NAMC BAMS cheat sheet
NAMC BAMS · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Ayurveda (BAMS Licensing Curriculum)
Tridosha: Vata (vata, pitta, kapha in combination), Pitta, Kapha. Vata = Vayu + Akasha; Pitta = Agni + Jala; Kapha = Jala + Prithvi. Doshas are functional entities, not literal substances.
Panchamahabhuta: Akasha (ether), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jala (water), Prithvi (earth). Each dosha derives from two bhutas; each dhatu and rasa also has bhautika composition.
Triguna: Sattva (clarity/balance), Rajas (activity/passion), Tamas (inertia/darkness). Prakriti assessment uses dosha predominance; manas prakriti uses guna predominance.
Sapta Dhatu in order: Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (marrow/nerve), Shukra/Artava (reproductive). Nourishment proceeds by poshaka-poshya (nutrient to tissue) sequential transformation.
Trimala: Purisha (feces), Mutra (urine), Sweda (sweat). Malas are waste products; their proper elimination is required for health (malotsarga).
Agni types: Jatharagni (digestive fire, most important), Bhutagni (five, elemental metabolism), Dhatvagni (seven, tissue metabolism). Ama = undigested/metabolic residue from weak agni.
Panchakarma: Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (purgation), Basti (medicated enema; two types-Anuvasana/Sneha and Niruha/Kashaya), Nasya (nasal administration), Raktamokshana (bloodletting). Purvakarma = Snehana + Swedana; Paschatkarma = Samsarjana krama.
Shad Rasa: Madhura (sweet), Amla (sour), Lavana (salty), Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent). Each has defined effects on doshas: Madhura/Amla/Lavana pacify Vata; Katu/Tikta/Kashaya pacify Kapha; Madhura/Tikta/Kashaya pacify Pitta.
Nidana Panchaka (five diagnostic tools): Nidana (cause), Purvarupa (prodrome), Rupa (signs/symptoms), Upashaya (therapeutic trial), Samprapti (pathogenesis). Samprapti types include Sankhya, Pradhanya, Vidhi, Vikalpa, Bala, Kala, and Atma.
Ayurveda (BAMS Licensing Curriculum)
Tridosha: Vata (vata, pitta, kapha in combination), Pitta, Kapha. Vata = Vayu + Akasha; Pitta = Agni + Jala; Kapha = Jala + Prithvi. Doshas are functional entities, not literal substances.
Panchamahabhuta: Akasha (ether), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jala (water), Prithvi (earth). Each dosha derives from two bhutas; each dhatu and rasa also has bhautika composition.
Triguna: Sattva (clarity/balance), Rajas (activity/passion), Tamas (inertia/darkness). Prakriti assessment uses dosha predominance; manas prakriti uses guna predominance.
Sapta Dhatu in order: Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (marrow/nerve), Shukra/Artava (reproductive). Nourishment proceeds by poshaka-poshya (nutrient to tissue) sequential transformation.
Trimala: Purisha (feces), Mutra (urine), Sweda (sweat). Malas are waste products; their proper elimination is required for health (malotsarga).
Agni types: Jatharagni (digestive fire, most important), Bhutagni (five, elemental metabolism), Dhatvagni (seven, tissue metabolism). Ama = undigested/metabolic residue from weak agni.
Panchakarma: Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (purgation), Basti (medicated enema; two types-Anuvasana/Sneha and Niruha/Kashaya), Nasya (nasal administration), Raktamokshana (bloodletting). Purvakarma = Snehana + Swedana; Paschatkarma = Samsarjana krama.
Shad Rasa: Madhura (sweet), Amla (sour), Lavana (salty), Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent). Each has defined effects on doshas: Madhura/Amla/Lavana pacify Vata; Katu/Tikta/Kashaya pacify Kapha; Madhura/Tikta/Kashaya pacify Pitta.
Nidana Panchaka (five diagnostic tools): Nidana (cause), Purvarupa (prodrome), Rupa (signs/symptoms), Upashaya (therapeutic trial), Samprapti (pathogenesis). Samprapti types include Sankhya, Pradhanya, Vidhi, Vikalpa, Bala, Kala, and Atma.
Ayurveda (BAMS Licensing Curriculum)
Tridosha: Vata (vata, pitta, kapha in combination), Pitta, Kapha. Vata = Vayu + Akasha; Pitta = Agni + Jala; Kapha = Jala + Prithvi. Doshas are functional entities, not literal substances.
Panchamahabhuta: Akasha (ether), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jala (water), Prithvi (earth). Each dosha derives from two bhutas; each dhatu and rasa also has bhautika composition.
Triguna: Sattva (clarity/balance), Rajas (activity/passion), Tamas (inertia/darkness). Prakriti assessment uses dosha predominance; manas prakriti uses guna predominance.
Sapta Dhatu in order: Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (marrow/nerve), Shukra/Artava (reproductive). Nourishment proceeds by poshaka-poshya (nutrient to tissue) sequential transformation.
Trimala: Purisha (feces), Mutra (urine), Sweda (sweat). Malas are waste products; their proper elimination is required for health (malotsarga).
Agni types: Jatharagni (digestive fire, most important), Bhutagni (five, elemental metabolism), Dhatvagni (seven, tissue metabolism). Ama = undigested/metabolic residue from weak agni.
Panchakarma: Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (purgation), Basti (medicated enema; two types-Anuvasana/Sneha and Niruha/Kashaya), Nasya (nasal administration), Raktamokshana (bloodletting). Purvakarma = Snehana + Swedana; Paschatkarma = Samsarjana krama.
Shad Rasa: Madhura (sweet), Amla (sour), Lavana (salty), Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent). Each has defined effects on doshas: Madhura/Amla/Lavana pacify Vata; Katu/Tikta/Kashaya pacify Kapha; Madhura/Tikta/Kashaya pacify Pitta.
Nidana Panchaka (five diagnostic tools): Nidana (cause), Purvarupa (prodrome), Rupa (signs/symptoms), Upashaya (therapeutic trial), Samprapti (pathogenesis). Samprapti types include Sankhya, Pradhanya, Vidhi, Vikalpa, Bala, Kala, and Atma.