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Ayurveda, otherwise known as Ayurvedic Medicine, was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India and is one of the world's oldest whole-body (holistic) systems. The whole system is based on the belief that our health and well-being are linked to the balance between the mind, body, and spirit. When this balance gets disrupted because of congenital disabilities (birth defects), climate change, age, emotions, injuries, etc., the person gets sick. Ayurveda's primary goal is to promote healthy living.

In Ayurveda, it is believed that all of us are made of five basic elements - space, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements combine to form three energies or life forces, which are called Doshas - Vata Dosha (space and air), Pitta Dosha (fire and water), and Kapha dosha (water and earth). These Doshas are said to control how the body works. Every one of us has a unique combination of the three Doshas, and usually, one is stronger than the other Doshas. As each Dosha affects different bodily functions, it is said that any imbalance in them makes the person sick. Ayurvedic specialists help with proper diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes based on your Dosha to promote optimal health.

Siddha medicine is also one of the oldest medical systems that originated in India, more specifically, South India. Siddha literally translates to "established truth." Siddhars, people who established this system of medicine, recorded their findings in medicine, Yoga, etc. In Siddha, the principles include the theories of Aimpootham (Five Elements) and Mukkuttram (Three Faults). Envakai Thervukal (The Eight Methods of Examination) determines diagnosis, causes, treatment, and outcome. Here, herbal and mineral treatments are used for various common and rare diseases, along with diet and lifestyle modifications.

The Unani system of medicine originated in ancient Greece, and the foundation was laid by Hippocrates. And now, it is primarily practiced in India. It involves the use of herbal medicines, dietary modifications, and other alternative therapies. According to this system, the balance of "the four humors" or bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) is vital to health. Also, another principle of Unani states that disease is a result of an imbalance in air, earth, water, and fire, which are the elements that comprise the human body and everything that exists in nature.

You can consult an Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani specialist through a query, phone, or video consultations. The doctor will only be able to prescribe if the first consultation is a video consultation.

Homeopathic Medicine, or Homeopathy, was developed in Germany in the 1700s and is based on the belief that our body can heal itself and "like cures like." Meaning, substances that result in symptoms in a healthy person can be used in very small and diluted doses to treat illnesses with similar symptoms. These substances or medicines are believed to trigger the body's natural defenses. Homeopaths, people who practice this system, administer small amounts of plant or mineral substances to stimulate the healing process.

Yoga is also an ancient Indian practice that includes physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines. The following are some common types of Yoga:

• Karma Yoga - The spiritual practice of selfless action aimed to help others is Karma Yoga. It is the path to reach spiritual liberation or Moksha through one's work.
• Kriya Yoga - Kriya means movement or activity. Kriya Yoga is the activity (or movement) of consciousness, or in simpler terms, the path of meditation.
• Bhakti Yoga - It is complete faith in God or supreme consciousness. The aim is to build a path of devotion.
• Jnana Yoga - Jnana means knowledge. In Yoga, it is the path to wisdom through meditative awareness. The aim is not to find answers to eternal questions, and it is instead self-realization.
• Hatha Yoga - This includes Yogasana (Yoga positions), Mudras and Bandhas (Neuromuscular gestures and postures), Pranayama (Control over Breathing), and Shatkarmas (Detox methods).
• Raja Yoga - This includes eight stages of Yoga that are collectively called Raja Yoga. It was described in the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali.

Breathing exercises, poses or Asanas, and meditation included in Yoga relieve stress, improve lung function, and improve immunity.

Naturopathy, otherwise known as Naturopathic Medicine, uses natural treatment options to facilitate the body to heal. The treatment options include acupuncture, massage, herbs, exercise, and diet counseling. Benedict Lust, a German, brought some of these natural cures to the US in the 1800s, while other therapies are decades old. Similar to Ayurveda, naturopathic medicine also focuses on treating a person as a whole (mind, body, and spirit). The main aim is to heal the root cause of a disease and not just address the symptoms.