Ayurveda is designed to complement rather than replace conventional medical treatments. Western medicine traditionally prescribes pharmaceuticals to relieve symptoms, which can be helpful in the short term. Ayurveda treats the root causes of illness so the symptoms do not return. As a direct result of employing the principles of Ayurveda, patients often realize benefits that make a profound and positive impact on the quality of their lives within months, even if they have suffered for years.