About EUAA
The European Ayurveda Association (EUAA) is an umbrella organisation (est. 2006) dedicated to promoting Ayurveda Professionals and making Ayurveda available to the public within Europe.
The EUAA is a registered non-governamental organisation, politically, economically and denominationally independent. The organisation pursues exclusively and directly non-profit activities and is registered and based in Germany.
EUAA Mission
Turn Ayurveda available for everyone in Europe.
EUAA Values
Promote collaboration, support, accuracy and transparency of information to all members and general public regarding Ayurveda.
EUAA Aims for Ayurveda in Europe
Europe-wide recognition of Ayurveda as Medical System
Pluralism in healthcare and patient choice is fast becoming the norm in all societies globally including the member states of the European Union and European Economic Arena. Ayurveda has been recognized as a traditional holistic medicine system by the World Health Organization (WHO)*. Patients today therefore have a free and wider choice of therapies and can decide for Ayurveda: a natural diagnostic and therapeutic and health promoting and disease preventing system for the improvement of health and well-being of the individual. By encouraging the growth of patient choice and pluralism in healthcare and promotion of healthcare via safe and effective health promoting and disease preventing systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Yoga and other ancient systems the wellbeing of the individual, populations and Society is enabled. Thus by offering safer and a wider choice of health systems in European countries better health outcomes are possible and in turn health budgets are relieved.
* Traditional medicine is defined by WHO as “the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness”.
Recognition of educational standards for Ayurvedic professions
Clear guidelines for Ayurvedic health care professions ensure high-quality trainings and vocational qualifications. These training guidelines are recognized by medical associations, associations for non-medical practitioners, other health organisations (e.g. physiotherapists, masseurs) and government health services. Licensed Ayurvedic training are promoted or integrated into other health vocational trainings. The “Benchmarks for training in Ayurveda” is an example of the efforts taken by the WHO as a call to harmonize Ayurveda globally. Similar guidelines have to be enabled for the European Union and for each of the member state of the European Union.
Recognition of quality standards for Ayurveda products
Quality standards for Ayurvedic products ensures the safety of patients. These standards have to be recognized by the EU supervisory authorities and national health authorities. Legislative bodies must involve the representatives of the Ayurvedic community in an advisory capacity in the development of laws and policies impacting Ayurveda in Europe.
EUAA main activities
We are committed to achieve our mission and goals through the following activities.
Public Engagement for establishment of Ayurveda in Europe
The EUAA is proactive in the dissemination and recognition of Ayurveda as a traditional holistic medical system in Europe. We conduct public relations and take a stand when issues are discussed around Ayurveda in the media.
Together with our members, we ensure the authenticity of Ayurvedic transmission and methods of therapy. Via the organization, promotion or participation, we support conferences and events that deal with all aspects of Ayurveda and inform experts as general public about it. Thus, the EUAA promotes the exchange of knowledge and understanding of various Ayurvedic schools, specialists and other organizations with similar goals.
We also support the establishment of a publicly available database and an European Ayurveda Observatory so that the access to the knowledge of Ayurveda and its application in Europe can be guaranteed.
We also teach the national and EU health authorities about the diversity and methods of Ayurveda. We support the concerns of patients to be able to freely choose an Ayurvedic treatment. In this context, we seek to collaborate with health insurance companies so that they bear the cost of Ayurvedic treatment. We also advise professional associations, government agencies, health insurers and businesses related to Ayurveda.
EUAA representatives monitor political developments in the context of health care systems at national and EU-level. Emphasis is placed on the traditional therapies that are recognized by the World Health Organization. Relevant political or legal information are specifically distributed to our members.
The EUAA supports its member organizations and bodies in their work for Ayurveda. In addition, the EUAA exchange views and cooperates with institutions and organizations around the world that are dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Ayurveda.
Development of Ayurvedic training programs and promotion of scientific research
The EUAA participates in the development and testing of training programs and the accreditation of training facilities and curricula. We are committed to ensuring that the developed guidelines for the training of Ayurvedic doctors and therapists are recognized by doctors or medical practitioner-associations, other health organizations and public-health authorities and integrated into laws when necessary. We place special emphasis on conformity to traditional knowledge and consideration of the different traditions.
