The history and origins of Ayurveda
Ayurveda developed in the Indian subcontinent thousands of years ago and was originally practiced through oral tradition before the Vedic texts, commonly known as the Vedas, were composed. The Vedas are the oldest compilation of knowledge and wisdom imparted by the Rishis, the ancient population of modern day India. Of the four Vedas, Ayurveda originated from the Atharvaveda body of knowledge, which dates back to around 1,000 B.C. The most famous of these texts are the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridayam, which concentrate on internal medicine, surgery and all eight clinical branches of Ayurveda.