This quick-reference encyclopedia is designed for Ayurvedic practitioners and well-informed patients who want a practical mid-consultation map of common presentations, dosha patterns, primary herbal directions, dose-style references, and safety notes. Cross-reference this with our evidence atlas for research-oriented reading and our home remedy index for kitchen-based first responses.
Each entry gives the Ayurvedic understanding, a common herbal direction, and a critical clinical note. This is a summary reference, not a full treatment manual. Formula choice, dose, anupana, duration, and whether a mineral preparation is appropriate must be individualized by a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or physician.
Digestive Conditions
Digestive conditions are assessed through agni, ama, bowel pattern, appetite, belching, burning, stool quality, abdominal distension, and the dominant dosha. The same symptom can require different management when the presentation is dry and Vata-led, burning and Pitta-led, heavy and Kapha-led, or complicated by ama.
1. Chronic Acid Reflux (Amlapitta)
Dosha: Primarily Pitta, often mixed with Vata or Kapha. Herbs: Yashtimadhu churna, Amalaki churna, and Shatavari are common cooling, Pitta-pacifying supports; classical-style adult references commonly use gram-range churna doses under supervision. Note: Avoid sour, fermented, very spicy, deep-fried, alcohol-heavy, and smoking-related triggers. Persistent reflux, weight loss, vomiting, black stools, difficulty swallowing, or chest pain requires medical evaluation.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Type Grahani Presentation
Dosha: Vata-Pitta when alternating pain, urgency, looseness, and stress sensitivity dominate; Vata-Kapha when heaviness, mucus, and sluggish digestion dominate. Herbs: Kutaja, Bilva, Musta, and carefully used buttermilk-based diet therapy are common when stools are loose and digestion is unstable. Note: Ayurveda treats this through agni correction, regular warm meals, ama reduction, stress regulation, and avoiding incompatible foods. Blood in stool, fever, unexplained weight loss, anemia, or night-time diarrhea needs medical investigation.
3. Chronic Constipation (Vibandha)
Dosha: Vata. Herbs: Triphala or Haritaki at bedtime with warm water is a common starting direction; unctuous supports such as warm water, ghee in food, and oil massage are often more important than stronger purgatives. Note: Castor oil is not a routine daily laxative and should be reserved for selected cases under guidance. New constipation after age 50, rectal bleeding, severe pain, or unexplained weight loss needs medical assessment.
4. Bloating and Gas (Adhmana)
Dosha: Vata, usually with weak or irregular agni. Herbs: Hingvastak Churna, Ajwain, dry ginger, cumin, and small amounts of Trikatu are common deepana-pachana choices when dryness and gas predominate. Note: Management should examine meal timing, speed of eating, excessive raw foods, poorly soaked legumes, cold drinks, and incompatible food combinations. Severe distension, vomiting, inability to pass stool or gas, or sudden abdominal pain requires urgent care.
5. Acute Diarrhea (Atisara)
Dosha: Vata, Pitta, Kapha, ama, fear, grief, or mixed types may be involved. Herbs: Musta, Kutaja, Bilva, and pomegranate-based preparations are commonly used according to stage and stool pattern. Note: In early ama-dominant diarrhea, heavy astringent stopping measures are not the first step; light gruels such as peya, hydration, and careful stage-wise management matter. Blood, high fever, severe dehydration, persistent vomiting, or diarrhea in infants, elders, or pregnant patients requires medical care.
6. Loss of Appetite (Arochaka)
Dosha: Kapha, ama, or Vata disturbance affecting agni. Herbs: Fresh ginger with rock salt before food, cumin-coriander-fennel, and short courses of Trikatu may be used when heaviness, coating on the tongue, and low digestive fire are present. Note: Short, supervised langhana may be useful in Kapha-ama states, but fasting is unsuitable for depleted, pregnant, underweight, ulcer-prone, or medically fragile patients.
7. Peptic Ulcer and Parinama Shoola-Type Burning Pain
Dosha: Pitta, often with Vata pain. Herbs: Yashtimadhu, Amalaki, Shatavari, and practitioner-guided Praval Pishti are common cooling supports. Note: Recurrent ulcer symptoms should be medically evaluated for Helicobacter pylori, NSAID injury, bleeding, anemia, and other causes. Black stools, vomiting blood, severe abdominal pain, or faintness requires urgent care.
Respiratory Conditions
Respiratory assessment considers whether Kapha obstruction, Vata spasm, Pitta heat, allergic triggers, infection, dryness, or chronic tissue weakness is dominant. Acute breathing difficulty, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, or severe fever should not be managed as a home-care problem.
8. Allergic Rhinitis (Pratishyaya)
Dosha: Kapha-Vata, sometimes with Pitta irritation. Herbs: Sitopaladi Churna, Talishadi Churna, Guduchi, and Haridra are common supports depending on mucus, sneezing, itching, and throat involvement. Note: Nasya may be useful after proper assessment, but it should not be forced during acute infection, high fever, heavy congestion, or immediately after meals. Confirm allergic, infectious, structural, and environmental factors.
9. Chronic Sinusitis (Peenasa)
Dosha: Kapha with Vata obstruction. Herbs: Trikatu, Haridra, Sitopaladi, and steam support are common when thick mucus, heaviness, and blocked passages dominate. Note: Avoid cold drinks, heavy dairy, daytime sleeping, and chilled foods during active Kapha congestion. Severe facial pain, swelling around the eye, high fever, recurrent bacterial sinusitis, or persistent one-sided symptoms needs medical evaluation.
