Ayurveda is the "science of life." It helps people live healthy and active lives into old age. For thousands of years, this form of healthcare has been practiced in Southeast Asia, particularly in India. Written records go back about 2000 years, and oral traditions reach even further into the Vedic period, making Ayurveda the oldest medical system with a continuous tradition in the world.

Ayurvedic medicine is recognized as a science by the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005, Document WOH / EDM / TRM / 2002.1). In India it is legally equal to conventional medicine and its importance is reflected in the creation of a separate Ministry (Ministry of AYUSH). Ayurveda is playing an increasingly important role in the West, and in Germany Ayurvedic medicine is one of the fast growing complementary medicine practices.

Ayurveda is based on a profound philosophy about the definition of health (svastha), how it can be maintained, how disease develops and how it can be cured. The human being is seen as an individual "body-mind-consciousness system" in which functional principles or bioenergies - Vata, Pitta and Kapha - operate. This individual equilibrium of one's own constitution can be disturbed by daily recurring habits and ultimately come out of balance. According to Ayurveda, this is a key factor in disease. 

The digestive power - the digestive fire AGNI - is one measure of the balance or imbalance of these bioenergies. This is based on a simple observation: a healthy organism can generally digest everything it eats and drinks, using it to create energy and the necessary building blocks for the body, and excrete the rest without problems.

"A person is said to be healthy if their physiology is in balance, their digestion and metabolism are working well, their tissues and excretory functions are functioning normally and their soul, mind and senses are in a state of lasting, inner happiness."

" Samadosha Samadhatu samaagni samamala Kryaha Prasanna atma Indriya manaha/
Svastha iti abhidhiya te." (Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana XV.41. 3rd-4th c. a.d.)