Diagnostic Technique:

Ayurvedic physicians try to assess the symptoms of a disease along with the nature of the ailment and its root cause or nidana.
The purvaroopa or early signs and symptoms provide an opportunity to prevent the disease from progressing.
The roopa or main signs and symptoms reflect the nature and intensity of the disease.
Another method of diagnosis is upasaya or exploratory therapy which uses diet, medicines and altered routine to detect diseases otherwise difficult to diagnose.

The examination process itself involves darshan or visual observation, sparsha or tactile perception and prashna or questioning.

Examination of the pulse, tongue, voice, skin, general appearance, urine and stool aid the physician in making a diagnosis.

More specifically, there two specific diagnostic procedures. They are:

Ashta Sthana Pareeksha or the eight-step diagnosis which involves examination of the

a) Nadi (pulse diagnosis),
b) Jihwa (examination of tongue),
c) Malam (examination of stool),
d) Mootram (examination of urine)
e) Sabdam (examination of voice),
f) Sparsanam(examination of body temperature),
g) Drik (examination of eye ball)
h) Akriti (examination of physique),

Dasa Vidha Pareeksha or the ten-step diagnosis,

a) Dooshyam (examination of the seven dhathus and doshas) ,
b) Desam (examination of the surroundings)
c) Balam (examination of the strength)
d) Kalam (examination of the season)
e) Analam (examination of agni)
f) Prakriti (examination of body constitution)
g) Vayas (examination of age)
h) Satwam (examination of mental power)
i) Satmyam (examination of compatibility)
j) Aharam (examination of food habits)