The varied Ayurvedic therapies, which have evolved over more than two

millennia include meditation, yoga, enemes, special diets and herbal medicines.

Therefore, Āyurveda is not only a scientific discipline, but emphasises on a holistic

approach towards living a healthy life. Although the theory and practice of Āyurveda

have been considered pseudoscientific and newer forms of healthcare systems based

on scientific research made its inroads in medical science, it has sustained itself

through the ages. The fundamental research in Āyurveda involves replacement of

faith and suppositions with scientific reasoning supported by facts and figures. Like

any modern day research, Āyurveda too depends on three tools of the examination

viz. Pratyakṣa, the direct observation, Anumāna, the inference, and Aptopadeśa, the

authoritative testimonies or literature. The research methodology of Āyurveda is

based on Parīkṣā, the tools of examination and Pramāṇa, which refers to the

evidence. The objectives of the investigation in the fundamental research are

categorized into Puruṣa, the human body Vyādhi, the disease, Auṣadha the medicine

Auṣadha, and Kriyākāla the right time for action.