Based on historical evidence Ayurveda has been practised in Nepal since the beginning of time. The Himalaya stand for purity, clarity and harmony, which is the goal and aspiration of every living creature. Nepal is one of the richest countries with diverse flora ranging from tropical to alpine within a small geographical area. Much of the flora is used for medicinal purposes. Nepal has a great tradition of Ayurveda, and it is considered to be part of the cultural and scientific heritage of the country.

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means the science of life or a natural way of living . Ayurveda, is thought of as a life science, and includes yoga, meditation and the natural and spiritual sciences. It looks at every person as a unique individual, and seeks to understand and to correct the imbalances and restore the innate intelligence and harmony of the person.

The objectives of Ayurveda are the development of awareness which leads to a state of desirelessness; the promotion of health and the achievement of longevity; the prevention of disease; and the curing of disease. The Ayurveda practitioner first of all asks a series of questions to identify the person s type, after which it is possible to diagnose the problem, and suggest a series of activities and practices together with ayurvedic medicines. Neither stands alone, each patient is treated in both

In order to understand Ayurveda in more depth, it is possible to visit Nepal to be treated by an Ayurveda practitioner, or to meet with practitioners to understand the philosophy on a more intellectual level. Excursions can be organised to visit practitioners, to meet rural people collecting the herbs, and to meet traditional healers such as Shamans and Jhankris.

You could learn about the cultivation and harvesting of the herbs, and the treatment and final production of the herbal medicines. In Nepal there are libraries with manuscripts of herbal remedies and historical facts about Ayurveda, as well as a herbal specimen museum.