10. Asthma (Tamaka Shwasa)
Dosha: Kapha-Vata. Herbs: Vasa, Kantakari, Pushkaramula, and Yashtimadhu are common adjunctive respiratory supports under supervision. Note: Do not discontinue inhalers, controller medicines, or emergency medication. Ayurvedic care can support constitution, mucus tendency, triggers, and recovery, but acute asthma symptoms require the patient’s prescribed asthma action plan and medical care when severe.
11. Common Cold (Pratishyaya, Acute)
Dosha: Kapha-Vata. Herbs: Warm Tulsi-ginger tea, Sitopaladi with honey, and mild warming spices may be used when chills, runny nose, and throat irritation predominate. Note: Rest, warm fluids, light food, and avoiding cold exposure are central. High fever, breathlessness, chest pain, severe weakness, or symptoms persisting beyond the expected course should be assessed medically.
12. Chronic Cough (Kasa)
Dosha: Vata, Pitta, Kapha, injury-related, wasting-related, or mixed types. Herbs: Vasa, Yashtimadhu, Sitopaladi, Talishadi, and Bibhitaki are used according to whether the cough is dry, phlegmy, hot, irritating, or chronic. Note: Cough lasting more than three weeks, blood in sputum, weight loss, recurrent fever, chest pain, or breathlessness requires medical investigation.
Skin Conditions
Many chronic skin disorders are understood under the broad Ayurvedic field of Kushtha, with dosha, rakta, diet, digestion, sweating, infection, and tissue reactivity all considered. External applications should match the condition and should not delay medical care when infection is spreading.
13. Eczema (Vicharchika)
Dosha: Kapha-Pitta, often with rakta involvement. Herbs: Kaishore Guggulu, Manjistha, Neem, Khadira, and soothing external Kumari gel are common choices when itching, oozing, discoloration, and inflammation are present. Note: Diet must be individualized; common triggers include heavy dairy, excess sugar, fried foods, incompatible foods, and repeated scratching. Open, infected, or rapidly worsening eczema needs medical care.
14. Psoriasis (Kitibha Kushtha)
Dosha: Vata-Kapha with rakta involvement. Herbs: Panchatikta Ghrita Guggulu, Kaishore Guggulu, Neem, and carefully selected external oils such as Karanja may be used under supervision. Note: Long-term management usually requires diet correction, bowel regulation, stress reduction, and practitioner-guided cleansing such as virechana only when indicated.
15. Acne (Yuvana Pidaka)
Dosha: Pitta-Kapha with rakta involvement. Herbs: Neem, Manjistha, Amalaki, and gentle turmeric-neem topical care are common when heat, oiliness, redness, and pustules dominate. Note: Persistent adult acne should prompt assessment of hormones, menstrual history, cosmetics, diet, constipation, medication triggers, and scarring risk.
16. Fungal Infections (Dadru)
Dosha: Kapha-Pitta. Herbs: Khadira wash, Neem external use, and practitioner-guided Gandhaka Rasayana may be considered when ring-like itching lesions are present. Note: Keep the area dry, avoid sharing towels, and avoid oily occlusion on active fungal lesions. Widespread, recurrent, scalp, nail, diabetic, or steroid-altered fungal infections need medical treatment.
Joint and Musculoskeletal Conditions
Joint and musculoskeletal conditions are evaluated through pain quality, stiffness, swelling, heat, deformity, morning stiffness, neurological symptoms, and whether ama is present. Hot inflammatory joints and cold degenerative joints require different strategies.
17. Osteoarthritis (Sandhigata Vata)
Dosha: Vata. Herbs: Ashwagandha, Rasnadi Kwatha, Dashamula Kwatha, Yogaraja Guggulu, and selected external oils such as Mahanarayana Taila are common supports. Note: Warm oil massage, local swedana, strength work, weight management, and joint-protective activity are core measures. Sudden swelling, fever, trauma, or inability to bear weight needs medical evaluation.
18. Rheumatoid Arthritis-Type Amavata
Dosha: Vata with ama. Herbs: Early care emphasizes rookshana, deepana, and pachana using herbs such as Shunthi, Musta, and Trikatu; Simhanada Guggulu and Guduchi are used only after proper assessment. Note: Do not discontinue DMARDs, biologics, steroids, or prescribed anti-inflammatory medicines without the treating physician. Persistent inflammatory arthritis requires rheumatology care.
19. Gout (Vatarakta)
Dosha: Vata-Pitta with rakta involvement. Herbs: Guduchi, Kaishore Guggulu, Punarnava, and Manjistha-based supports are common when burning, redness, swelling, and painful joints dominate. Note: Check uric acid, kidney function, medication triggers, alcohol intake, and diet. Hot, intensely painful, infected-looking, or first-time swollen joints should be evaluated medically.
20. Lower Back Pain (Kati Shoola or Katigraha)
Dosha: Vata, sometimes with Kapha stiffness or Pitta inflammation. Herbs: Dashamula, Yogaraja Guggulu, Ashwagandha, and external oils such as Kottamchukkadi Taila or Mahanarayana Taila are common supports. Note: Kati Basti, massage, and swedana are useful only after ruling out red flags such as trauma, fever, cancer history, bowel or bladder dysfunction, progressive weakness, or numbness in the saddle area.
