• Ayurveda uses herbs and massage to manage diseases.massage image by fderib from Fotolia.com
  
  Ayurveda is an alternative medicine based on the idea that diet and lifestyle choices influence overall health and well-being. This 5,000-year-old Indian philosophy maintains that people get sick because of external factors and bad energy, and that a balanced life is also a healthy life. Ayurvedic doctors use herbs, massage and yoga to treat ailments and heal patients. The National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine accredits Ayurveda programs, although no U.S. state issues licenses to practice.
  
  

The Ayurvedic Institute

• The Ayurvedic Institute teaches Ayurvedic healing techniques like yoga, acupressure massage and karma cleansing. Two levels of study are offered. Level One teaches the basics of Ayurveda during its one-year duration, including Sanskrit, anatomy and physiology, and applied lifestyle. Level Two gives a deeper understanding of Ayurvedic practice and more complex treatments like pathophysiology and herbology. Graduates of either program receive a certificate of completion. On-line webinars are offered for students who cannot travel to the New Mexico campus.
  
  The Ayurvedic Institute
  11311 Menaul Blvd. NE
  Albuquerque, NM 87112
  505-323-2838
  ayurveda.com
  
  

California College of Ayurveda

• The California College of Ayurveda offers three levels of Ayurvedic training leading to a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist certification. Level One discusses the basic principles of Ayurveda and results in students becoming an Ayurvedic Health Educator. Level Two compares Ayurvedic and Western ideas about disease and treatment, while Level Three is a six-month internship in either preventative medicine or disease management. All applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
  
  California College of Ayurveda
  1117A East Main Street
  Grass Valley, CA 95945
  866-541-6699
  ayurvedacollege.com
  
  

Ayurveda Institute of America

• Students at the Ayurveda Institute of America receive a diploma in Ayurvedic sciences after 18 months of classes. Courses include psychology, herbology, pathology and preventative medicine. An Ayurvedic internship is required to give students hands-on work experience. Applicants must have a high school diploma and an undergraduate degree in a related field is preferable.
  
  Ayurveda Institute of America
  561 Pilgrim Drive, Suite B
  Foster City, CA 94404
  650-341-8400
  ayurvedainstitute.com