Vaidvaidhya

Vaidvaidhya is a Sanskrit term used to denote the science and practice of healing within the Indian traditional medical system, most commonly associated with Ayurveda. The word is often described as referring to the domain of medical knowledge and the art of making diagnoses, prescribing therapies, and managing health. In classical Sanskrit and Ayurvedic literature, vaidya or vaidhya denotes the physician, while vaidvaidhya can be understood as the body of medical knowledge or the craft of healing.

Historically, the term appears in foundational Ayurvedic treatises such as the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita, where it is used to classify the knowledge, methods, and practitioners involved in medicine. The scope of vaidvaidhya covers diagnostic methods, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies, including pharmacology (the use of herbs, minerals, and formulations), diet and lifestyle guidance, and various therapeutic procedures. In some schools of Ayurveda, the field is organized into specialized branches such as Shalya Tantra (surgery) and Shalakya Tantra (head-and-neck medicine), reflecting a broad conception of medical science.

In modern usage, the term vaidvaidhya is largely scholarly or historical; the more common contemporary term for practitioners is vaidya, meaning an Ayurvedic physician. Today, Ayurveda as a system is regulated in India under AYUSH, with education and practice focused on training vaidyas to apply traditional medical knowledge in contemporary contexts.