21. Sciatica (Gridhrasi)
Dosha: Vata or Vata-Kapha. Herbs: Dashamula Kwatha, Vata-pacifying oils, and selected guggulu formulations may be used along with local therapies. Note: Chronic cases may need practitioner-guided basti, agnikarma, katibasti, or structured rehabilitation. Progressive weakness, foot drop, bowel or bladder changes, or severe neurological pain requires urgent medical care.
Mental Health Conditions
Mental health care in Ayurveda combines dosha assessment, satvavajaya chikitsa, sleep, digestion, daily routine, nervous system nourishment, social support, and herbs. Herbs should be adjunctive to appropriate psychological or psychiatric care when symptoms are moderate, severe, persistent, or risky.
22. Generalized Anxiety and Chittodvega-Type Agitation
Dosha: Vata. Herbs: Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Shankhapushpi, and Jatamansi are common calming supports when restlessness, worry, disturbed sleep, and nervous depletion dominate. Note: Add breath regulation, routine, warm oiling, counseling, and reduction of stimulants. Panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, substance misuse, or inability to function requires professional mental health care.
23. Insomnia (Anidra)
Dosha: Vata or Vata-Pitta. Herbs: Jatiphala in very small bedtime amounts, Ashwagandhadi preparations, Tagara, and Shankhapushpi are common supports under guidance. Note: Sleep hygiene, light dinner, regular waking time, avoiding late stimulants, padabhyanga, and calming the evening routine are first-line measures.
24. Mild Depression (Vishada)
Dosha: Vata with Kapha heaviness in many cases. Herbs: Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Shankhapushpi, and practitioner-selected medhya rasayana may support low mood, fatigue, and nervous depletion. Note: Exercise, sunlight exposure, social support, meaningful routine, and counseling are essential. Do not stop antidepressants suddenly or without medical supervision. Suicidal thoughts require urgent help.
25. Stress and Burnout (Sahasa and Ojas Depletion)
Dosha: Vata with ojas depletion, sometimes with Pitta overdrive. Herbs: Ashwagandha, Chyawanprash, Shatavari, Amalaki, and nourishing rasayana routines may be used when digestion can support them. Note: Burnout is not solved by herbs alone; the core prescription is adequate sleep, reduced overexertion, stable meals, emotional support, and realistic workload change.
Women’s Health Conditions
Women’s health entries require attention to cycle history, bleeding quantity, pain timing, discharge, fertility goals, age, pregnancy status, medication use, and red-flag symptoms. Severe pain, heavy bleeding, postmenopausal bleeding, pelvic mass symptoms, or suspected pregnancy complications require medical assessment.
26. Dysmenorrhea (Kashtartava-Type Painful Menstruation)
Dosha: Vata-Pitta. Herbs: Dashamula, Ashoka, Shatavari, Hingu-based digestive supports, and warm Vata-pacifying measures are common depending on pain quality and bleeding pattern. See our women’s herb-by-condition guide for the broader reference. Note: Severe, worsening, one-sided, or disabling menstrual pain should be assessed for endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic infection, and other gynecological causes.
27. PCOS Support
Dosha: Kapha-Pitta with Vata disturbance in cycle regulation. Herbs: Kanchanara Guggulu, Triphala Guggulu, Guduchi, and digestion-correcting herbs may be considered according to weight, acne, hair growth, insulin resistance, and menstrual pattern. Note: Food timing, strength training, walking, sleep, and metabolic evaluation are foundational. Irregular bleeding, infertility concerns, diabetes risk, and androgen symptoms require appropriate medical testing.
28. Menopause Symptoms
Dosha: Vata, with Pitta involvement when hot flashes, heat, irritability, or night sweats dominate. Herbs: Shatavari, Ashwagandha, Sariva, Amalaki, and nourishing oil-based routines are common supports when individualized. Note: Postmenopausal bleeding is not a normal menopause symptom and should be evaluated medically. Hormone-sensitive conditions require practitioner and physician coordination.
Men’s Health Conditions
Men’s health care requires separating urinary obstruction, endocrine issues, sexual function, fertility, sleep, stress, metabolic health, and medication effects. Urinary retention, blood in urine, testicular pain, severe pelvic pain, or unexplained weight loss requires medical evaluation.
29. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Mutrashtila)
Dosha: Kapha-Vata. Herbs: Gokshura, Punarnava, Guduchi, Varuna, Gokshuradi Guggulu, and Kanchanara Guggulu are common practitioner-selected supports for obstructive urinary patterns. Note: Prostate enlargement must be differentiated from prostate cancer, infection, stones, and kidney complications. PSA, urine testing, kidney function, and imaging may be needed.
30. Low Testosterone or Low Libido (Klaibya)
Dosha: Vata with ojas or shukra depletion; Kapha stagnation may also contribute. Herbs: Ashwagandha, Kapikacchu, Shilajit, Gokshura, and Safed Musli are common supports when digestion, sleep, and metabolic status allow. Note: Check testosterone, thyroid function, vitamin D, diabetes risk, sleep quality, depression, alcohol use, and medication causes. Use quality-tested preparations, especially for mineral-rich products.
31. Male Infertility (Shukra Kshaya)
Dosha: Vata with shukra and ojas depletion. Herbs: Ashwagandha, Kapikacchu, Gokshura, Shatavari, and nourishing rasayana measures may be selected according to semen pattern and constitution. Note: Semen analysis, varicocele assessment, infection screening, endocrine evaluation, heat exposure, smoking, alcohol, and medication history should be reviewed.
