the basis of good health and disease prevention. It encourages a lifestyle unique to the individual—the problems of health result when they fall out of balance with the three doshas—Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Ayurvedic treatment seeks to balance this in the body, naturally, through treatments, lifestyle adjustments and herbal products.