This paper will evaluate the philosophy of Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurvedic medicine originated in India but its use is now expanding to other countries. It is one of the most ancient forms of medicine still practiced in India and its theoretical foundation can be effective in other parts of the world. The foundation of Ayurveda is based upon a balance of three forces, vata, pitta, and kapha. Any vitiation from normalcy of one of the three results in disease. These three doshas, or forces, each consist of two different natural elements which contribute to their qualities. Vata is a combination of air and space which make its properties dry, light, and cold. Pitta is a mixture of water and fire, making it slightly oily, hot, and in the liquid form. Finally, kapha consists of earth and water, thus it is oily, heavy, and cold. Each dosha houses a seat in a different region of the body and is responsible for different functions during digestion. Furthermore, there are seven dhatus, or tissues, in the body. When food is consumed, it is converted to one of the dhatus and thus provides nourishment for the body.
Disease results from a buildup of ama, a buildup of undigested food. This occurs when the digestive fire in ones body does not effectively convert food into the proper dhatu, or tissue. The formation of the undigested food creates illness and its removal results in the restoration of ones health. To rid the body of ama, Panchakarma treatment must be used. The different types of treatment are based on which dosha has accumulated and is disturbed the most. The more popular school of thought includes the following five treatments: vamana, virechana, basti, nasya and rakthamokshana. The final section of the paper suggests the value of the possible application of Ayurvedic methods in order to devise a more effective treatment. Using the Ayurvedic perspectives for patient evaluation will give medical practitioners a different paradigm for understanding a disease.