Metabolic Conditions
Metabolic conditions require diet, activity, sleep, stress, digestive strength, meda dhatu, kapha, laboratory monitoring, and medication safety to be handled together. Herbs are adjuncts, not substitutes for indicated medical treatment.
32. Type 2 Diabetes Support (Prameha)
Dosha: Kapha is primary in many early presentations, with Pitta and Vata patterns appearing as the condition progresses. Herbs: Guduchi, Meshashringi, Amalaki, Haridra, and bitter-astringent dietary strategies are common supports. Note: Never replace insulin, oral hypoglycemics, glucose monitoring, or physician care. Watch for hypoglycemia when herbs are combined with diabetes medication.
33. Hyperlipidemia (Medoroga-Type Lipid Imbalance)
Dosha: Kapha with meda involvement. Herbs: Guggulu preparations, Triphala, Arjuna, Trikatu, and Medohara diet routines are common adjunctive choices when appropriate. Note: Lipid labs, blood pressure, diabetes risk, liver function, family history, and cardiovascular risk determine how aggressive medical management must be. Do not stop statins or heart medicines without physician guidance.
34. Obesity (Sthaulya)
Dosha: Kapha with meda dhatu excess. Herbs: Triphala, Haritaki, Triphala Guggulu, and small amounts of Trikatu may be used when digestion and constitution support them. Note: The foundation is sustainable food quantity, meal timing, walking, strength work, sleep, and reducing sedentary habits. Crash fasting is inappropriate for depleted, pregnant, elderly, or medically unstable patients.
35. Hypothyroidism Support (Kapha-Meda Pattern)
Dosha: Kapha with Vata features when fatigue, coldness, dryness, constipation, and weight gain coexist. Herbs: Kanchanara Guggulu, Punarnava, and constitution-specific supports such as Ashwagandha may be considered under supervision. Note: Do not discontinue thyroid medication. TSH, free T4, thyroid antibodies when indicated, symptoms, pulse, weight, and drug-herb timing should be monitored with a clinician.
Immune and Urinary Conditions
Immune and urinary presentations require careful distinction between recurrent tendency, acute infection, obstruction, stones, kidney involvement, and systemic illness. Fever with flank pain, blood in urine, inability to urinate, severe dehydration, or signs of sepsis requires urgent medical care.
36. Recurrent Infections and Low Ojas
Dosha: Ojas depletion with Vata, Pitta, or Kapha background depending on the patient. Herbs: Chyawanprash, Guduchi, Amalaki, Tulsi, and rasayana routines are common when digestion can assimilate them. Note: Sleep, protein adequacy, micronutrients, stress, blood sugar, hygiene, and recurrent exposure patterns must be addressed before relying on herbs.
37. Urinary Tract Infection Support (Mutrakricchra-Type Burning Urination)
Dosha: Pitta, often with Vata pain or Kapha recurrence. Herbs: Gokshura, Punarnava, Chandraprabha Vati, coriander water, and cooling urinary supports may be used as adjuncts. Note: Acute UTIs may require antibiotics. Fever, flank pain, pregnancy, diabetes, kidney disease, male UTI, blood in urine, or recurrent infection requires medical care.
38. Kidney Stones (Ashmari)
Dosha: Kapha-Vata, with Pitta signs when burning and blood are prominent. Herbs: Pashanabheda, Gokshura, Varuna, Punarnava, and Gokshuradi Guggulu are common urinary supports under supervision. Note: Stone size, location, obstruction, infection, kidney function, and pain severity guide care. Larger, stuck, infected, or obstructing stones need urological management.
Additional Conditions: Quick Reference
The following entries are intentionally brief. They are useful for orientation, but each requires a full history, examination, appropriate tests, and individualized Ayurvedic reasoning before herbs or procedures are chosen.
| # | Condition | Dominant Ayurvedic Pattern | Primary Direction | Critical Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Migraine or Ardhavabhedaka-Type Headache | Pitta-Vata | Pathyadi Kwatha, Brahmi-based support, cooling routine, trigger management | New, severe, neurological, post-injury, or one-sided weakness headaches require urgent care. |
| 40 | Vertigo (Bhrama) | Vata-Pitta | Saraswatarishta, Brahmi, Ashwagandha, grounding food and sleep routine | Rule out ear, blood pressure, neurological, medication, and metabolic causes. |
| 41 | Anemia (Pandu) | Pitta, Vata, or Kapha by type | Dhatri Lauha, Lohasava, Amalaki, iron-rich diet under supervision | Confirm with CBC, ferritin, B12, folate, bleeding history, and digestive evaluation. |
| 42 | Hemorrhoids (Arsha) | Vata, Pitta, or Kapha by presentation | Triphala, Haritaki, buttermilk-based diet, local care | Rectal bleeding should be evaluated and not assumed to be hemorrhoids. |
| 43 | Liver Disorders (Yakrit Vikara or Kamala Patterns) | Pitta-Rakta | Bhumyamalaki, Kutki, Amalaki, light Pitta-pacifying diet | Check liver enzymes, bilirubin, hepatitis risk, alcohol intake, and medication causes. |
| 44 | Hiccups (Hikka) | Vata | Warm water, Ela, gentle breathing measures, Vata-calming routine | Persistent, painful, recurrent, or neurological hiccups require medical evaluation. |
| 45 | Tinnitus (Karnanada) | Vata | Vata-pacifying diet, sleep support, practitioner-guided ear oil only after examination | Hearing loss, ear pain, discharge, dizziness, or sudden tinnitus needs ENT care. |
| 46 | Dry Eyes (Shushkakshipaka-Type Dryness) | Vata-Pitta | Internal ghee where suitable, Triphala internally, screen breaks, sterile eye care | Do not put non-sterile home liquids into the eyes; pain or vision change requires eye care. |
| 47 | Mouth Ulcers (Mukhapaka) | Pitta | Yashtimadhu gargle, Khadiradi Vati, Amalaki, cooling diet | Recurrent ulcers need evaluation for deficiency, autoimmune disease, infection, and irritation. |
| 48 | Worm Infestation (Krimi) | Kapha with local factors | Vidanga, Palasha, hygiene, digestive correction | Stool testing and standard anthelmintic care may be needed, especially in children. |
| 49 | Edema (Shotha or Shvayathu) | Kapha, Vata, or Pitta by cause | Punarnava, Gokshura, light diet, salt moderation when appropriate | Rule out kidney, heart, liver, thyroid, medication, and pregnancy-related causes. |
| 50 | Premature Graying (Palitya) | Pitta-Vata | Bhringaraj oil, Amalaki, rasayana routine, stress and nutrition correction | Assess anemia, thyroid status, nutrition, genetics, and chemical hair exposure. |
Using This Encyclopedia
This is a clinical starting point, not a final prescription. For research-oriented reading related to herb-condition pairings, see the 20 landmark studies every Ayurvedic user should read. In practice, each recommendation must be modified by prakruti, vikruti, age, digestive power, disease stage, pregnancy status, medication use, season, and the patient’s capacity to tolerate herbs, oils, fasting, or cleansing procedures.
