What is the name of the ancient Indian system of medicine?

The ancient Indian system of medicine is Ayurveda. The name comes from Sanskrit words commonly translated as “knowledge of life,” and the tradition developed theories about health, illness, diet, diagnosis, and treatment.

Ayurvedic medicine is associated with classical Sanskrit works including the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. The Charaka tradition focuses heavily on internal medicine, while the Sushruta tradition is known for surgery, anatomy, and descriptions of procedures. Later Ayurvedic texts organized medical ideas around doshas, usually identified as vata, pitta, and kapha.

Ayurveda influenced medical practice, pharmacy, diet, and wellness traditions across South Asia. Its historical development was gradual, combining textual learning with regional practices and medicinal plant knowledge. Modern Ayurveda includes diverse schools and practices rather than one uniform system.

Unani is a separate medical tradition with roots in Greek and Islamic medicine. Siddha is another traditional system especially associated with southern India, while yoga is primarily a philosophical and physical discipline, although it is often discussed alongside Ayurveda. These neighboring traditions explain why they can appear as plausible alternatives.