Ayurveda is an ancient medicine system of the Indian subcontinent. It is said to have originated in India about 5000 years back. The word Ayurveda is a conjugation of two Sanskrit words ‘ayus’, meaning ‘life’ and ‘Veda’, meaning ‘science’, thus Ayurveda literally means the ‘science of life’.

(1) Dosha- The three vital principles of doshas are vata, pitta and kapha, which together regulate and control the catabolic and anabolic metabolism. The main function of the three doshas is to carry the byproduct of digested foods throughout the body, which helps in building up the body tissues.

(2) Dhatu- Dhatu can be defined as one, which supports the body. There are seven tissue systems in the body. They are as Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Mjja and Shukra which represent the plasma, blood, muscle, fat tissue, bone, bone marrow and semen respectively.

(3) Mala- Mala means waste products or dirty. It is third in the trinity of the body i.e. doshas and dhatu. There are three main types of malas, e.g. stool, urine and sweat.

Diagnosis
In Ayurveda diagnosis is always done of the patient as a whole. The diagnosis also involves the following examinations:
(1) General physical examination
(2) Pulse examination
(3) Urine examination
(4) Examination of the faeces
(5) Examination of tongue and eyes
(6) Examination of skin and ear including tactile and auditory functions.

Treatment
The principal objectives of Ayurveda include maintenance and promotion of health, prevention of disease and cure of sickness. Treatment of the disease consists in avoiding causative factors responsible for disequilibrium of the body matrix or of any of its constituent parts through the use of Panchkarma procedures, medicines, suitable diet, activity and regimen for restoring the balance and strengthening the body mechanisms to prevent or minimize future occurrence of the disease.

Types of Treatment
(1) Shodhana therapy (Purification Treatment)
Shodhana treatment aims at the removal of the causative factors of somatic and psychosomatic diseases. The process involves internal and external purification. The usual practices involved are Panchkarma (medically induced Emesis, Purgation, Oil Enema, Decoction enema and Nasal administration of medicines).

(2) Shamana therapy (Palliative Treatment)
Shamana therapy involves suppression of vitiated humour (doshas). The process by which disturbed humour subsides or returns to normal without creating an imbalance of other humour is known as shamana. This treatment is achieved by the use of appetisers, digestives, exercise and exposure to the sun, fresh air etc. In this form of treatment, palliatives and sedatives are used.

(3) Pathya Vyavastha (Prescription of diet and activity)
Pathya Vyavastha comprises indications and contraindications in respect of diet, activity, habits and emotional status.

(4) Nidan Parivarjan (Avoidance of disease-causing and aggravating factors)
Nidan Parivarjan is to avoid the known disease-causing factors in diet and lifestyle of the patient. It also encompasses the idea to refrain from precipitating or aggravating factors of the disease.

(5) Rasayana therapy (use of immunomodulators and rejuvenation medicines)
Rasayana therapy deals with the promotion of strength and vitality.

Diet and Ayurvedic Treatment
In Ayurveda, regulation of diet as therapy has great importance. Lack of nutrients in food or improper transformation of food lead to a variety of disease conditions.