When people think of Ayurveda, many think of wellness treatments like the well-known forehead massage, which many hotels use to advertise their spa facilities. In fact, Ayurveda is arguably the oldest traditional medicine in the world, having been handed down continuously for more than 2,000 years and thus boasting an extremely comprehensive body of empirical knowledge. Neither TCM, which was only 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 known as the Vedas, which, like traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), combine physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. In Ayurveda, nutrition plays a particularly important role—both in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Spices and herbs are used specifically as medicinal 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.