What is Rasayana?
Rasayan is a Sanskrit word meaning path (āyana) of essence (rasa). It is an early ayurvedic medical term referring to techniques for lengthening lifespans and invigorating the body.
Ayurveda teaches that anything supporting and nourishing the blood (known as ‘RASA” the root of Rasayana) and supporting the tissues and immune system would be called a Rasayana therapy. Herbs, tonics, specific diet and even specific physical and mental practices which promote vitality and longevity by delaying the ageing process and preventing disease are also called Rasayana.
What does this therapy include?
Rasayana therapy includes herbs, dietary regimens, treatments and codes of conduct.
What is the result of Rasayana Therapy?
The possible mechanisms of Rasayana therapy are Antioxidant, Immunomodulatory, Anti-ageing, Nutritive, Anabolic and Neuroprotective actions.
The benefits of Rasayana therapy are:
- To increase the strength of body tissues (Rasa)
- To increase digestive power
- To increase the functional capacity of the brain
- To increase the strength and immunity of the body
- To destroy diseases in the body
- To delay the ageing process
- To develop barrier against stress and infection
When to do Rasayana therapy?
Rasayana treatments are traditionally utilized after a period where the body was warn-down or depleted. People in remission from illness or after completing a total of 28-day Pancha Karma detoxification therapy would undergo Rasayana treatments.
Classification of Rasayana
- Dravaya Rasayana: This includes Ayurvedic herbs and foods useful for optimum functioning of the body and brain. There are four types of dravaya:
- Age-promoting Rasayanas: These herbs and diets provide stability to life, vitality, stamina, glow to the skin, sweetness to the voice, and virtually tend to enhance the life span of a person. A famous example is Chyavanprash.
- Mental acuity enhancing Rasayanas: These rasayanas act as an effective brain tonic and may help in increasing intelligence and memory. They improve the grasping, concentration and retention power of an individual and help in fighting mental fatigue. Examples of these rasayanas include cow’s milk and ghee, herbs like Brahmi, Vacha, and shankhpushpi, and bhrama Rasayana.
- Eyesight promoting Rasayanas: These are beneficial for and may encourage proper functioning of the eyes, thereby aiding a clear vision. These include Ayurvedic herbal formulations like Amalaki Rasayana.
- Disease combating Rasayanas: Here, specific rasayanas are given to the patients suffering from some particular condition. For example, bhallataka Rasayana is used in diseases of skin and pippali Rasayana is for respiratory diseases.
- Adravya Rasayana: Here, general rules of living and the natural regimen of seasons are to be followed. All benefits of Rasayana therapy can only be achieved if these good conducts are practiced on a regular basis.
- Avoid anger
- Be Truthful, free from ego.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol, indulgence in sex and violence.
- The period of awakening and sleep should be regular.
- Practice self-control
- Consume milk and ghee regularly
- Respect elders and teachers
- Practice spiritual routines. ( sadhana)
Rasayana practices:
- Restorative Yoga – This active yet passive yoga practice might be the most underrated ant-ageing practice there is, especially for women on the go. Get those legs up the wall.
- Yoga Nidra – This is Brain yoga and is another underrated passive yet active practice.
- Binaural Beats – keeping the body at rest, digest, and repair is the only way the body can rejuvenate, so any meditation practices that lower brainwave frequencies are beneficial.
- The Value of Routine – Dinacharya is fundamental to Ayurvedic longevity and is committed to a daily self-care routine. This would classicly be self-oiling, tongue scraping, meditating and committing to eating at set times and not staying up too late, but it can easily be any daily routine that self-serves.
- Abhyanga massage– warm oils applied to the skin nourish tissues and builds immunity by protecting the skin’s microbiome.
- Sleep – lack of sleep is inflammatory and affects blood vessels.
Remember classical Rasayana is practised after a DETOX because the clean body is more receptive, a clean slate that you build a strong foundation upon. Detox your body 2 x a year and then reap the rewards of yearly Rasyana practices.
Some Important Herbal Rasayanas
Ayurveda uses herbal formulas to do jams, oils, wine and powders to regenerate.- for example, Amla, Harad, Guduchi, Ashwagandha, Nagbala, Chyawanprash avleha, Amrita Rasayana, Abhya Rasayana, Bhrama Rasayana, Punarnava Rasayana etc.
The best way to do Rasayana therapy is to contact our ayurvedic Dr.- especially after panchakarma. She will suggest to you the Rasayana medicine proper to your constitution and present condition.
Let us know the dr. Recommendations, we will get the products and medicines for you.
References
- Anil Kumar Singh et al, Rasayana therapy: A magic contribution of Ayurveda for healthy long life, Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm, 5(1), Jan-Feb 2014.
- http://www.care2.com/greenliving/rasayana-the-ayurveda-therapy-of-rejuvenation.html
- Charak Samhita of Agnivesha. Vidhyotini Hindi Vyakhya- Sastry K & Chaturvedi G – Editors. Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi 221001. Reprint 2011.
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