Ayurveda doctor with patient

Ayurveda is grounded in a metaphysics of the 'five great Elements' (Devanāgarī: [महा] पञ्चभूत; earth, water, fire, air and ether)—all of which compose the Universe, including the human body.[1] Chyle or plasma (called Rasa dhatu), blood (called Rakta dhatu), flesh (called Mamsa dhatu), fat (called Medha dhatu), bone (called Asthi dhatu), marrow (called Majja dhatu), and semen or female reproductive tissue (called Shukra dhatu) are held to be the seven primary constituent elements (Devanāgarī: सप्तधातु) of the body.[7] Ayurveda stresses a balance of three Humors or Energies: vata (air in space - wind), pitta (fire in water -bile) and kapha (water in earth -phlegm). According to Ayurveda, these three regulatory principles— Doshas (literaly that which deteriorates - Devanāgarī: त्रिदोष)—are important for health, because when they are in balanced state, the body is healthy, and when imbalanced, the body has diseases. Ayurveda hold that each human possesses a unique combination of Doshas. In Ayurveda, the human body perceives attributes of experiences as 20 Guna (Devanāgarī: गुण, meaning qualities).[8] Surgery and surgical instruments are employed.[8] It is believed that building a healthy metabolic system, attaining good digestion, and proper excretion leads to vitality.[8] Ayurveda also focuses on exercise, yoga, meditation, and massage.[9] Thus, body, mind, and spirit/consciousness need to be addressed both individually and in unison for health to ensue.

The practice of Panchakarma (Devanāgarī: पंचकर्म‌) is believed to eliminate toxic elements from the body.[10] Eight disciplines of Ayurveda treatment, called Ashtangas (Devanāgarī: अष्टांग), are given below: