Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means the “science of life” and originated in India more than 5,000 years ago. According to Ayurvedic science, each person has a unique combination of the elements of nature (earth, water, fire, air and ether) which makes up his/her constitutional type. Understanding one's constitutional type is an important key to maintaining and restoring health and well-being. Many factors -- physical, mental, emotional, internal and external (dietary, habits, relationships, thoughts) -- are considered for there affects on a person’s constitutional balance. With this knowledge, Ayurveda helps us to discover how we can maintain balance for our constitutional type, as well as how to restore health and well-being.