If you are a practitioner, use this as a fast orientation map before individualizing care. If you are a patient, use it to understand the logic your Ayurvedic doctor may be applying, not as a self-prescription list.
Disclaimer: This encyclopedia is for educational reference only. All conditions listed here require individualized assessment by a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or physician. Never self-treat serious conditions, discontinue prescribed medication, combine herbs with prescription drugs without supervision, use bhasma or mineral preparations without quality assurance, or delay medical care based on this reference. Adult dose references in Ayurvedic formularies and pharmacopoeias are general guidance, not automatic prescriptions.
Nothing in this article diagnoses, treats, or cures a medical condition. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or healthcare provider before starting herbs, supplements, detoxes, mineral preparations, or therapeutic protocols, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a condition, preparing for surgery, or taking medication.
References
- Dravyaguna notes
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
- Mcimindia (mcimindia.co.in)
- Charaka Samhita — Grahani Chikitsa
- Charaka Samhita — Ama
- NIDDK
- Charaka Samhita — Kasa Chikitsa
- Nice (nice.org.uk)
- Charaka Samhita — Kushtha Chikitsa
- NHS
- NCCIH
- NIDDK
- NIDDK
- CDC
- Charaka Samhita — Pandu Chikitsa
- Charaka Samhita — Arsha Chikitsa
- Charaka Samhita — Shvayathu Chikitsa
- Charaka Samhita — Rasayana Adhyaya
- NCCIH
I’ve bookmarked this as my go-to reference. The GERD entry specifically the Amlapitta framework and the Shankha Bhasma plus diet protocol is more detailed than anything I’ve found in one place before. Already cross-referencing with the evidence atlas.
The cross-reference to the evidence atlas is a good suggestion. The Guduchi entry here notes clinical evidence for allergic rhinitis. Following that thread to the full study list would be useful.
The acid reflux entry cites Charaka Samhita Grahani Chikitsa which is the classical digestive chapter. That grounding gives the herbal choices context beyond just symptom matching.
My grandmother used to swear by this and now I understand why. The part about dosha specifically matches what I observed in her health over the years.
An encyclopedia entry is only as useful as the treatment accuracy. The thyroid entry seems to conflate hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in a way that could lead readers to use warming Vata-pacifying treatments for a Pitta-pattern hyper condition. These need to be clearly differentiated.
The article labels it as Galaganda which is the classical term for goiter leaning hypothyroid. The Kapha framing fits that presentation. But an explicit note distinguishing from hyperthyroid would prevent the kind of misapplication you are describing.
The Galaganda entry covers hypothyroid support with a clear note to monitor TSH every three months. That is fairly specific. For other thyroid presentations, clinical judgment would still be needed.
The article keeps the thyroid section focused on hypothyroid support and notes not to drop thyroid medication. For someone wanting the reasoning, cross-referencing the Kapha dosha explanation helps.
Having 50 conditions listed with dosage and dosha breakdowns in one place is genuinely useful. My practitioner usually has to flip through multiple texts mid-appointment.
Are the 50 conditions ranked by evidence quality or clinical significance? I’d find it helpful to know which entries have the strongest research backing versus which are primarily classical textual recommendations.
Bought the dosha supplement from a reputable supplier, followed the protocol for 2 months. Nothing. I want to believe but my experience doesn’t match what’s described here.
found this post helpful. will try the suggested approach. (ref 8326-15)
The reminder that every patient needs individualized assessment even when using a reference like this is the part most people will skip over but it matters.
The Pitta versus Vata distinction for acid reflux is a good example. A 30-year-old Pitta and a 60-year-old Vata get different protocols even for the same diagnosis.
Fifteen years of clinical practice behind this and it shows. The notes under each entry are more useful than the herb lists alone.
The kidney stones entry is practical but doesn’t differentiate between stone types. Calcium oxalate stones and uric acid stones have very different dietary implications and the treatment approach differs. A single protocol for ‘kidney stones’ misses this.
