JEEVAK AYURVED MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTER�KAMLAPUR AKAUNI CHANDAULI U.P.

TOPIC – BASIC CONCEPT OF RASAYAN & IT’S IMMUNITY IN PRESENT ERA

PRESENTED BY –

​

AYUSH VISHWAKARMA

ANANYA VERMA

​

​

GUIDED BY –

​

DR. GD GUPTA

DR. KAMOD GHIRPUNJE

DR. ABHINAV SINGH

​

​

Rasayana Therapy:

• It is described by all classics of Ayurveda on priority.
• Rasayana is one of the Eight branches of Ayurveda (Ashtang Ayurveda) and it encompasses:-

- Rejuvenative life style.

- Healthy dietetics.

- Use of rejuvenative herbomineral nutraceuticals.

​

• Rasayana stands as an answer to solve the problem of healthful longevity and immunity including:-

mental development and resistance against disease.

Aacharya Shusruta defines rasayana as a measure which :–

Prevent aging, Prolongs longevity, develops positive health, improves mental power and provides resistance and immunity against diseases.

It is a specialized type of treatment influencing the fundamental aspects of the body , dhatus (body tissues), agni (the metabolic activity) and srotas (micro circulation) and helps in the prevention of aging.

​

​

• Rasayana is the Science of Nutrition aiming to process the best qualities of body tissues (Dhatus) leading in turn to:
• longevity,
• immunity, resistance against disease,
• improved mental Power,
• Ideal Social Environment

Need of Rasayanas:

• Cell death in body is possible due to varied factors leading to physical metabolic and psychological impairments thus setting foundations of various ailments with Rasayana therapy it is possible to prevent or delay this damage.

The possible mechanisms of action:

• Rasayana drugs act at the subcellular level.
• Nourishes and maintains the cell life (Neutraceutical action).
• Encourages the growth of new cells (Regenerative action).
• Prevents recurrent infection, expelling the damaged cells (Immunomodulatory action).
• Eliminates the toxic metabolites and pollutants (Anti oxidant action).
• Maintains the balance between mind and body (Adaptogenic).

​

Rasayana Chikitsa

Corrects the structural deformity of the dhatus there by normalising the functions

• Strengthens the dhathus
• Prevents the instinct of recurrence
• Prevents the instinct for secondary diseases
• Prevents early ageing process

Rasayana

​

​

Rasa Agni Srotas

(direct nutrient) (digestion & metabolism) (microcirculation,bio availability)

Improved Nourishment

Improved quality of Tissues

Longetivity

Immunity

Mental Power

REJUVENATION

Who can use Rasayanas

• Ideally use of rasayana should be started at any age
• For maximum benefit of same bio purification of body should be achieved.
• Selective rasayana can be used for selective benefit.
• People desirous of achieving of highest physical and mental health should use rasayana.

Classification of Rasayana

A. As Per Scope of Use:

1.Kamya Rasayana (Health Promoting)

a. Prana Kamya for Vitality and Longevity

b. Medha Kamya for Memory and Intellect

c. Sri Kamya for Body Lusture and Complexion

​

1.Naimittika Rasayana (Disease Specific)

Ex- Pandu- Swarnamakshika, Mandura

Prameha-Haridra,Shilajatu

Kushtha-Khadira,Triphla Bhallatak

B. As Per Method of Use:

1. Vatatapika (Outdoor Regimen)

2. Kutipravesika (Intensive Regimen) Indoor Regimen)

​

C. As Per Contents:

1. Achara Rasayana (Life Style Rasayana)

2. Ajasrika Rasayana (Dietary Rasayana)

3. Ausadhi Rasayana (Drug Rasayana)

4.Divya/Soumya Rasayana (Divine Rasayana)

5. Tissue and Organ Specific Rasayana

Possible Attributes of immunity of rasayana in present era :

• Subtle Nutrition
• Anti-oxidant Effect
• Anti-Aging Effect
• Immuno Enhancer
• Psychoneuro Stability
• Nootropic Effect
• Anti-Stress Effect
• Adaptogenic Effect
• Anti-Cancer Effect

AGEWISE CLASSFICATION OF RASAYANA USE ACCORDING TO ACHARYA SHARANGDHARA

Rasayana and Free Radicals:

A free radical has been defined as "any species capable of independent existence that contains one or more unpaired electrons." If these are not removed from tissues they have potential to damage tissues and cause premature loss.

As the body ages or is subjected to environmental pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, over exposure to sunlight, or smog, stresses and strains, phases of anaerobic metabolism, excessive production or delayed excretion of metabolic wastes, Inadequate sleep leading to poor repair time, the body become overwhelmed by FR’s.

​

Rasayana acting as Free Radical scavengers help removal of these free radicals from the body there by protecting body tissue from any possible damage.

Anti oxidants:

• Anti oxidants can be defined as substance whose presence in relatively low concentrations significantly inhibits the action of free radicals. All the Rasayana drugs are having anti oxidant property.

Identified anti oxidants are:

Vitamin C ,Tocoferol ,Retinol ,Selenium ,Lycopene

In addition Rasayana drugs provide specific tissue nutrient which helps preserve the health of specific tissue like brain, skin, etc.

