Clinical Practice · Student Learning Tool
Āyurvedic ClientProtocol Builder
Build a complete, safe, well-reasoned Āyurvedic protocol — with guidance at every step.
Important — Read Before You Begin
This tool is designed for IAM students learning to build Āyurvedic protocols. Every protocol generated includes a required disclaimer. Nothing produced here constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You must remain within your scope of practice at all times. When in doubt — refer. The protocol is a learning document, not a prescription.
1
Assessment
2
Diet
3
Lifestyle
4
Herbs
5
Practices
6
Review
Step 1 of 5
Client Assessment
Begin with what you have observed — not what you assume. Assessment is the foundation everything else rests on.
Clinical Guidance
Prakṛti is the person's constitution at birth — their baseline nature. Vikṛti is the current state of imbalance. Always treat the Vikṛti, while understanding the Prakṛti. A Kapha-dominant person in Vāta imbalance needs Vāta pacification — not Kapha pacification. These are different directions.
The dominant quality this person was born with. This does not change.
The doṣa most elevated right now. This is what you treat.
Assess from tongue, hunger quality, digestion, and energy after meals.
Undigested residue. Check tongue coating, heaviness, joint pain, mental fog.
Safety Note — Āma & Strong Herbs
When Āma is moderate to high, avoid strong tonifying or nourishing herbs until Āma has been reduced. Strong rasāyanas given in the presence of significant Āma can deepen the accumulation. Prioritise Dīpana (digestive kindling) and Pācana (Āma-clearing) approaches first.
In the client's own words, what are they coming to you for? List the two or three most significant concerns.
Seasonal context influences protocol — Vāta season requires more grounding, Kapha season more stimulation.
Step 2 of 5
Āhāra — Dietary Guidance
Food is the first medicine. The protocol begins at the table — before any herb is recommended.
Clinical Guidance
The principle of Sāmānya and Viśeṣa — like increases like, opposites decrease. Choose foods that carry the opposite qualities to the elevated doṣa. When Āma is present, always begin with light, easily digestible food — Laṅghana — before introducing nourishing or building foods.
Based on Your Assessment
Complete Step 1 to see personalized dietary guidance here.
Select the tastes that will pacify the current Vikṛti. The tool has pre-selected based on your assessment — adjust as your clinical reasoning guides you.
List foods, grains, vegetables, spices, or preparations to recommend. Be specific — general advice is difficult to follow.
How a person eats is as important as what they eat. Select the eating guidelines most relevant for this client.
Step 3 of 5
Vihāra — Lifestyle Design
Daily rhythm is medicine. Dinacarya — the right daily routine — is one of the most powerful therapeutic tools in Āyurveda.
Clinical Guidance
The doṣas move through the day in cycles — Kapha in the early morning (6–10am), Pitta at midday (10am–2pm), Vāta in the afternoon (2–6pm), then Kapha again in the early evening, Pitta at midnight, and Vāta again at dawn. Aligning daily activity with these rhythms reduces doṣic accumulation before it becomes disease.
Select what is appropriate for this client. Begin with what they can actually sustain — one or two practices consistently done is worth more than ten abandoned after a week.
Āyurveda recommends exercise to half capacity (ardha śakti) — stop before you are tired, never to exhaustion. Kapha types benefit from more vigorous movement; Vāta types from gentle, grounding movement.
Recommended Movement
Complete Step 1 to see personalised exercise guidance.
Step 4 of 5
Aushadha — Herbal Support
Herbs are tools, not substitutes for food and lifestyle. Always address Āhāra and Vihāra first.
Safety First — Scope of Practice
As a student, your herb recommendations are suggestions for learning, not clinical prescriptions. Do not recommend herbs outside your training. When Āma is high, begin with digestive herbs (Dīpana/Pācana) only. Do not recommend rasāyanas or strong tonics until Agni is restored. Always ask about medications — many herbs interact with pharmaceutical drugs. When in doubt, consult a supervisor or refer.
Suggested Herbs Based on Your Assessment
The herbs below are suggested based on the Vikṛti and Agni type you entered. Select those you have studied and feel confident recommending. You can also add herbs from your own knowledge below.
Add any herbs not listed above that your clinical assessment suggests. Include Sanskrit name, form, dose, timing, and rationale.
List any herbs or substances this client should specifically avoid, and why. Document your clinical reasoning.
Step 5 of 5
Sādhana — Therapeutic Practices
Yoga, prāṇāyāma, meditation, and bodywork tailored to this person's constitution and current imbalance.
Clinical Guidance
Practices should match the Vikṛti, not the Prakṛti. A Vāta type in Pitta imbalance needs cooling, softening practices — not grounding Vāta practices. The therapeutic application of yoga is always oriented toward the present imbalance. For all types, begin with what the person will actually practise — consistency matters more than ambition.
Suggested Practices
Complete Step 1 to see personalised practice suggestions.
Specific āsanas, sequences, or yoga styles appropriate for this Vikṛti.
Select the breathing practices most appropriate for this Vikṛti.
When should this client return for reassessment? What should they track in the meantime?
INSTITUTE OF AYURVEDIC MEDICINE
Āyurvedic Client Protocol
Presenting Concerns
What the Client Has Shared
Āhāra · Section 1
Dietary Guidance
Vihāra · Section 2
Daily Lifestyle
Aushadha · Section 3
Herbal Support
Sādhana · Section 4
Therapeutic Practices
Follow-Up
Next Steps
Important Disclaimer — Required
This protocol has been prepared by a student of the Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine as a learning exercise and is not a substitute for qualified medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Āyurvedic recommendations are supportive in nature and should complement, not replace, the care of a licensed healthcare provider. This protocol has not been reviewed by a licensed Āyurvedic physician. If you have a diagnosed medical condition, are pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription medications, please consult your healthcare provider before following any of these recommendations. The student who prepared this protocol is learning under supervision and is not a licensed practitioner. This document is provided for educational purposes only. Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine · yogavedainstitute.com