Moreover, the EUAA promotes the integration of Ayurvedic knowledge in curricula of academic and non-academic health professions in private and public schools. The EUAA also promotes scientific research at universities and science-oriented research institutions in all Ayurvedic areas in order to provide a thorough understanding and practice of Ayurvedic principles in the modern world.
Promotion of the quality level of Ayurvedic Products
The EUAA is developing quality standards for Ayurvedic products in order to ensure the safety of patients and to promote the application of Ayurvedic products. This concerns in particular the creation of guidelines with regard to the purity of the ingredients, the production and storage and packaging of Ayurvedic products.
At the national and EU supervisory authorities, the EUAA is committed to ensuring that these policies are recognized.
Public Engagement for establishment of Ayurveda in Europe
The EUAA is proactive in the dissemination and recognition of Ayurveda as a traditional holistic medical system in Europe. We conduct public relations and take a stand when issues are discussed around Ayurveda in the media.
Together with our members, we ensure the authenticity of Ayurvedic transmission and methods of therapy. Via the organization, promotion or participation, we support conferences and events that deal with all aspects of Ayurveda and inform experts as general public about it. Thus, the EUAA promotes the exchange of knowledge and understanding of various Ayurvedic schools, specialists and other organizations with similar goals.
We also support the establishment of a publicly available database and an European Ayurveda Observatory so that the access to the knowledge of Ayurveda and its application in Europe can be guaranteed.
We also teach the national and EU health authorities about the diversity and methods of Ayurveda. We support the concerns of patients to be able to freely choose an Ayurvedic treatment. In this context, we seek to collaborate with health insurance companies so that they bear the cost of Ayurvedic treatment. We also advise professional associations, government agencies, health insurers and businesses related to Ayurveda.
EUAA representatives monitor political developments in the context of health care systems at national and EU-level. Emphasis is placed on the traditional therapies that are recognized by the World Health Organization. Relevant political or legal information are specifically distributed to our members.
The EUAA supports its member organisations and bodies in their work for Ayurveda. In addition, the EUAA exchange views and cooperates with institutions and organisations around the world that are dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Ayurveda.
Development of Ayurvedic training programs and promotion of scientific research
The EUAA participates in the development and testing of training programs and the accreditation of training facilities and curricula. We are committed to ensuring that the developed guidelines for the training of Ayurvedic doctors and therapists are recognised by doctors or medical practitioner-associations, other health organisations and public-health authorities and integrated into laws when necessary. We place special emphasis on conformity to traditional knowledge and consideration of the different traditions.
Moreover, the EUAA promotes the integration of Ayurvedic knowledge in curricula of academic and non-academic health professions in private and public schools. The EUAA also promotes scientific research at universities and science-oriented research institutions in all Ayurvedic areas in order to provide a thorough understanding and practice of Ayurvedic principles in the modern world.
Promotion of the quality level of Ayurvedic Products
The EUAA is developing quality standards for Ayurvedic products in order to ensure the safety of patients and to promote the application of Ayurvedic products. This concerns in particular the creation of guidelines with regard to the purity of the ingredients, the production and storage and packaging of Ayurvedic products.
At the national and EU supervisory authorities, the EUAA is committed to ensuring that these policies are recognised.
Moreover, the EUAA promotes the integration of Ayurvedic knowledge in curricula of academic and non-academic health professions in private and public schools. The EUAA also promotes scientific research at universities and science-oriented research institutions in all Ayurvedic areas in order to provide a thorough understanding and practice of Ayurvedic principles in the modern world.
Membership of International Bodies
EUAA is also member of two important international bodies:
EUROCAM
European foundation uniting umbrella organisations of patients, physicians, practitioners, and veterinarians in the Traditional, Complementary,
and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) sector.
ANME
Association for Natural Medicine in Europe
“By working together and supporting each other, we can reach further”
Stina Andersson, Sweden