Ayurveda is an ancient wellness system originating in the Indian subcontinent. Doctors and other health care professionals trained in this method assess an individual's energy balance by analyzing the symptoms of the three doshas. Any imbalances are addressed through changes to a patient's diet, lifestyle, and exercise habits. This might include yoga, meditation, massage, and special diets. Ayurveda might use other natural supplements to help realign the patient's energy on a physical, spiritual, and mental/emotional level. Many Westerners interested in alternative medicinal approaches and preventative health options seek assistance from practitioners of this Eastern Ayurvedic system.

The three energetic types, or doshas, referred to in Ayurvedic medicine are Pitta, Vata, and Kapha. Doshas are the manifestation of life force (earth, air, fire, water, space/ether). They combine in various ways in each individual. A person's body type, personality, habits, and other tendencies are used to assess the dominant dosha. For example, those who are Pitta (fire & water) dominant often demonstrate preferences for higher levels of physical activity and ambitious thinking. They are success-driven, but others might struggle with their competitive mindset. Vata (air & space) personalities are often creative and artistic but might become easily stressed, especially in cold temperatures. Kapha (water & earth) people are stable, reliable, and conscious of the feelings of others, but need to be careful of tendencies in their own feelings.

Ayurveda is among the most ancient healing systems that originated in India in the second century BCE. The word "Ayurveda" combines two Sanskrit words meaning "life" or "longevity" and "knowledge" or "science." It is often translated into "knowledge of life." Instead of studying illness and disease, Ayurveda focuses on balancing energies, and how to achieve realignment when that balance has been disrupted. In the United States, the practice of Ayurveda began to appear in the 1960s, integrating into the culture alongside yoga. Several colleges have included Ayurveda in their curriculums.