Rasayana Chikitsa
The term ‘Rasayana’means elixir or a medicine supposed to prevent old age and prolong life.[1] It is one of the eight specialties of Ayurveda that aims to preserve health. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 30/28] It aims at proper nourishment and transportation of nutritive fluid (rasa), blood (rakta) etc. [Dalhana on Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 1/7][2] The primary objectives of knowledge of life (Ayurveda) are preserving health and preventing diseases. Rasayana treatments are important in the preservation of health, prevention of diseases, speedy recovery and rehabilitation from disease conditions. In current practices, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, adaptogenic, anabolic, nutraceuticals, anti-ageing therapies are considered forms of rasayana therapy. Ayurveda advises body purification before administration of rasayana therapy to achieve optimum benefits.
| Section/Chapter | Chikitsa / Rasayana |
|---|---|
| Authors | Deole Y.S.,Aneesh E.G. |
| Reviewed by | Basisht G. |
| Affiliations | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I..T.R.A., Jamnagar |
| Correspondence email: | carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Date of publication | May 13, 2021 |
| DOI | Awaited |
Importance
Benefits of rasayana therapy in the preservation of health and prevention
Rasayana therapy provides longevity, good memory, intellect, proper health and youthfulness. It also provides excellent luster, complexion and voice. The strength of body and sense organs is increased. Perfection in deliberation, respectability and brilliance are also achieved by rasayana therapy. [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/1/7-8] This therapy relieves excessive sleep, drowsiness, exertion, exhaustion, lassitude and emaciation. It restores dosha balance, brings stability, alleviates laxity of muscles and kindles internal digestion. [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/2/3] The person can achieve blissful health. [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/1/78-80]
Thus rasayana therapy can promote health and prevent diseases of mind and body. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/3] It is indicated to prevent recurrence of disease by restoring equilibrium of body constituents. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 7/48-49]
Importance in management of disease
Rasayana therapy is helpful in the management of diseases. It promotes the defense mechanism of body. The rasayana medicines with specific actions of affected tissues and organs are indicted in managing respective diseases. This article describes the concept and practices of rasayana therapy in detail.
Etymology and derivation
The Sanskrit term Rasayana is a combination of two terms. Rasa means the best or finest part or constituent fluid or essential juice of body.[3] Ayana means going, circulating etc.[4] Thus, Rasayana means the best constituent fluid circulating in the body.
Definition
Rasayana is the treatment that delays the ageing process, increases life span, memory, strength and is capable of pacifying diseases. [Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 1/15][2] It is aimed to achieve optimum quality of body constituents (dhatu). [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/1/8]
Classification
Based on the method of administration:
- Indoor admission regimen (kutipraveshika)
- Outdoor regimen (vataatapika)
1. Indoor admission regimen (kutipraveshika): The rasayana therapy is administered in a specially constructed chamber (kuti). The person is isolated in the chamber. Strict regulations in diet, mental and physical activities are prescribed with a suitably controlled atmosphere.[Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/1/17-23] The therapy is wholly focused on physical, mental and spiritual upliftment of the person avoiding all external factors that can affect health. [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana1/3/8]
2. Outdoor regimen (vataatapika): In this type, the rasayana therapy is administered in the outdoor regimen. The person is exposed to the external atmosphere (vata) and sunlight (atapa). The person can live everyday social life with rasayana therapy. The restrictions are comparatively less.
In terms of efficacy, the indoor regimen (kutipraveshika) is superior to the outdoor regimen (vataatapika). [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana1/4/28]
Classification based on effect:
1. Kamya rasayana: It is aimed to attain desirable specific benefits such as long life, great intelligence, wealth etc.
2. Naimittika Rasayana: It is a therapy aimed to treat specific diseases.
3. Ajasrikam: This therapy is advised to follow daily, and the person is habituated to the substance. [Dalhana on Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/2][2]
Classification based on treatment principle:
1. Attaining rasayana effect through purification therapies (samshodhana)
2. Attaining rasayana effect by pacifying the aggravated dosha or disease (samshamana) [Dalhana on Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/2][2]
Indications
Rasayana therapy is aimed at the preservation and promotion of health. Hence, a healthy person can follow rasayana therapy. It should be started from young or middle age to preserve optimum quality of body tissues. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/3][2] The indoor admission regimen of rasayana therapy (kutipraveshika) is advised to fit, disease free, wise, self-controlled, leisurely and can afford treatment. The outdoor method (vataatapika rasayana therapy) can be done in all persons.[Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/4/27-28]
The disease-specific rasayana, tissue-specific rasayana and organ-specific rasayana are administered to improve health based on underlying disease pathogenesis.
Rasayana treatment is indicated in the management of various diseases to strengthen the defense mechanism and prevent disease recurrence. Bacopa monnieri (brahmi), which promotes intellectual functions (medhya rasayana), is prescribed to treat mental disorders.[Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 10/62] In chronic epilepsy, if the conventional treatments are not yielding results, rasayana therapy should be used. [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 10/65] Rasayana treatment is advised in the management of cardiac disorders caused by kapha [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 26/99], impotency and other reproductive fluid-related disorders [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/149-50] [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/193]. It is also used in the treatment of Alopacea areata (indralupta) [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 20/25][2] and diseases of ear. [Su.Sa.Uttara Sthana 21/3][2]
Contraindications
The efficacy of rasayana therapy largely depends on the person’s ability to control his body and mind. Therefore, rejuvenation therapy is contraindicated for those who have addictions like alcohol and smoking; and those who can’t follow the physician’s advice.[Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/4][2]
Prerequisite for rejuvenation therapy (rasayana)
Body purification therapy is indicated before rasayana therapy. This treatment is intended to remove toxins and prepare the body for accepting the rasayana formulations for rejuvenation. A specific bowel cleansing formulation made from Terminalia chebula (haritaki), rock salt, Phyllanthus emblica (amalaki), jaggery, Acorus calamus (vacha), Embelia ribes (vidanga), Curcuma longa (haridra), long pepper, and dry ginger are prescribed. After the proper evacuation of bowels, the person shall take gruel prepared with barley for three to seven days. [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/1/25-28] After this procedure, suitable rasayana formulations can be administered. The desired benefits cannot be obtained without proper purification of body and mind. [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/4/38]
Food with rasayana effect
Milk [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 27/218], ghee.[Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/4/32] Daily intake of milk and ghee is the best food for attaining rasayana effect. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 25/40], [A.S.Sutra Sthana 13/2][5]
- ↑ Monier-Williams, Monier-Williams Sanskrit- English Dictionary, 1st edition; Oxford University Press, Rasayana, Page 870
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Sushruta. Sushruta Samhita. Edited by Jadavaji Trikamji Aacharya. 8th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia;2005.
- ↑ Monier-Williams, Monier-Williams Sanskrit- English Dictionary, 1st edition; Oxford University Press, Rasa, Page 869
- ↑ Monier-Williams, Monier-Williams Sanskrit- English Dictionary, 1st edition; Oxford University Press, Ayana, Page 84
- ↑ Vridha Vagbhata, Ashtanga Sangraha. Edited by Shivaprasad Sharma. 3rd ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba sanskrit series office;2012.