According to Hindu mythology, it was the Maha Brahma who conceived Ayurveda and gave it to the world, more than 5,000 years ago, when he observed the suffering of human beings caused by diseases. The sages of that time discussed how to cure the ills of humanity and decided to turn to the Maha Brahma for a solution, which was given through the study of Ayurveda. Among the participants, the sages Agasthi, Pulasthi, Dhanvanthare, Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbata were identified.
Later, based on their studies and research, these sages prepared the texts that we know today about Ayurveda herbal medicine; each of them responsible for a topic or specialty.
The word Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: "ayur" which means life and "veda" which expresses knowledge. Ayurveda means "Science of Life" or "Knowledge of Life".
Ayurvedic philosophy conceives that the entire universe is made of the combination of five great elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth, which the human being contains. These five elements combined in pairs form the three dynamic forces known as tridoshas.
Ayurveda bases its diagnosis on the three doshas or humors of the body, which define its constitution and characteristics. Doshas are invisible forces of nature that play a role in the human body and have different characteristics. When the tridoshas are in balance, the human body is in perfect health and harmony.
The three doshas are: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Vata represents the functions of air and ether; Pitta (bile) fire and water; and Kapha (phlegm) the earth and the water. These three doshas do not belong to the physical plane, although each one of them helps to maintain the balance of the human body, through its continuous flow, internal and external.