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Ayurveda and Regulation

How is Ayurveda regulated in the United States?

Ayurvedic practitioners are not licensed in the United States, and its practice is not regulated by state or federal agencies. Standards of competency are set by individual schools that have received state approval. Ayurvedic practitioners in the United States are taught how to practice legally within a limited scope of practice so they are not viewed as practicing medicine without a license. We might say that Ayurveda's current status in the U.S. is analogous to the Chinese medical profession during its early years in the 1970's.

In 1998 a diverse group of practitioners, many representing schools of Ayurveda in this country, began meeting to discuss the creation of state and national professional associations. These associations will focus on licensing and certification issues and the important task of educating people on Ayurveda and its practice.