Ayurvedas

Ayurvedas, the traditional medical practices of the Indian subcontinent, constitute a system that aims to maintain health through balance of body, mind, and environment. The term Ayurveda means knowledge of life, and the tradition dates back to ancient times, with foundational texts attributed to sages and scholars over generations.

Core concepts center on the tridosha theory—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—humors derived from the five elements that regulate physiology, metabolism, and behavior. Each person has a unique prakriti, or constitutional balance of the doshas, and illness is viewed as a disturbance of this balance. Other key ideas include agni (digestive fire), dhatu (tissue systems), malas (waste products), and srotas (channels).

Diagnosis and treatment combine observation, questioning, touch, and pulse assessment (nadi). Treatments are personalized and may include herbal medicines, minerals, and dietary adjustments, along with lifestyle guidance. Core therapies include daily routines (dinacharya), seasonal adjustments (ritucharya), massage, detoxification procedures (panchakarma) when indicated, yoga, and meditation.

Practice and influence: Ayurveda developed in ancient India and matured through texts such as Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya. In modern times, Ayurvedas are practiced in clinics across India and globally, sometimes integrated with conventional medicine. Regulation, education, and quality control vary by country.

Evidence and status: Some Ayurvedic practices show benefits for musculoskeletal pain, stress, and metabolic conditions, but rigorous evidence is uneven, and safety concerns—including herb-drug interactions and contamination—are noted. Ongoing research seeks to clarify efficacy, safety, and standardization.