Rejuvenation(rasayana) in Ayurveda

Rejuvenation [Rasayan]

By Dr Kavita Vyas

               Rejuvenation is described as a separate branch of ayurveda and Acharya Charka has described rejuvenation in detail. This denotes the importance of Rejuvenation in maintaining our health.

Meaning of reguvenation

                 Rejuvenation means nourishment of body tissues [Dhatu] by various herbal tonics, special treatments and behavioral regimen. .Rejuvenation gives strength to the body, it increases immunity and healthy lives spawn of the person. It improves intellect, memory, ojas and voice quality of the person. Rejuvenation is generally used for healthy person to maintain the health called as kamya rasayan. Some rejuvenation herbs are used to treat the specific disease called as Naimitik rasayan.

  Rejuvenation herbs acts by three ways

1) By nourishing fluids- herbs like shatawari[ Asparogas racemosus], dates, milk, ghee [clarified butter etc. increases nourishing fluid in the body, these materials are rich in nutrients and these nutrients are absorbed by small intestine in to the blood and thus directly nourishes the body.

2) By improving digestive fire-Some herbs like long pepper, chitrak[Plumbago Zeylanicum], haritaki[Terminalia chebula], vidanga[Embrelia ribes] etc. improves digestive fire, thus increases metabolism in the body and indirectly helps for proper nourishment of the body.

3) By cleansing channels-Some herbs like guggul[commiphora mukul], bhallataka[Semecarpus anacardium], rasone[Alium sativum], kasturi[Musk], pippali [Long pepper] etc. cleanses the channels [through them nourishing fluid and blood are transported] and thus help in rapid transport of nourishing fluids. By this way body tissue gets proper nourishment. 
For getting Best results from Rejuvenation herbs and formulations, one should under go Panchakarma treatment, because after inner cleansing of the body medicine’s effect increases many times.Panchakarma treatment including vaman vivechana, basti ,etc,  work as rejuvenation therapy.
Medhya Rasayana [The rejuvenating herbs which acts on intellect, memory etc]
          Some herbs directly help to improve memory, intellect and releases stress. Acharya charaka has described four main herbs as medhya rasayanam-Shankhpushpi[Evolvulus Ereeta], Brahmi[Gotukola], Guduchi[Tinospora cardifolia], Madhuyashti[ Glycyrrhiza glabra].          Ashwagandha and vacha also considered as medhya rasayanam, they also have hypotensive and psychotropic effect.
Naimitik rasayan

               Some rejuvenation herbs are used to treat the specific disease called as Naimitik rasayan.we are giving list of some naimitik rasayana. 
1.Eye disease-Jyotishmati [Calastrus paniculata], Triphla [Fruits of Embelica officinale, Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia chebula], Shatawari [Asparogus Racemosus], Yashtimadhu [Glycyrriza glabra].

 2.Heart disease-Shalparni[Desmodium Gangeticum] 

3.Skin diseases-Tuvarak [Avicenia tomentosa], Bhallataka [Semecarpus anacardium], Vidanga [Embrelia ribes], Somaraji. 

4.Extra growth [ like glands]- Pippali [long pepper], Bhallataka. 

5.Tuberculosis- Rason, Nagbala [Sida spsmosad], Shilajatu [Asphaltum], Pippali. 

6.Asthma- Bhallatak, Agastya rasayan. 

7.Rheumatoid Arthritis- Amrit Bhallataka. 

8.Vata disorders-Rason, Guggul, Bala, Nagbala. 

9.Diabetes- Shilajatu, Amalki, Haridra. 

10.Obesity- Guggul, Haritaki. 

11.Hypertention-Rason, Bala, Rasna [Vanda Roxburghie], Shankhapushpi, Brahmi, Ashwagandha. 

12.Hypotention- Kasturi, Kupilu. 

13.Urticaria- Haridra [Curcuma longa or turmeric].

Aachara rasayan [behavioral regimen which acts as rejuvenation]                 Details about this are given in separate page.