Ayurveda is acknowledged to be the world's oldest health care system. It has been handed down over thousands of years as an oral tradition and has existed in written form since 400 BC. In addition to numerous family traditions there are also Ayurvedic Universities, with their own specialist departments such as internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology, children's health and toxicology, which have existed for hundreds of years. Theory and practice were connected in a brilliant way, intellectual thought and spiritual growth combined in a holistic manner.

During recent centuries the holistic approach of Ayurveda became lost and only partial aspects remained. As a result it is this fragmented form which has mainly been practised in recent times.

In addition to this, the guardians of long-held secret herbal formulas and procedures in many traditional Ayurvedic families were motivated by Maharishi to share their wisdom for the first time. He inspired authoritative Ayurvedic physicians and Sanskrit scholars to participate in the translation of the original texts of Ayurveda into modern speech. Much of the Vedic knowledge had been lost due to translation in recent times. To re-establish it correctly has taken many years of detailed work. Western scientists then placed this comprehensive and restored knowledge in the context of modern scientific discoveries.

This is how Maharishi Ayurveda came into being. The aim was not only to offer Ayurveda as it is currently practised in India, but also to make available the forgotten aspects in their original pure form.

Standardised training programmes for doctors from all over the world were then structured and Indian Ayurvedic physicians, who are university professors in their own right, personally teach their Western colleagues. Through this teaching it is possible for doctors from all over the world to learn the various aspects of Ayurveda, through the use of comprehensive basic and advanced training. This fulfils the demands of both authenticity and compliance with modern scientific understanding, thus ensuring a high standard of quality. Every western doctor can take advantage of the extensive expert knowledge of the Indian Vaidyas (traditional Ayurvedic physicians) whenever it is necessary for the well-being of his patient.

The treatments of Maharishi Ayurveda have been verified by modern scientific research. A large number of studies into the effects of Maharishi Ayurveda have been conducted at more than 160 independent research institutes and universities in 35 countries.

More than 600 studies alone have been done on the Transcendental Meditation technique, the Vedic technology of consciousness. In the last 20 years Maharishi Panchakarma and Maharishi Ayurvedic herbal preparations have been examined in over 100 research experiments. These studies document the impressive contribution of Maharishi Ayurveda in maintaining the health of modern western individuals as well as mental and behavioural improvements.