The Pashanabheda and Gokshura combination for stones is classical but the point about stone type differentiation is valid. Gout and kidney stones can overlap in presentation and diet matters differently in each case.
My practitioner in Pune has been doing this for 30 years and confirms everything here. The dosha protocol for this condition has solid traditional backing.
A practitioner confirming the protocol is helpful. The article does say every patient needs individualized assessment though, so there is always some variation in how this gets applied in practice.
The Prakruti and Vikruti note at the end is worth reading carefully. Two people with the same complaint can need opposite treatments depending on constitution and current imbalance.
Useful starting point but this absolutely needs to be treated as a reference for discussion with a practitioner, not self-treatment. Some of the herbs listed have serious dose-dependent toxicity and the encyclopedia format doesn’t communicate that adequately.
As someone who comes to appointments with a lot of questions, having a reference like this to understand the rationale behind what my practitioner recommends is valuable. Would be helpful to know which of the 50 conditions in the encyclopedia are ones where Ayurvedic management is typically used alongside conventional treatment rather than independently.
The breakdown of dosha involvement for each condition makes it easier to see why the same herbs appear across different ailments.
are the 50 conditions ranked by evidence quality or clinical significance? knowing which entries have strongest research backing vs classical textual recommendations would help
Some entries do point to specific studies, like the Guduchi clinical evidence for allergic rhinitis and the meta-analysis for osteoarthritis. But most are classical references. The evidence atlas link at the top seems to be where the research rankings live.
Did not know Ajwain was the go-to for bloating. Been using ginger for years and getting mixed results.
Ajwain with warm water is a common home remedy in Indian households. It is good to see it listed with a dosage here rather than just as a vague suggestion.
Ginger is more general. Ajwain is specifically for Vata-type gas and bloating according to the Hingvastak entry. The food combining note is probably the more important piece for chronic cases anyway.
Thyroid entry conflates hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. warming Vata-pacifying treatment for a Pitta-pattern hyper condition is the wrong direction. needs clear differentiation
That is a fair point. The article does label it as Galaganda which is typically hypothyroid. A note clarifying this applies only to hypothyroid presentation would help readers avoid applying it incorrectly.
The Galaganda entry in the article covers hypothyroid support only and explicitly says not to discontinue thyroid medication. Whether the herb selection fits other thyroid presentations would need clinical judgment from a practitioner.
The diabetes entry is clear about not replacing insulin. Glad it says that outright rather than leaving it implied.
Same explicit note appears in the hypothyroid entry about not discontinuing thyroid medication and in the rheumatoid arthritis entry about not stopping DMARDs. The pattern is consistent across all the chronic disease entries.
The Grahani entry mentioning Takra as frontline therapy is something I have never seen explained properly before. Most sources skip the food-based treatments entirely.
Triphala showing up in three or four different entries makes sense. It works across so many conditions.
@Ashok found this post helpful. will try the suggested approach. (ref 8326-22)
useful starting point but absolutely must be treated as a reference for discussion with a practitioner, not self-treatment
The Vata-Pitta dual classification for IBS makes more sense than I expected. I always assumed it was just a straightforward digestive issue.
Same here. My doctor mentioned stress as a trigger for IBS and I thought that was generic advice. Seeing it spelled out as a Vata-Pitta consideration gives it more context.
The stress connection to IBS through the Vata lens actually explains why relaxation practices like Abhyanga help digestion. It is not purely a dietary issue.
Abhyanga for digestion is mentioned in the constipation entry too. The oil massage recommendation keeps coming up across multiple conditions in this list.
The format here is what I’ve wanted from an Ayurveda resource for a long time. Most writing either goes so deep into theory that practical guidance gets lost, or stays so surface-level that it isn’t useful clinically. Having the 50 conditions laid out with their management approaches in one place is genuinely practical.
The Takra recommendation for Grahani is interesting. Medicated buttermilk as frontline therapy is a food-based treatment that is easy to prepare at home.
The Kati Basti recommendation for lower back pain is something my doctor mentioned but I could never find explained properly. Good to see the reasoning behind it here.
Kati Basti worked well for my father’s lower back issue. The warm oil pooling treatment sounds unusual but it really does reduce stiffness noticeably.
The male infertility entry says three to six months minimum for herbs to work. That kind of timeline expectation is rarely stated clearly.
The semen analysis before and after note is important too. It is one of the few entries that specifies a measurable outcome check rather than just listing herbs and dosages.
GERD entry the Amlapitta framework and Shankha Bhasma protocol is more detailed than anything I’ve found in one place before
The skin conditions section handles eczema and psoriasis differently which is the right call. They are not the same condition and the dosha involvement is completely different for each.
Hingvastak Churna before meals for bloating is something my grandmother used to give. Did not realize it had a classical name.
The psoriasis entry recommending Virechana as a Panchakarma procedure is accurate. My doctor said the same thing and it did make a difference over several months of treatment.
Curious whether the Amavata entry for rheumatoid arthritis would work alongside existing medication. The note says not to stop DMARDs which is reassuring.
The Ojas depletion framing for stress and burnout is something Western medicine does not really address. The idea that you need to rebuild vitality rather than just manage symptoms is a different approach.
The gout entry is stricter than most. No red meat, no alcohol, strict dietary restriction. That matches what I have read about managing uric acid levels.
