Ayurveda, the traditional natural healing system of India, is rapidly growing in popularity in the West today. Its system of mind body medicine considers the physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of healing. Perhaps no other system of medicine has such a practical understanding of all aspects of our being from a cellular level to that of pure consciousness. Ayurveda's series of constitutional types based upon the biological humors provides an individualized approach to healing that is similarly quite profound. Its emphasis on vegetarianism, its connection with Yoga, and its extensive life-style recommendations are other facets of its many sided appeal. Now Ayurveda is regarded as one of the most important systems of alternative medicines available. After a number of important introductory books on Ayurveda, readers are now being introduced into the deeper aspects of this extraordinary system that covers the whole of life.Through this, the diversity of Ayurveda is being revealed, and we are seeing how different Ayurvedic teachers add their perspectives and bring out different sides of this ocean of knowledge. This study gives the reader a radical new perspective in the practice of Ayurveda. It is not meant to replace what exists at present, but to be complimentary. This system is not new, but is offered as a revitalized approach to Ayurveda. The thesis put forth by the author in this text is that it is not Constitution, as modern Ayurveda contends, but rather Seven Disease Tendencies which are fundamental to the treatment of disease. In fact, this approach in mentioned by Charaka, the father of Ayurveda, is his Charaka Samhita the authoritative texts of Ayurveda. (jacket)