According to Ayurveda the body comprises of three primary life forces or humors. In Ayurvedic terminology they are called doshas (Kapha, Pitta, Vata ). The state of balance or equilibrium between these three doshas in the body is called health and the state of imbalance or disequilibrium is disease. The imbalance may be in one, two or all the three doshas. For example excess of vata causes arthritis and excess of pitta causes acidity, ulcer and liver disorders.

Vata is : dry, cold, light, mobile, clear, rough, subtle

Pitta is : slightly oily, hot, intense, light, fluid, free flowing, foul smelling.

Kapha is: oily, cold, heavy, stable, viscid, smooth, soft

All these factors should function in a proper balance for good health. They are inter-related and are directly or indirectly responsible for maintaining equilibrium of the tridoshas.

Prevention is better than cure - is the principle followed by Ayurveda, which is the oldest science ,aims at the following:

Maintaining the health of the healthy, which means following the principles of Swastha- Vritta which includes the Daily Regime and Seasonal Regime.
Procedures and ways of maintaining that equilibrium of body elements.
Maintaining Dhatu samya ( Equilbrium of body elements )
It imparts knowledge of life
To cure the diseases of sick people
It describes the span of life, about useful and harmful, happy and unhappy and also gives guidelines for what is beneficial and harmful to life.

The domain of Ayurveda is life – happy and unhappy, wholesome and unwholesome.

A person is happy when he/she has no phyisical or mental malady, is youthful and capable of strength and prowess, possesses knowledge and the wisdom of mellowed experience, has strong and functioning sense organs, enjoys wealth and favourable circumstances and achieves desired rewards.

Whatever is contrary to this description is a picture of an unhappy life.

Wholesomeness, on the other hand, implies goodwill for all creatures, adherence to truth, non – covetousness, self control, applying reason in taking decisions, awareness, ability to reconcile virtue, wealth and enjoyment, reverence for noble persons and for learning, service to elderly, generosity, devotion to peace and spirituality, austerity, memory and intelligence and the ability to bear in mind life here and hereafter.

Whatever is opposed to this is unwholesomeness.