Ayurvedic System of Medicine recognizes two primary aims of this system viz. preservation of health of the healthy and treatment of the sick. Ayurvedic system lays importance on the non-consumption of the causative factors. The management as per this system is individual specific rather than disease specific and such an approach has proven effective over centuries, although disease specific remedies are also available. Therefore for the management purposes even if disease specific remedies are to be used, one has always to take into consideration the individual, his personality, his likes and dislikes and other personal profiles. Management not only includes medicines but also diet, daily routine, patterns of living, climatic considerations, and mental factors.
Apart from the conventional medical and surgical treatment, this system offers various specific methods of treatment like Panchakarma (purificatory procedures) which involves various massages in different stages of Panchakarma. Rasayana (Rejuvenation) and Vajikarana (Aphrodisiacs) are therapies unique to Ayurveda.
Its vast pharmacopoeia of herbs, minerals and products of animal origin represent the Ayurvedic remedies. These remedies are deep acting inducing metabolic changes through various systems to bring about cure or long term regression of the aliments.

The Ayurvedic system employs the following modalities of treatment:

1. Shodhan: This can be termed as Bio-purification or Detoxification through methods called as Panchakarma. These are

a) Vaman ( causing emesis)
b) Virechan (causing purgation)
c) Basti (medicated enemas with oils and without oils)
d) Nasya (Nasal insufflating of powders or oils)
e) Rakta mokshan (Blood letting by Leeches or by other methods).

2. Shaman: In this method the disease is suppressed in the body itself through medical methods using various medicines in different forms. This also includes the use of massage, fomentation, local applications and various other local measures.

3. Surgery: Ayurveda has also describes various surgical conditions and their operative management. But with the changing times and because of some historical reasons this branch of Ayurveda could not develop in recent times in tune to the surgery which was advanced during Sushruta's times i.e., around 3000 years ago. A few specialized methods like Ksharsutra are popular throughout the world today. Sushurat samhita is the best available book for Ayurvedic surgical methods and many of his methods are relevant even today.

4. Pathya (Dietary dos and don'ts) : Apart from medicine Ayurveda lays lot of importance on the Pathya i.e. the dos and don'ts for the prevention and cure of disease. Various specific and generalized Pathyas are prescribed at the end of the description of every disease. This Pathya helps for quick and lasting relief of disease.

5. Apunarbhavatva (Permanent radical cure): Apurarbhav chikitsa i.e. the disease should not reappear or relapse is again something very interesting to this system. Various disease specific / organ specific Rasayanas (micro-nutrients or rejuvenators) have been described which ensures the permanent cure for the diseases.