Rasayana (rejuvenation)

The term used in Ayurveda texts for the rejuvenation treatment is Rasayanachikilsa or Rasayana therapy. Rasayana is one of the eight branches of Ayurveda.
As per an Ayurvedic definition, Rasayana means, that which destroys the old age and disease through the conservation, transformation, and revitalization of energy.
Rejuvenation means making ‘young again’.
Rasa in Ayurveda means rasa dhatu and ayana means path. Therefore rasayana roughly translates to - The path of the rasa dhatu. Rasa nourishes body, boosts immunity and helps to keep the body and mind in best of health. The main aim of Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy or rasayana therapy is to restore spirit and vitality and thereby attain longevity.
Ayurveda Rejuvenation therapy has many benefits. So of the benefits of an Ayurvedic rejuvenation and revitalization therapy are listed below:

• Rejuvenation keeps body young
• Preserve health and longevity
• Increase physical and mental capabilities
• Improves skin complexion
• Increase in memory power
• Increase immunity and Resistances to diseases
• Increase the sensing capacity of sense organs

Two Different Forms Of Rasayana Therapy

Kutipravesika (Indoor)?

While acquiring the treatment of kutipravesika, the person has to stay indoors. In the meantime, he/she consumes the rasayana, as prescribed by the Ayurvedic practitioner.
To perform kutipravesika, elaborate arrangements are done. A special type of cottage is constructed for the purpose, wherein the individual is treated. The person follows a prescribed diet, strictly, while undergoing kutipravesika. Before taking this form of rejuvenation therapy, the person has to undergo Panchkarma therapy (detoxification of body).

Vatatapika (Out door)

While performing the vatatapika method of rejuvenation therapy, the person is given different types of Ayurvedic herbal preparations, as prescribed by the practitioner. This treatment is especially suitable for those, who cannot stay at an Ayurvedic clinic for a long time. This treatment suggests that the person should take the medicines at dawn on an empty stomach. Vatatapika can be opted for even without undergoing the Panchakarma therapy.

Types of Rasayanas

Rasayanas have been categorized in two basic types:

Dravaya Rasayana:
This type of Rasayana therapy includes some herb and food types that are indeed beneficial for the optimum functioning of the body as well as the brain.

There are four types of dravaya:

• Age-promoting Rasayanas: Some herbs and diets are believed to be of great help in providing stability to life, vitality, and stamina by helping with body and mind fatigue and by augmenting the power of all the five senses. Not only this, these rasayanas provide glow to the skin, sweetness to the voice, and virtually tend to enhance the life span of an individual. Chyavanprash is a popular rasayana, which can be cited as an example, the use of which had restored back youth to Rishi Chyavan.

{In a narrative found in the Satapatha Brahmana (IV.1.5.1-13), Chyavana is mentioned as a descendant of Bhrigu. While, all the Bhrigus, the descendants of the Angirasas, were away, Chyavana with senile body was living in his Ashram. Once, King Sharyati, son of Manu came for hunting near Chyavana's Ashram (hermitage) with his army. Sharyati's daughter Sukanya along with friends was also with him. She went to Chyavana Rishi's Ashram, where the Rishi was in meditation. White white-ants had covered his body and only his eyes were visible. Not knowing it was a human, Sukanya pierced the Rishi's eyes. Chyavana was in pain and became furious and his curse created discord amongst Sharyati's army. When Sharyati found the cause of his misfortune, he offered his daughter Sukanya for marriage to Chayavana, so that she could take care of revered saint.

Later, the Ashvins came to his Ashram and tried to seduce Sukanya. Sukanya who refused to leave her husband instead asked the Ashvins to restore Chyavana's youth. Following their advice, Chyavana's youth was restored by a combination of three treatments. Certain herbs were put into a pond and the Rishi was asked to have a dip in the pond. A herbal paste was prepared for application on the body of Rishi, which was part of 'Kayakalp'. And a special herbal paste, Chyawanprash was prepared for Rishi to take as medicine.}

• Brain power enhancing Rasayanas: Regular intake of cow’s milk and ghee (clarified butter) is an effective brain tonic. There are herbs like bramhi, vacha, and shankhpushpi, as well as Ayurveda medicinal formulations like bhrama rasayana which can be taken for long periods of time so as to increase the mental powers of intelligence and memory. Also, these have a stimulating action on the entire central nervous system. Guduchi rasayana is also intellect-promoting and has shown results in promoting powers of grasping, concentration and retention, and also in fighting mental fatigue.
• Eyesight promoting Rasayanas: There are some Ayurveda herbal formulations categorized specifically for the benefit of the proper functioning of the eyes (for example, aamalki rasayana). These not only aid in providing clear vision, but also are great of help in problems of decreased eyesight.
• Disease combating Rasayanas: In this type, specific rasayanas are given to the patients suffering from some particular disease so as to help eradicate the disease from its roots. For example, bhallataka rasayana is used in diseases of skin and leprosy and pippali rasayana is for respiratory diseases.

Adravya Rasayana:
In this type of rasayana therapy, there is no conventional use of medicines. Only the general rules of living and natural regimen of seasons is to be followed. This therapy
works in accordance to the science of naturopathy. Man and nature are regarded to be maintaining maximum similarities. Therefore, the laws of nature are inherent in human
body. This is the basic idea behind the use of this rasayana therapy.

Some Important Rasayanas
Herbs and medicinal plants: aamla (emblica officinalis), harad (terminalia chebula), guduchi (tinospora cordifolia), ashwagandha (withania somnifera), nagbala (grewia hirsuta)
Natural resources: loha (iron), swarn (gold), shilajit (black bitumen), praval (coral ore), mukta (pearl), tamra (copper), rajat (silver)
Food ingredients: honey, cow’s milk, desi ghee (clarified butter)
Ayurveda medicinal formulations: chyanprash avleha, amrita rasayana, abhya rasayana, bhrama rasayana, punarnava rasayana etc.

Dhatu (Tissues) and effective Rasayana for them

System vise rasayana

Sense organs and specific Rasayana for them

Doshas and recommended Rasayana