Ayurveda contains perhaps the world's best system of constitutional types that helps us treat each individual appropriately. Ayurveda classifies people according to the three doshas or biological humors of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, (which correspond roughly to the air, fire and water elements energized by the life-force). From these three main types there are many subtypes and conditions, resulting in a unique analysis of each individual's health condition. This typology is not the product of any single factor like the current popular blood types in naturopathic medicine, but reflects the whole range of biological manifestations from body frame and weight, facial features, digestive tendencies, disease tendencies, and psychological indications. Ayurvedic books contain such typology tests and Ayurvedic doctors spend much time determining the individual nature and needs of each patient based upon these considerations.

Ayurveda treats the individual more so than the disease. It makes the individual important and strengthening his or her vitality the goal, regarding the disease manifestation as secondary and derivative. It says that the same individual will be prone to various diseases that reflect their individual make-up. Therefore Ayurveda can provide a treatment that covers not only a specific illness but also all the potential diseases that the individual is likely to get.

Modern medicine is realizing the importance of disease prevention. It is not enough to treat diseases after they arise. That is like putting out a fire after it has already started and done some damage. Real treatment is to prevent disease from happening in the first place. And many diseases that are difficult to treat once they are fully developed can be prevented, if caught early enough.