Ayurveda is the general name given to the collective practices of ancient Indian medicine and is made up of many different elements such as lifestyle changes, iridology, massage therapy, aromatherapy and, above all, the application of medicinal plants and herbs. As an ancient science, until recently, little research has been conducted into the effectiveness of such treatments and practices. This is due to both the lack of concrete resources available and the debate over the validity of translations of early sources. Among all the herbs, the use of three of the traditional herbal treatments, namely Neem (Azardirachta indica), Sage (various species of Salvia) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa), will be discussed due to the rates of high reported effectiveness and frequent use. These plants are said to be very useful in the field of Ayurveda and are not only the most frequently listed herbs, but also the most researched. Although many cases have been documented to prove the usefulness of these herbs, many cases discourage the practice of Ayurveda by providing an argument against the safety and reliability of these herbs. Many of these claims have recently been verified or proven false through proper scientific studies. The use of neem and turmeric in particular has become very controversial due to the concepts of biopiracy and biopatents. A brief introduction to this topic will be given with specific examples. Safety issues and the general lack of scientific studies will also be addressed. The negative effects of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic remedies discovered through research are presented. Other benefits of using Ayurvedic herbal remedies, such as cost-effectiveness, will also be analyzed. is considered by many to be the oldest health care system still practiced in the world today (Chopra, 2003). The term meaning “knowledge or science of life” is derived from the Sanskrit words ayuhu, meaning “life” and veda, meaning “the knowledge or science of” (Stutley & Stutley, 1977). This shows a marked difference from other health care systems such as allopathy, osteopathy and homeopathy which end in "pathy" and denote a distinct emphasis and greater focus on disease. (Zisman, Goldberg and Veniegas, 2003). According to most Ayurvedic practitioners, health is not simply a state free from ailments, symptoms and diseases, but rather a state of physical, mental and spiritual contentment and fulfillment (Dash & Junius, A. Manuel d 'Ayurveda, 1983).