Health is man's normal condition, his birthright. It is the result of living in accordance with the natural laws pertaining to the body, mind and environment. These laws relate to fresh air and sunlight, balanced diet, regular exercise, rest, relaxation and sound sleep, cleanliness, internal, external and physical right attitudes of mind, good habits and healthy living. Modern medical science is often accused for its pre-occupation with the study of disease and neglect of the study of health. It has encouraged people to rely on medicine and tonics for the maintenance of health than teach them the rational way to health. Our hospitals are indeed flooded with the sick, but there are no institutions, which show people how to prevent disease and promote health. Health is often taken for granted and its value is not fully appreciated until it is lost. There are many definitions of health. To the common man, health means a sound mind in a sound body, in a sound family, in a sound environment. The widely accepted definition of health is that given by the World Health Organization (WHO, 1948) as:

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely an absence of disease in a family."

This definition defines three very closely related dimensions of health: physical, mental and social. A fourth dimension has also been suggested, namely "Spiritual Health. The health of an individual fluctuates within a range, varying from optimum well being to extreme sickness, positive health Good Health Better health optimum well being Freedom from Sickness Unrecognized sickness Bad Health Mild sickness extreme sickness Severe sickness Death The lowest point (right most point of the pendulum) in this range is the state of death and the highest point (left most point of the pendulum) corresponds to the WHO's definition of health. In other words, health is never static, it varies continuously.

AASH - ASSOCIATION FOR AYURVEDIC STUDY AND HEALTH