• Ayurveda is one of the traditional systems of medicine practiced in India. Ayurveda in English means 'Science of Life'. 
• Man is constituted by five elements called the pancha boothas, namely, Prithvi (Earth-solids), Ap (Water-Liquids), Tejas (Fire-Heat), Vayu (Wind-Gas) and Akasha (Ether-Space).
• These Panchaboothas, Manas (psyche) and ten sensory and motor organs with their cognitive functions constitute the conceptual body of Ayurvedic medicine.
• Functional units of this body are Dosha, Dhatu and Mala. The imbalance in any of these results in a disease. 
• Doshas are three in number viz Vata (Wind), Pitta (bile) and Kapha (Phlegm).
• Dhathus are the ones that sustain the body to carry out its normal functions. They are seven in number namely, Rasa, Rakta, Mamasa, Medas, Asthi, Majja and Shukra.
• Malas are metabolic wastes. They are pureesha (stool), Mutra (Urine), Sweda (sweat) and Khamala (wastes like ear wax, secretions of the eye, fat portion of stools, nails, etc).
• Apart from these there is "dravya" which includes any substance, living or non-living present inside as well outside the living organism.
• The basic qualities that qualify the dravyas are the gunas (qualities) and karma (the action). Their assessment is made by the tastes that are six in number, namely Madhura (sweet), Amla (sour), Lavana (salty), Katu (pungent), Thikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent).
• The therapeutic action of the Dravya can be influenced by three other factors, which are called as Vipaka (change in the taste after digestion of the Dravya), Veerya (potency of the drug) and Prabhava.


Understanding the Disease in Ayurveda
•· A fine balance between Doshas, Dhathus, Malas, factors governing metabolism including a composed mind and soul equipped and sharp senses result in perfect health. Disruption of the same harbors ill health. 
• The complete manifestation of disease requires a chain of events. Ayurveda also enumerates certain causes for individual diseases. All that which causes disease are called as 'Nidahna'.
• These nidhanas cause various sequential changes leading to disharmony amongst Dosha, Dhatu and Mala either structurally or functionally resulting ultimately in disease. Ayurveda also explains various other abnormal states of health.

Codes of Conduct
In Ayurveda, the belief is that a disciplined life, proper food, exercise and ethical living can avoid diseases to a large extent. So great emphasis has been laid for the code of conduct in all aspects of life including diet, behaviour and thought.

Contemporary Practice of Ayurveda
Ayurveda practitioners' can practice Ayurveda either by using raw drugs from wild/market, or by using finished products that are available in the shops. There are Ayurveda physicians who prepare their own medicines and sell them.
There are also clinics that give facilities like panchakarma (a treatment based on Ayurveda theories) by trained individuals. Apart from this there are Ayurvedic hospitals also.

Ayurvedic Pharmaceutics:
Pharmaceuticals are mainly of two types

• Those who discover their own recipes and prepare medicine and sell them

• Those who prepare medicines prescribed by others.

Commercial tax and excise
• Commercial tax, Central Sales Tax and State tax are levied on the Ayurvedic medicines but the Ayurvedic physicians are exempted from professional tax. 
• Those products that have alcoholic contents are duly checked and certified by the excise department.

Drug Control
Every state has a drug controller under the ISM department who is the licensing authority for manufacture and sale of Ayurvedic medicines.

Education
The basic graduation degree in Ayurveda is called as the BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic medicine and Surgery). The postgraduate degree in Ayurveda is the MD (Doctor of Medicine). Karnataka Ayurveda and Unani Practitioner Board (KAUPB). Every Ayurvedic practitioner has to register himself under his or her respective Ayurvedic and Unani Practitioners Board. There are two options under this rule:
1. Those registered under 'Ayurveda' are eligible to practice ayurvedic medicines.
2. Those registered under 'integrated' are eligible to practice both ayurvedic as well as modern medicines.

Medical Ethics
• The physician's role is described to be very noble and asked to be of high calibre and moral value. 
• The physician is supposed to take money only if offered and should carry out the profession with the sole interest of