"Ayurveda" literally means the "Science of Life". It deals not merely with Medical Science, but also with the Social, Ethical Intellectual and Spiritual life of man. Ayurveda represents a beautiful blending of the accuracy of science and sublimity of philosophy, Poetry and Art. According to the doyens of Ayurveda Medicines, a living creature is composed of soul, mind and body. It is the compound of these three elements, that is the subjects matter of the science of life. The soul is regarded as immutable, incapable of being affected by anything and being eternal.

The body like all other material objects, has five primordial essences, PANCHABUTAS'  viz, PRITHVI or earth, AP or water, TEJA or fire, VAYU or air and AKAS or ether. A substance is said to be Parthivam, Apyam, Taijasam, Vayavyam or Akasiyam, according to the predominant Bhuta. Each one of these has its own unique properties and actions. 

United with the senses of the instruments of mind the compound is called animate. Any disturbance in the functioning of the mind or the body, result in diseases. The human body is supposed to have 3 marked states due to 3 different kind of forces. These are called VATA, PITTA & KAPHA. These 'TRIDOSAS' regulate the life-cycle and control the entire body functions. These, when disturbed, cause diseases. When working in unision each is responsible for a definite set of functions. VATA represents the dynamic force regulating the psychic and nervous system. PITTA denotes metabolic, digestive and enzymatic activities. KAPHA stands for the static energy for the human mechanism.