Dr. Vasant Lad, a conventional physician and Ayurvedic doctor, has achieved something truly special with this foundational work: with just a glance, one can learn how to treat a current health issue according to Ayurvedic principles. From the common cold to chronic bowel irritation, from stress symptoms to depression, the reader receives comprehensive, detailed self-help instructions. Additionally, Dr. Lad explains the mental foundations of Ayurveda and presents it as a system of consistent health maintenance that can preserve or restore our well-being through a wealth of natural measures. These include nutrition, cleansing procedures, breathing exercises, meditation, and a healthy lifestyle, as well as herbal teas and essential oils.

According to Ayurvedic teachings, health is a state of perfect balance among the three fundamental energies of the body (Doshas), which manifest in the elements. Ether and air characterize the nervous Vata type, fire and water influence the weak-stomached Pitta type, while earth and water shape the cold-prone Kapha type. It is extremely rare for any of these types to appear in their "pure" form; most of us are a mix of all three, albeit with a significant emphasis on one. To maintain mental and physical harmony or to heal an illness, it is essential first to determine one's own psycho-physical constitution type and then choose the appropriate treatment method.

With this book, Dr. Vasant Lad presents the standard work on the theory and practice of Ayurveda. It provides a deep understanding of the significance of health and illness and opens practical access to highly effective healing methods that can help us preserve our vitality and well-being well into old age.