The concept of Panchamahabhuta (Five elements) is the foundation of Ayurveda to understand its physiology (normal functioning), pathology (disease formation) & pharmacokinetics (movement of drug within the body) .

Ayurveda believes that everything in this universe is made up of five
basic elements. These five elements are earth (prithvi),  water   (jal),
fire (Agni or tej), air (Vayu) and ether or space (akash) and collecti-
vely they are termed as Panchmahabhuta.

These are the minutest elements, which constitute living and non-livi-
ng matters. Every thing, including drugs, herbs and living beings  are
made of these basic elements. Every matter contains all of these  five
elements. Depending on the predominance of the content, the  matter
is classified as Parthiva, Apya, Taijasa, Vayaviya and Akashiya( With
predominance of earth, water, fire, air and space respectively).     The
permutation and combination of these elements and its quantity in    a
given matter determines its properties.

Ayurveda understands body, mind and spirit likewise. It divides the con-
stitution of people into three categories—Vata (ether/air), Pitta (fire)  &
Kapha (water/earth). These are three basic energies or life forces that are
the biological deriVataives of the five elements and they govern all    the
function and structure of the body or its existence as a whole.