In Ayurvedic tradition, aging is not something to be feared.

Ayurveda embraces the concept of rejuvenation and teaches that healthy practices of rasayana, or rejuvenation therapy, may be integrated into a person’s daily life to optimize health and prevent disease as age increases. 

Rasayana is one of the eight clinical specialties of Ayurveda, and herbal formulations occupy an esteemed place in the Ayurvedic pharmacopeia. Rasayana powerful natural herbs act as a general tonic, improving overall well-being, and when used as part of a regular regimen can enhance longevity, strengthen the body’s immune response, and improve mental function.

Rasayana treatment imparts luster, vitality, and renewed virility. Increased age does not have to mean increased disease. Common conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and autoimmune disorders, may be averted altogether when a habitual, holistic rasayana regime is incorporated into one’s daily life. 

Rasayana herbs are known especially for their adaptogenic qualities. These herbs are extremely versatile and have the power to adapt according to the body’s unique needs. In addition to herbs, detoxification (pancha karma vigyan) and behavior modification (achar rasayana) are often recommended.

Implementing a health routine into daily life can begin with:

• Early rising. Waking up early, preferably before sunrise, allows maximum exposure to sunlight. The sun stimulates the body’s adrenal glands and increases the production of cortisol, bringing us out of deep sleep and increasing overall well-being.

• Healthy diet and exercise. Beginning the day with one to three glasses of warm water encourages peristalsis and assists bowel evacuation. A healthy breakfast is also important, emphasizing appropriate foods to one’s constitution.

Fried, processed, and artificially sweetened foods should be avoided. Moderate exercise is essential to healthy aging, such as walking 30 minutes to 45 minutes of on most days.

• Healthy hygiene. Oral and physical hygiene are important to health and vitality as we age. A daily shower encourages digestive health and enhances heart health. The health of teeth and gums should be maintained by daily brushing and flossing.

• Sexual health. The Hindu religion considers sexual activity to be sacred and is an aspect of the pursuit of pleasure (kama) — one of the legitimate goals of life. In Ayurveda, frequent sexual activity is recommended in winter, with slightly less frequency in other seasons.

• Seasonal health. The body’s needs change according to the seasonal cycle. To avoid the impact of seasonal change on your body as it ages, follow a common sense approach. In Ayurveda, these seasonal adjustments are known as ritu charya.

In summer, dress lightly, eat fruits and vegetables, and consume plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. In winter, dress warmly, being careful to keep your vital organs, such as your heart and lungs, warm.

Consuming nuts and seeds will supply your body with oils and extra energy. In cold weather, lubricate your skin with nourishing oils and creams.

During the spring and fall allergy seasons, avoid mucous-producing foods such as excess sugar, dairy products, rich foods, and fried foods. Fasting with vegetables, fruits, and rice protein may help to stave off allergies.

• Detoxification. As the years pass, toxic substances accumulate in our bodies which can cause systemic disease. Regular detoxifying cleansing, known as pancha karma, is recommended and mimics the body’s own natural cleansing process.

Three phases are involved — a preparatory phase, known as poorva karma; the pancha karma process itself, which includes five methods of cleansing; and a restoration phase, known as pashchtya karma, which restores the body to its natural state using rasayana herbs.

Rasayana herbs

While these practices, followed on a regular basis, are indispensable for maintaining the body’s total health over time, the basis of Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy remains herbal treatment with rasayana herbs and preparations.

Herbal treatments for healthy aging include:

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Ashwagandha is a shrubby plant which offers tremendous potential as an energizing medicinal herb. Ayurvedic practitioners have used the roots of this plant for centuries with success as a tonic to increase vitality and longevity, as well as to treat health conditions as diverse as tumors and arthritis.

Ashwagandha was tested for its anti-aging properties in a double-blind clinical trial. A group of 101 healthy males, 50 years old to 59 years old, were given the herb at a dosage of 3 grams daily for one year.

