Ayurveda (lang-sa????????; ?yurveda, the "science of life") or Ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, the word ayurveda consists of the words IAST?yus, meaning "longevity", and IASTveda, meaning "related to knowledge" or "science". Evolving throughout its history, ayurveda remains an influential system of medicine in South Asia. The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India. The Su?ruta Sa?hit? and the Caraka Sa?hit? were influential works on traditional medicine during this era. Over the following centuries, ayurvedic practitioners have also identified a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for curing various ailments and diseases.

Ayurveda is considered to be a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the western world, where several of its methods, such as the use of herbs, massage, and yoga (Yoga as exercise or alternative medicine), are applied on their own as a form of CAM treatment.