An alternative medicine originating in India, Ayurveda is practiced by 80% of the population in India and Nepal. Meaning “knowledge of life and longevity,” Ayurvedic practice encourages having balance and moderation, such as suppressing natural urges that lead to illness and bad health. Towards this end, herbal medicines, meditation, yoga, and oils or massage are used to relax and rejuvenate body and spirit. Some of the supplements or preparations of Ayurvedic medicine have been found to have toxic substances such as arsenic, lead, and mercury due to being farmed in contaminated land, so be sure to find vetted sources before using supplements.

Yoga has become popularized in the west as a means of self-care and relaxation. This Ayurvedic practice started many centuries ago in India. Meaning “yoke” in Sanskrit, yoga’s purpose was spiritual and meditative, calming the mind and body so that one could detach from worldly attachments. By utilizing yoga, a “yogi” would overcome distorted perceptions of the world and find inner peace, freeing themselves from suffering, even if temporarily. In doing so, the goal was that a yoga practitioner would become enlightened and rise above the ego, becoming interconnected and one with everyone and everything.