The scope of treatment in Ayurveda is two fold:

1. promotion and preservation of health and strength in the healthy, and
2. the elimination of the disease in the ailing and afflicted, i.e. curative treatment

The term 'chikitsa' implies:

1. removal of the causative factors of the disease, and
2. Restoration of the doshic (dosha-dhatu-mala) equilibrium. The achievement of these twofold aims depends upon effective fulfillment of the role of the four essential limbs of therapy or Chatushpada
• the Bhishak/Vaid: or the Physician
• the Dravya - both medicinal drugs as well as food substances
• the Upasthaataa or the Nurse, and
• the Rogi or the Patient

Preservation of good health is made possible by the observance of the regimen of Swasthavritta as represented by Dinacharya (Daily Routine) and Ritucharya (Seasonal Routine). Further, in the latter half of one's life, the practice of injunctions laid down by Sage Caraka in the chapter on Janapadodhwamsaniya (in the Vimanastana) as well as the adoption of measures, described by him under Rasayana and Vajikarana therapy, shall promote vitality, virility, and sustenance of good health.

The first step in the curative Ayurveda treatment process is to correct the (mitya ahara-vihara) faulty dietary and lifestyle habits. In most cases, by just correcting the life style, all other corrections are naturally effected, and based on the natural vitality (ojas and bala) of the system, health is regained. With a long course of faulty lifestyle and conditions of life, vitality becomes weak necessitating some assistance in the form of medicine. The treatment in Ayurveda is essentially to regain the vital strength; the accumulated waste has to be eliminated to make the tissues (dhathus) pure. If the accumulation of toxins is moderate, it can be transformed by medicine and easily eliminated in the natural course of the system, by milder palliative treatments known as Samana Chikitsa. Samana chikitsa ignites the vital fire, the agni, responsible for digestion and metabolism. A man with good and natural digestive functions and with a correct life style seldom gets diseased; and if on account of omissions and commissions, gets diseased, it can be easily corrected and, cured with simple medication - yukthivyapasraya, the rational application of drugs. If the accumulation of toxins is excessive, lifestyle corrections and medication may not suffice and it has to be cleared by evacuative-cleansing treatments - Samsodhana Chikitsa also commonly known as Panchakarma.

Ayurveda therapeutics also address mental disturbances and management of emotional stress, through the process of Satwavajaya. Unvirtuous or ‘sinful' acts lead to a perturbed mind, according to Ayurveda, in turn leading to imbalance in the system. An emotionally disturbed and agitated mind agitates all aspects of the whole system. Without a calm and quiet mind, the intellect will not function properly and inability to discern the bad and the good. Association with good and wise people, reading good books, scriptures, practising methods of controlling the mind, meditation, discrimination, etc. assist in controlling the mind. In that sense, Ayurveda is ‘areligious' and one may follow one's chosen faith and religion.