An ayurvedic practitioner will create a treatment plan specifically designed for you. They’ll take into account your unique physical and emotional makeup, and your primary and secondary doshas. They will use that information to work toward the goal of treatment, which is to bring your mind and body into balance.

There are several tools used in Ayurvedic medicine to help you create harmony, avoid disease, and treat conditions you may have. These include:

• Herbal medicine. A key component of Ayurveda, it’s used in different combinations, depending on your dosha, and includes licorice, red clover, ginger, and turmeric.
• Yoga
• Meditation
• Purification programs. Also known as panchakarma, these are used to cleanse your body of undigested food through practices like blood purification, massage, medical oils, herbs, enemas, and laxatives.
• Counseling. Your practitioner will help you understand your dosha, how it impacts your life, and how you can change your lifestyle to create more balance and harmony.

Other treatments used in Ayurveda include oil massage, breathing exercises (known as pranayama), and repeating mantras, or phrases.