What is Rasayana Chikitsa ?
Rasayana Chikitsa is a specialized branch of Ayurveda that deals with rejuvenation therapy. The word ‘Rasayana’ comes from the Sanskrit term ‘Rasa’, which means “juice” or “essence,” and ‘ayana,’ which means “path.” Thus, Rasayana therapy is a path or process that helps to promote the circulation and regeneration of the vital fluid or essence within the body.
Rasayana therapy aims to enhance the overall health and vitality of an individual and prevent the aging process. The treatment involves the use of various herbs, minerals, and natural ingredients that help to improve the immune system, promote healthy digestion, and reduce stress levels.
Types of Rasayana Chikitsa
The therapy is classified into two types: “Kutipraveshika Rasayana” and “Vatatapika Rasayana.” Kutipraveshika Rasayana involves the use of specialized rejuvenation treatments like fasting, herbal preparations, and meditation, while Vatatapika Rasayana involves the intake of rejuvenating herbs and minerals.
Rasayana therapy is believed to be effective in treating a variety of ailments, including fatigue, memory loss, digestive disorders, and skin problems. It is also believed to help improve the quality of life in healthy individuals by promoting longevity, vitality, and overall well-being.
From time immemorial Ayurveda has played a major role in preventive health care and its therapeutic role is equally valued around the globe. Rasayana Therapy forms an important part of Jara Chikitsa or anti aging treatment protocol.
Jara Chikitsa forms one of the eight branches of Ashtanga Ayurveda or 8 elite branches of Ayurveda. Rasayana Chikitsa are those treatment modalities which includes lifestyle changes, behaviour and conduct which aid in acquiring good quality health and immunity.
Rasayana treatment is both preventive and curative in nature. It helps to delay the process of aging and thereby aiding to lead a long and healthier life with good tissue health.The word Rasayana can be split into two words i.e Rasa and Ayana.RASA actually means the essence of nutrition or the first dhatu or tissue formed in the chronological order of tissue formation described in Ayurveda classics.Ayana means route or channels or passages of the body through which food, nutrition, blood and other circulatory things are transported from one cell to another or from one tissue to another or to target tissue or organ. To put it into simpler words, Rasayanas are those medicines or treatment protocols which are beneficial to Rasaadi saptha dhatus (Seven tissues)and also to the different channels present inside the body.
BENEFITS OF RASAYANA CHIKITSA
Rasayana forms the integral part of Ashtanga Ayurveda
It has both curative and preventive aspect
Rasayana helps to enrich the quality and quantity of life
It helps to prevent diseases by giving good immunity power
Rasayanas are very helpful in formation of good quality tissues and thus assists in overall wellbeing of an individual
Why Rasayana therapy occupies an important place in Ayurveda?
According to Ayurveda, the swaasthya or health is a balanced state of all physical, mental, spiritual well being. Our overall health status depends on the immune system of our body .When there is any kind of attack or injury to our body, if there is a good defence system then the damage to cells and tissues will be minimal. If the immune system is week then the body becomes easily accessible to disease causing pathogens. Therefore it is important to have good immune system.
RIGHT WAY OF TAKING RASAYANA TREATMENT
Our body is continuously exposed to different kind of chemicals present in air,water,food which will have an impact on the health. Our food habits, sleeping routine and exercise schedules also have an important role to play in maintaining optimum health status. Because of unhealthy practices there is collection of ama or toxins in the body This has to be eliminated from the body through various purifactory treatment procedures explained in Ayurveda under the heading of Panchakarma treatment.
Panchakarma are set of five treatments explained in Ayurveda, which forms the fundamental basis for all further treatment and medications. Vamana [Therapeutic Vomiting], Virechana [Therapeutic purgation], Anuvasana Vasti[Oil Enema], Aasthapana Vati[Kashaya or herbal decoction Enema] and Nasya [Instalattion of medicines through nose]. Rasayana treatment works better if it is done after Panchakarma treatment.Rasayana treatment taken after Panchakarma treatment from Best Ayurveda Panchakarma hospital gives following benefits;
Boosts immunity
Prevents aging and provides longevity
Maintains good mental health
Early recovery from the disease
Nourishes the blood and other important tissues of the body
Rasayana therapy has a wider perspective and many treatment protocols are clubbed under this heading, which are as follows
- Enhancers of longevity
- Immune modulators
- Preventive medicine
- Disease Modifiers
- Cells and tissue health enhancers
- Anti aging medicines.
Rasayanas are not just internal medicines but they include healthy lifestyle modifications. The wide array of Rasayana therapies include-
Rasayana in the form of food
Rasayana in the form of medicines which include herbal preparations
Regular Abhyana i.e massage with Ayurveda oils
Treatments like Shirodhara, Shiro vasti, Shiro pichu done on regular basis acts as a good Rasayana treatment
Regular consumption of ghee, milk, honey acts as a great Rasayana treatment on a day to day basis.
Herbs like Bramhi,Amrutha, Jatamamsi,Yashtimadu, Shankhapushpi, Manjishta, Lodra etc are good Rasayana dravyas
There is an interesting mention about Ritu Hritaki in Bhavaprakasha treatise which explains how Haritaki when used in different seasons acts as Rasayana medicine
Achara Rasayana or good conduct or good behaviour towards oneself and people, animal and things around us, are also given importance in Ayurveda texts. To have a good quality of life it is very important to have a calm and composed mind. To maintain a good physical health various herbs can be consumed but to have a well balanced mind and soul, good conduct is necessary.
HOW TO GET A MINDFUL AND SOULFUL HEALTH
Being truthful – Telling truth at appropriate time takes out lot of negative energy and keeps the mind calm
Being free from anger
Avoidance of violence of any and all kinds
Being calm and mindful of what is spoken
Speaking with pleasing and soft words
Indulging in works of charity regularly
Being free from jealous and ego
Following ones own religious rites and practices
Maintaining general hygiene
Following the Dina Charya or daily activity regimes explained in Ayurveda
Following the Ritu Charya or seasonal regimes as told in Ayurveda classics
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ACHARA RASAYANA
Improves good relationship with family, friends, and other social surroundings
Maximises tolerance and mind calmness
Personality development
Relieves mental stress and there by keeps the psychological health intact
Conclusion
It is now a widely accepted fact that many of the todays diseases are due to unhealthy lifestyle, excessive stress which build up inside the body putting pressure on both body and mind. In most of the metabolic disorders like Diabetes, Hypertension, increased cholesterol, obesity , PCOD etc, the body will be in an enormous stress due to the disease activities going inside the body. These kind of diseases and many other challenging diseases caused due to auto immune factors need Rasayana treatment to keep up the balance of all bodily and mind activities.
