The word ‘Vaidya’ means ‘traditional Ayurveda practitioner’. Vaidyas are considered as the godfathers of ayurveda and since ancient times almost every village in India had a Vaidya family who took care of the health of the people in the region. In 18^th century, when India became a colony of Great Britain, allopathic and homeopathic medicines immigrated to India and took over the role of mainstream medical practice even in the villages. When India got freedom from Britain in 1947, according to the government senses report there were only a few hundred Vaidya families left in the country following the traditional practice. And in this millennium it is hard to find a Vaidya with the centuries of knowledge passed from his family through his long tradition. More on: https://janeshvaidya.com/vaidyas/#vaidyas