Ayurveda versus a resort spa: what is the difference?

"Ayurveda" and "spa" both promise relaxation and both often involve oil, massage and herbal products, so it is easy to assume a hotel's "Ayurveda spa" and a dedicated Ayurveda centre's Panchakarma programme are the same experience at different price points. They are not. The difference is not about which one is more luxurious, it is about the framework behind the treatment: whether there is a doctor, a diagnosis and a plan, or whether the point is a pleasant afternoon.

Neither this page nor either kind of centre should claim to cure a medical condition. What follows describes the two traditions as they actually run, so you can choose the one that matches what you are actually looking for.

• Ask whether a doctor consults with you before treatment starts. If the answer is no, it is a spa experience, whatever it is called.
• Ask how the centre is accredited and who its practitioners are qualified by. A reputable, accredited centre is worth seeking out for a multi-day clinical programme specifically.
• Check whether meals are part of a prescribed plan or the property's normal menu — a real Ayurveda programme includes the diet as part of the treatment.
• Look at the minimum length on offer. A single day or a weekend package is almost always a spa experience rather than clinical Ayurveda, which needs longer to run its stages.