Like my earlier book 'Clinical Methods in Ayurveda', this book also has emerged out of my lecture notes prepared for teaching the students of the Govt. College of Indian medicine, Mysore during 1962-1971. it was first published in kannadain 1972 by the  Karnatak university, Dharwad. Dr. Kalyana Sharma M.D. (y) one of my students translated it into Telugu and published it in 1978. I was happy to learn from him later, that it is being eagerly sought for by the students of Ayurveda in Andhra State. Another pleasant surprise awaited me when the students of post graduate centres at Banaras and Trivandrum told me that, they would very much desire its English translation. What greater reward a teacher should aspire for than be told that his work is of help to the student? So the "teacher" in me responded with great delight and hence this book now. The book is designed to serve as a text book especially for students of the graduate course. It can also fulfil the needs of the teachers and post-graduate students as a ready reference book.