​

• Some example of rasayana in present era working as Anti oxidants :-
• Vacha
• Shatavari
• Haridra
• Haritaki
• Amalaki

​

Neutraceutical action

Rasayana therapy which includes ideal dietetics is supposed to provide best required nourishing fluid to body tissue.

It only requires excellent power of digestion and patency of body channels to achieve this objectives.

​

Some example of rasayana in present era working as neutraceutical action:-

• Chyawanprash
• Ashwagandha
• Ghrit rasayana
• Brahmi

Regenerative action:

• Rasayana has potential to reverse degenerative processes in cells by their restorative and free radical scangaving properties.

​

• Some example of rasayana in present era working as Rgenerative actions:-
• Amalaki
• Ashwagandha
• Shilajeet

​

Rasayana as Drug:

1. Shilajeet --Madhumeha (Diabetes mellitus)

2. Tubrak oil (Chalmogra oil) - Leprosy.

​

​

​

Immunomodulatory Action:

Rasayana have immunomodulatory potential.

Studies have shown that use of Rasayana modulates immune phenomenon which help in having appropriate immunological response to a situation.

This helps not only in providing adequate immune response what also avoids autoimmunity.

• Some example of rasayana in present era working as Immunomodulatory action:-
• Guduchi satwa
• Amalaki rasayana
• Chyawanprash

​

Rasayana as Adaptogenics:

• Rasayanas help maintains the balance between mind and body.
• Natural herb products that supplement the body’s ability to deal with stressor such as anxiety, fatigue ,or trauma are called adaptogens.
• This is based on anti-stress practices in daily life (Aachar Rasayana)

​

• Some example of rasayana in present era working as Adoptogenics :-
• Ashwagandha
• Amalaki
• Brahmi etc

Rasayana In Geriatric Population :�

Rasayana aims to promote health and longevity in older adults by preventing and treated age related diseases

The 5M’s of geriatric :

• Medications
• Mind
• Mobility
• Multicomplexity
• What matters most

Can be addressed through Rasayan therapy which can help manage medications, improve mental function ,enhance mobility and address the complexities of ages.

• Some example of rasayana in used in Geriatric Population :-
• Chyawanprash + Hot milk
• Ashwagandha
• Amalaki,

​

​

• Guduchi
• Saptamritlauh

Medhya Rasayana:

• Categorized as Medhya Rasayana, The drugs are known to act as medicinal neuro-nutrients and promote memory and intelligence and retard mental aging.

The prominent Medhya Rasayanas are -

• Brahmi,
• Mandukaparni,
• Aswagandha
• Jyotismati besides several others.

Specific Evidence Based Action Of Specific Rasayana:

1. Emblica officianalis -(Amla) fruit - Anti-Oxidant, Microneutrient,

2. Terminalia chebula (Haritaki) fruit- Antioxidant

3. Withania somnifera (Aswagandha) root- Adaptogenic, antioxidant.

4. Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) satwa- Immunomodulatory, antioxidant.

5. Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) Stembark - Hypocholestrolemic, antioxidant.

6. Shilajeet - Antidiabetic, anabolic.

7. Bhallatak (Semicarpus anacordium seeds) - Anticancer.

8. Mandookparni (Baccopa manori) - Memory booster.

9. Chyawanprash - Anabolic, antiaging, immunoboosting, etc.

10. Brahmarasayan - Antiaging, anabolic, immunity enhancing.

11. Pippli (Piper longum) - Wasting diseases.

Rasayana drugs for specific dhatu or tissues

• Rasa (Plasma) : Kharjura, Draksa, Kasmari
• Rakta (blood) : Lauha, Amlaki, Bhrngaraja, Palandu
• Mansa (muscle): Bala, Nagabala, Ashwagandha, Salaparni, Mamsi.
• Meda (adipose): Guggulu, Shilajatu, Amrita, Haritaki
• Asthi (bone): Laksa, Vanslochan, Sukti, Sankha
• Majja (marrow): Lauha, Vasa, Majja
• Sukra (reproductive tissue): Kapikachu, Ashwagandha, Shatavari

Rasayana specially suited to specific prakritis (constitutions)

(a) Deha prakriti (body constitution):

1. Vata prakriti : Bala, nagabala , ghrita

2. Pitta prakriti : Amalaki , Shatavari

3. Kapha prakriti: Bhallataka , guggulu , pippali , vacha

​

(b) Manasa prakriti (mental constitution):

• Ashwagandha, Sankhapushpi and other medhya drugs.

CONCLUSION

Now at this pandemic situation, when the world is trying to achieve such medicines that enhances the healthy life of the individual, we have to explore out the possibilities of such drug from Ayurveda , where Rasayana Drugs can fulfill this desire of mankind.

Rasayana is a specialized branch of Ayurveda practiced in the form of drug , diet and special health promoting conduct and behaviour.

Studies have proven the efficacy of Rasayana drug mentioned in Ayurvedic texts in management of various disorders like infections , Diabetes, Cancers, Inflammation, neuro-degenerative conditions and artherosclerosis etc.

Rasayana drugs are believed to act as immuno-modulators, adaptogens, free radical scavenger, anti-agening etc.

It can be concluded that if worked out in a systematic way, rasayana drugs will be future medicine in combating threatful diseases of current times and future.

​