Ayurveda began over 5,000 years ago as part of the Vedic system of knowledge in ancient India. Its roots lie in the Atharva Veda, one of the four sacred Vedic texts. Around 1000–700 BCE, Ayurveda developed into two main schools: the School of Physicians (Atreya) and the School of Surgeons (Dhanvantari), giving rise to eight specialties, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, ENT, rejuvenation, mental health, toxicology, and aphrodisiacs.

To make the knowledge more accessible, Ayurvedic wisdom was compiled into three classic texts still studied today:

· Caraka Samhita – A foundational text on internal medicine.

· Sushruta Samhita – Focuses on surgery and includes early descriptions of surgical techniques.

· Ashtanga Hridaya – A concise, poetic summary of Ayurvedic teachings, covering all eight branches.

Other important texts, like Madhavanidanam, Sharangadhara Samhita, and Bhavaprakasha Samhita, along with regional works, continue to enrich Ayurvedic practice today.

Ayurveda defines health as much more than just the absence of disease. True health means being balanced in body, mind, and spirit.
According to the classical texts:

· At the deepest level, health is being established in the Self—connected to your true nature and higher consciousness.

· Physiologically, health is a balance of the doshas (bodily energies), strong agni (digestive fire), well-formed tissues (dhatus), proper elimination of waste (malas), and clarity in mind, senses, and spirit.

· Functionally, a healthy person has strength, vitality, good digestion, resilience to stress, and sharp senses.

· Lifestyle-wise, health is supported by balanced habits: nutritious food, moderation, regular exercise and rest, kindness, truthfulness, and a calm, compassionate outlook.

Practices like meditation, yoga, and self-awareness are seen not just as treatments—but as essential for preventing illness and maintaining lifelong well-being.

In Ayurveda, disease is more than just physical symptoms—it’s any form of suffering or imbalance. The ancient texts offer three main definitions:

· "Suffering by any means is disease." – This includes not just physical pain, but also emotional or mental distress.

· "Disease arises from dosha imbalance." – When the body's natural energies (vata, pitta, or kapha) go out of balance, illness can follow.

· "Disease arises from dhatu imbalance." – When the body’s tissues (dhatus) are weakened or out of sync, it leads to dysfunction and disease.

In essence, Ayurveda sees disease as a sign that balance—on any level—has been disturbed.

We don’t offer a dosha quiz on our website. While quizzes can be fun, they often lead to confusion about your true constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalances (Vikriti). A doshic quiz only determines your constitution which remains the same your whole life.

Balancing your health involves more than just knowing your constitution (Prakriti)—it also depends on your digestive strength, tissue health, toxin levels, lifestyle, and current imbalances (Vikriti). Misinterpreting a quiz can sometimes make things worse instead of better.

We recommend discussing your dosha and current imbalances during a consultation, where we can give you accurate, personalized guidance. You can also check out our blog or FAQ to learn more about the doshas. 

If you are interested in scheduling an Ayurvedic Consultation, please call, text, or email Ancient Roots Healing to set up an appointment. You can even use our contact us form.

Once you have set up an appointment, you need to fill out the Intake form. You will be prompted to fill out this form once your appointment has been booked.  All medical information disclosed in the intake form is encrypted to HIPAA standards to protect your medical privacy.

Your intake form must be received 24 hours before your appointment time. Then you just need to show up for your appointment at the appropriate time.

For a virtual appointments, a link for your appointment will be emailed to you an hour before your session. Please click on the link a couple minutes prior to your appointment time to ensure your microphone and camera are working properly.  Your practitioner will start your consultation by inviting you in from the virtual waiting room at the time of your appointment.

All virtual consultations are also encrypted to HIPAA standards to protect your privacy.

Yes. At Ancient Roots Healing, your privacy is a top priority. All virtual sessions, intake forms, and records are protected with end-to-end encryption and meet HIPAA standards.

We never share your medical information without your consent, and all records are securely stored in full compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Unlike western medicine, you do not continue to take the same ayurvedic herbs for an extended period of time. Ayurveda’s goal is to remove the root cause of disease and return you to a natural state of health, not to suppress symptoms or simply manage disease. Different herbs are suggested at different stages in the healing process to support recovery.

Your Ayurvedic practitioner will suggest a time for a follow up appointment. At that time they will reevaluate your progress and either continue a similar protocol or give you new herbs to support your condition. After 3 months of taking the same herbs, your body begins to acclimate, making the herbs less effective. There are some formulations that can be taken for an extended periods of time. Your practitioner can help you navigate these decisions.

It is important to continue working with your Ayurvedic practitioner even after your symptoms have disappeared. Part of Ayurvedic treatment is rebuilding and strengthening the body and affected tissues after remission of a disease. Continued care helps to prevent a relapse of symptoms and sets you on course to remain healthy.