The physiological symptoms and the pathogenesis of disease are explained in terms of the three basic constituents of the human system. These three elements cannot easily be rendered into modern medical terminology. Vata also controls the movements of the other two elements and, therefore, all functions and activities of the body. In Ayurveda, health and disease are based on the normality and abnormality of the functioning of vata, pitta, and kapha. The Ayurvedic definition of health is a state of equilibrium or dynamic balance between the tridoshas, the dhatus, and the malas.
Any imbalance results in disease and therapy consists of measures to restore the balance.
It is a holistic rather than a symptomatic approach. This concept of diet and classifications of food as therapy are present in other systems of traditional medicine as well, notably the Chinese System. It is an interesting and noteworthy concept that should be taken into consideration when evaluating therapies that originate in these systems of medicine. The Chinese System of Traditional Medicine Ancient Chinese concepts bear a close formal resemblence to those generated independently by other civilizations. There is a dynamic interplay of these in the body.