Rasayana therapy: A magic contribution of ayurveda for healthy long life

Abstract

Ayurveda is one of the most ancient medical sciences of the world. It is considered the Upaveda of Atharva Veda and thus its antiquity goes back to Vedas, the oldest recorded wisdom on the earth. Based on the fundamental laws of nature, Ayurveda propounds a highly evolved science of life, health and cure where the concept of aging and rejuvenation finds a prominent place. After birth, growth and senility ultimately leading to death are inevitable processes. It is correctly stated that aging begins before birth and continues throughout life at different rates, in different races for different individuals and for different tissues of the body. It involves two opposite processes that simultaneously come into operation i.e. growth and atrophy. Aging represent structural and functional changes of an organism over its entire life span. In India the Ayurvedic School of medicine is probably the first to describe the science of life, its central theme being efforts to protect life from disease and aging. Rasayana is one of the eight clinical specialties of classical Ayurveda. Rasayana is not a drug therapy but is a specialized procedure practiced in the form of rejuvenative recipes, dietary regimen and special health promoting conduct and behavior i.e., Achara-Rasayana. Rasayana means the way for attaining excellent Rasa i.e. one attains longevity, memory, intelligence, freedom from disorder, youthful age, excellence of luster, complexion and voice, optimum strength of physique and sense organs, successful words, respectability and brilliance.