There are two systems of traditional medicine - Ayurveda and Unani. Ayurveda, as a science of medicine, has been in practice in the country for over 3,000 years. It advocates use of medicines prepared from plants and herbs. It lays greater emphasis on prevention rather than cure. 

The course : For Ayurveda , Homoeopathy , Unani , Naturopathy and Yoga courses, the applicant should have passed Karnataka 2nd PUC / 12th std. or equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as optional subjects and obtained at least 50 percent of the aggregate marks in the PCB group, irrespective of marks obtained in the Common Entrance Test.

The Government has formed the Central Council of Indian Medicine to regulate and practice of AYUSH.  The health care infrastructure under AYUSH available in India consists of 3,845 hospitals with 65,159- bed capacity, 23,630 dispensaries, 439 undergraduate colleges, 96 colleges having Post Graduate Departments, 9,226 licensed manufacturing units and 6.95 lakh registered practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy in the country.

Students who have completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology can opt for five-and-a-half year bachelors degree courses, in Ayurvedacharya, which is equivalent to an MBBS degree. This can be followed by an MD in Ayurveda and topped with a Ph.D.

There are 168 colleges offering a total of 7,506 seats at the undergraduate level in the country. The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) is a 5 1/2 years course including 18 months of training in any Ayuvedic hospital. There are 52 colleges with 597 seats which offer postgraduate courses. The duration of the course is 2 1/2 years and is equivalent to M.D. degree.