Many people associate Ayurveda with wellness treatments like the well-known Shirodhara (oil pouring on the forehead), which many hotels use to promote their spa areas. In fact, Ayurveda is arguably the oldest traditional medicine in the world, having been passed down continuously for over 2,000 years and thus possessing an extremely comprehensive body of experiential knowledge. Neither Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which was politically revived in the 20th century, nor European medicine – with the exception of the writings of Hildegard von Bingen – can look back on such a tradition.
Ayurveda means "science of life" (ayus = "life" and veda = "knowledge") and has its roots in the sacred Indian scriptures, the Vedas, which, like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), connect physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. In Ayurveda, nutrition plays a particularly important role—both in prevention and in the treatment of illnesses. Spices and herbs are used specifically as remedies. In Ayurveda, spices are comparable to herbal teas in Western naturopathy. We have compiled the most important spices and herbs for you in this category.