The subjects experienced significant improvement in hemoglobin, red blood cell count, hair melanin, and seated stature. Serum cholesterol decreased and nail calcium was preserved, and 70 percent of the research subjects reported improvement in sexual performance.1

Amla (Emblica officinalis). Amla is a rejuvenator. It has antioxidant properties and can counter the toxicity of heavy metals such as nickel, cobalt, arsenic, and mercury. It also provides protective properties after one has been exposed to toxic or carcinogenic chemicals.

It has powerful anti-cancerous properties and has been used in cancer therapy to cut down the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, one who consumes a rasayana with Amla as the main ingredient is one who will “live for a hundred years without any sign of decrepitude.” Among other things, Amla is one of the richest sources of natural vitamin C available and is well-known as a powerful immune support.2

Sitawari (Asparagus racemosus). This herb has tonic, adaptogenic, alterative (curative), and aphrodisiac activities. It is used to treat debility and chronic diseases like infertility, impotence, menopause, lung abscesses, and chronic fevers, as well as stomach ulcers, hyperacidity, and hormonal imbalance and diarrhea. Decoctions of the herb have a soothing effect on dry and irritated membranes, making it useful in treating bronchitis and other respiratory ailments.

As a rasayana, it is believed to bring all of the body’s fluids into balance.3

Trifal (Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, and Emblica officinalis). Trifal is another adaptogen. The combined herbs are synergistic and have digestive and eliminative actions. It has anti-parasitic, anti-yeast, anti-bacterial, and antihistaminic properties. It improves the flow of bile, lowers cholesterol, and can be used as adjuvant in chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Shilajeet-mumiyo (Mineral pitch). Shilajeet is a rich source of naturally occurring minerals. Russian athletes used it as a nonsteroidal body builder and stamina enhancer. Ayurvedic medicine considers it as an aphrodisiac, a tonic for the kidneys and prostate. It helps with benign prostate enhancement and is an immune enhancer.

In Ayurveda, Shilajit is considered a rasayana herb and an adaptogen.4 The substance has been found to contain at least 85 minerals in ionic form, as well as humic acid and fulvic acid. Clinical research has been conducted to determine Shilajit’s pharmacological activity, and the results have confirmed its traditional uses in treating impotence, sterility, mental diseases, and for improving memory and learning.

Pippli (Piper longum). Pippli helps in digestion, and enhances acid and enzyme secretions. It significantly enhances the absorption of nutrients, herbs, and drugs, and has shown anti-allergic, anti-asthmatic, and powerful anti-parasitic actions.

Ancient Ayurvedic texts list Pippli as one of the most powerful rasayana herbs, which means that it is a valuable longevity enhancer. It is also considered a purifying herb, with soothing qualities that help improve the quality of sleep.

Ancient texts and contemporary studies point to the wide-ranging effectiveness of Pippli in respiratory, liver, digestive, metabolic, parasitic, and malignant conditions.5

By eating well, following good daily and seasonal routines, occasionally undergoing a cleansing regime, and following up with the right rejuvenative herbs, longevity may be increased and health can be optimized as you age.

Virender Sodhi, MD (Ayurveda), ND, was one of the first to practice Ayurvedic medicine in the United States. He practices at the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medical Clinic in Bellevue, Wash. He can be contacted at www.ayurvedicscience.com. For herbal products, visit www.ayush.com.

Disclaimer: This article is purely informative and should not replace the guidance of your physician. If you suffer from an illness, consult a physician before taking any herbs, vitamins, minerals, or enzymes. Even at the peak of health, it is best to consult a qualified practitioner before taking any dietary supplement.

References

1 Bone K. Clinical Applications of Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbs. Queensland, Australia: Phytotherapy Press, 1996, 137-41.

2 Selected medicinal plants of India. Chemexcil, Mumbai Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 1989

3 Chopra RN, Chopra IC, Handa KL, Kapur LD. Indigenous drugs of India. Calcutta: Academic Publishers; 1994. pp. 496.

4 David Winston and Steven Maimes. Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, Healing Arts Press, 2007.

5 Rege NN, Thatte UM, Dhanukar SA. 1999 Adaptogenic properties of six rasayana herbs used in Ayurvedic medicines. Phytotherapy Research 13(4):275