Ayurveda () is an alternative medicine system from the Indian subcontinent. Ayurveda is [scientific]. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) says the practice of modern medicine by Ayurveda is quackery. Ayurvedic texts say that the gods of Hindu mythology gave medical knowledge to legendary Hindu philosophers, who then gave the knowledge to human physicians. The word "ayurveda" is from the , , and means knowledge of life and longevity. 