The acid reflux entry lists three herbs and specific dosages. Most guides just say take licorice root without any context about form or frequency.
DGL form specified with frequency is the kind of detail that actually helps. Most resources list herbs without telling you whether it matters if you take them before or after eating.
Nasya with Anu Taila being called the most effective single intervention for allergic rhinitis is a strong claim. Would like to see the evidence reference for that one.
The article also links the National Health Portal of India recommendation for Nasya in chronic rhinitis. That is at least an institutional backing even if not a randomized trial.
The loss of appetite entry recommending short-term fasting as therapeutic is interesting. That goes against what most people expect from a medical recommendation.
The Arjuna entry for hyperlipidemia is one I had not seen before. Usually Guggulu gets all the attention for lipid support but Arjuna’s role in cardiac health makes sense here.
The Ashwagandha dosage varies by condition in this article, from 300 mg for anxiety to 600 mg for testosterone support. That kind of dosage context is usually missing from herb lists.
GERD entry the Amlapitta framework and Shankha Bhasma protocol is more detailed than anything ive found in one place before
The acid reflux entry uses Yashtimadhu in DGL form paired with Shatavari and Amalaki. The Charaka Samhita Grahani Chikitsa reference gives it classical backing for anyone wanting to trace the source.
The acid reflux entry separating Amlapitta from peptic ulcer is a useful distinction. The herbs overlap but the dosing and clinical framing are different.
I appreciated the quick-reference table for digestive issues, especially the note about avoiding sour and fermented foods for acid reflux.
The Charaka Samhita reference for the acid reflux section gives it classical grounding. I appreciate seeing the source named even in a summary format.
The Grahani Chikitsa reference for IBS is the one I found most useful actually. Knowing where in Charaka a recommendation comes from helps when cross-checking with other sources.
The mental health section is careful to present anxiety and depression herbs as adjunctive care, not replacements. That boundary is clearly stated for each entry.
Fifty conditions in one reference is ambitious but the author is clear this is a starting point. That framing keeps it honest.
The recommendation to use Peya rice gruel during acute diarrhea is food as medicine in a very direct way. Simple but it works.
The women’s health section is brief but specific. The reference to the herb-by-condition guide for dysmenorrhea suggests there is more detail elsewhere on the site.
Kanchanara Guggulu appearing in both the thyroid and PCOS entries suggests it has a broader hormonal application. Would be curious about the overlap in how practitioners use it.
Kanchanara is specifically noted for glandular and lymphatic conditions in classical texts. Seeing it in both PCOS and thyroid support entries is consistent with that traditional use.
The diabetes section is careful: Guduchi and Gymnema as support, not replacements for insulin or oral medication. That is the right way to present Ayurvedic adjunctive care.
The edema entry using Punarnava is a herb I had not looked into before. The kidney stones entry uses it too, which makes sense given the connection between kidney function and fluid retention.
Punarnava appearing in both edema and kidney stones makes sense once you understand it works on the kidney and fluid channels. Same herb, different entry, consistent logic.
Varuna appears in both kidney stones and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Similar pattern to Punarnava, the herb works on urinary tract function across different presentations.
Shatavari appears across dysmenorrhea, PCOS, menopause, and peptic ulcer entries. It must be among the most used herbs in Ayurvedic practice.
Brahmi and Ashwagandha appearing together in both the anxiety and mild depression entries makes sense. They seem to work as a standard base for Vata-driven mental health conditions.
The obesity entry is blunt: diet and lifestyle are 80 percent of the treatment. That kind of honest framing is more useful than a long herb list.
Agreed. The Triphala Guggulu is listed but the note makes clear it will not work without diet changes. Rare to see that stated so directly in an herbal reference.
The Pad Abhyanga recommendation for insomnia is something I started doing last year. The warm oil foot massage genuinely helps with sleep onset.
Guduchi shows up in allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, PCOS, and diabetes entries. It seems to be one of the most versatile herbs in the entire list.
The quick reference table for conditions 39 through 50 is a good format for the less common presentations. Migraine and tinnitus each get their own entries which is not always the case in these kinds of guides.
The sciatica entry noting that Agnikarma or Basti may be needed for chronic cases is a good pointer toward specialist intervention. Not everything resolves with oral herbs alone.
The peptic ulcer entry recommends Praval Pishti alongside Yashtimadhu and Shatavari. I had seen the first two recommended before but not the mineral compound as part of the protocol.
Fifteen years of clinical practice behind this is what makes the dosage notes credible. Would have liked to see more detail on which conditions require Panchakarma as part of management.
Will try this.
The constipation entry recommending warm water, ghee, and abhyanga together makes more sense than just taking a laxative. The whole approach is different from what you usually see.
Hingvastak Churna before meals for gas is something my grandmother used to do. Did not realize it had a formal name in the classical system.
The ajwain and carom seeds as a first response for gas makes sense to keep in mind even before consulting anyone. The food combining note is more important for chronic patterns though.
Thank you.
Useful.
The caution on mental health entries is handled well here. Adjunctive to therapy not a standalone replacement for anxiety treatment is a clear line most herbal guides do not draw.
The diabetes section has the same framing: never replace insulin or oral hypoglycemics. The caution runs consistently through the metabolic and infectious sections, not just mental health.
Fifty conditions in one place is useful for comparison. I kept noticing how often Vata comes up across the chronic presentations, digestive, joint, and mental health all together.
How often do practitioners actually use the home remedy index alongside the herbal suggestions during a consult?
