The ‘mother of all healing sciences’ – Ayurveda is a complete system that evolved over time integrating centuries of wisdom derived from experience. A striking characteristic of Indian traditional knowledge sourced right from the Vedas is the principle of amalgamation. No area of study, be it philosophy, medicine, astronomy, alchemy or architecture, is expounded to the exclusion of other inter-related disciplines. Thus an understanding in perspective of the nature of the mind (manas) – the origination of which has been the preoccupation of Indian philosophy for millennia – consciousness (chitta) and pure awareness (mahat) is very essential to understand their impact upon healthy living and causes of disease or disturbance to this normal state. Modern medical science’s current stand that most chronic ailments are psychosomatic is a current day affirmation of an ancient knowledge in this sub-continent. Ousted from its legitimate pedestal at the heyday of western colonization and supremacy, today Ayurveda is undergoing a vigourous revival not only in the country of its origin – India, but also throughout the world. Global disease burden and acknowledgement of the limitations of modern medicine are driving the global search for more holistic and preventive health care access to all. The ancient tradition of Ayurveda is resonant of such fundamental insights that are only now being developed in cutting edge science and is hence being validated on modern lines. With the global awakening of the need to integrate the best of all medical systems each addressing the facet of its strength towards meeting the rising health care needs, pharmacognosy research in our country needs to be specifically geared to explore the potential drugs/treatment options Ayurveda has to offer in the coming years.