The beans and soaking note under bloating is the kind of practical detail that usually gets left out of clinical references. Useful for patients who do not know where their symptoms are coming from.
The mention of classical texts like Charaka Samhita gives the entries a solid traditional foundation, though I wonder how often modern research aligns with those citations.
The format works well for a mid-appointment check. Seeing the dosha involvement listed first before the herbs helps frame what you are actually treating rather than just pattern-matching symptoms to herbs.
Did not know Musta appeared in both IBS and acute diarrhea entries. Interesting that the same herb handles Vata-Pitta dual and pure Pitta presentations at the same dose.
The quick reference table at the end covering conditions 39 to 50 is efficient. Vertigo, tinnitus, and dry eyes in one table with primary herbs listed is handy for conditions that come up less often.
Agreed, having vertigo and tinnitus and dry eyes side by side in that table is handy. I always forget the herbs for the rare ones.
Ashwagandha shows up across anxiety, insomnia, burnout, low testosterone, and stress entries. The range of applications makes more sense when you understand it works on both Vata and Ojas.
The burnout entry doses Ashwagandha at 600 mg per day which is higher than the anxiety entry at 300 mg twice daily. The article treats them as different conditions requiring different doses.
Kati Basti being called the most effective Panchakarma procedure for lower back pain is the kind of clinical opinion that is hard to find in written form. Practitioners usually say this verbally rather than putting it in a reference.
Seeing the dosage ranges listed, I think it’s helpful to have a standard reference while still remembering that each patient needs personal tweaking.
The skin section caught my attention. Eczema and psoriasis both have Panchakarma recommendations, which suggests the author considers them deeper systemic conditions rather than surface problems.
It would be useful to have a printable version of this encyclopedia for quick lookup in the clinic or at home.
The entry for loss of appetite recommending short-term fasting is something I would not have expected in a clinical reference. Makes sense for Kapha or Ama accumulation though.
Shankhapushpi for insomnia alongside the foot oil massage note is the combination I have seen recommended most often by Vaidyas. Good to see it written out with actual doses rather than just mentioned.
The psoriasis note about Virechana giving best results is consistent with what most Panchakarma references say about skin conditions. Long-term management required is also an honest framing.
The Amavata entry for rheumatoid arthritis puts Ama reduction first before listing herbs. That ordering reflects classical priority correctly and avoids making the herb list look like the main treatment.
Brahmi appears in both anxiety and mild depression entries at the same dose but the conditions are classified under different dosha patterns. Vata for anxiety and Kapha with Vata for depression.
Gout entry specifies strict dietary restriction alongside the herbs. No red meat, alcohol, or high-purine foods. The herb list alone without that note would miss the main intervention.
The sciatica entry mentions Agnikarma or Basti from a specialist for chronic cases. That kind of referral language in a written guide is useful for knowing when home management is not enough.
Chyawanprash appears in both the low immunity entry and the burnout entry. One for Ojas rebuilding in recurrent infections, one for stress. Different rationale, same classical formulation.
The PCOS entry puts dietary and exercise intervention as the foundation before listing herbs. Kanchanara Guggulu and Shatavari are listed but the ordering makes clear they are support, not the primary treatment.
Interesting that the Kapha classification dominates so many of the metabolic conditions: obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia all share the same primary dosha.
The Guduchi entry for allergic rhinitis is backed by clinical evidence which the article mentions specifically. Most of the other entries reference classical texts rather than modern studies.
Lohasava for anemia with Pitta classification makes sense given that iron therapy can aggravate heat. The short table format for conditions 39 to 50 could use dosage notes though.
Kaishore Guggulu appears in both gout and eczema entries. Vata-Pitta with Rakta involvement in gout, Kapha-Pitta in eczema. Interesting that the same formulation is used for quite different presentations.
Sitopaladi Churna with honey for both common cold and allergic rhinitis makes sense since both are Kapha-Vata presentations. The honey as carrier changes the action slightly in each case.
Noted!
The Takra recommendation for IBS as classical frontline therapy is one I had not seen outside of traditional practice contexts. Medicated buttermilk is specific enough to actually be useful.
The acid reflux entry uses Yashtimadhu in DGL form specifically and the peptic ulcer entry uses it at the same dose. The overlap makes sense since both are Pitta aggravation conditions.
The nervous system entries like Bhrama and Karnanada in the quick table use Saraswatarishta and Sarivadi Vati respectively. Vata dosha runs through all four of those entries which holds the classical logic together.
The fifteen years of practice framing at the start changes how you read the dosage notes. These are not textbook ranges but what someone has actually used with patients and refined over time.
Fifty conditions on one page is exactly what I wanted. Bookmarked it to check the reflux and IBS entries before my next appointment.
Glad the diabetes entry says never replace insulin and the asthma one says never stop inhalers. That kind of caution makes me trust the rest more.
The dosha plus herb plus dosage layout reads much faster than a long wall of herb names. Easy to scan during a busy day.
Saved this. Planning to try the Triphala at bedtime note for constipation first.
Good starting point for someone cautious. I like that every entry ends with a note about individual assessment.
The Amlapitta reflux entry with Yashtimadhu DGL is the clearest version of that protocol I have seen in one place.
Reading this later and it still holds up. The notes are simple enough to test one change at a time.
Helpful list. The bloating entry pointing at unsoaked beans made me laugh because that is exactly my problem.
Mental health entries staying clear about not replacing therapy is good. Same honesty shows in the diabetes and thyroid notes.