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 Wellness: Anti-ageing
One of the significant methods of treatment under kayachikitsa is panchakarma. This is a method of reversing the disease path from its manifestation stage back into to its site of original development through special forms of emesis, purgation and enema etc. Another unique aspect of kayachikitsa is rejuvenation called kaya kalpa. The term kaya kalpa means renewal of body. According to ayurveda the human body is made of seven types of dhatu or tissues-structures-plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and reproductive fluids. To prolong the youthfulness of the body kayachikitsa applies several physical and mental disciplinary methods with special medicinal preparations, to rebuild the body's cells and tissues after the initial process of detoxification, through panchakarma.All therapies in ayurveda aim to provide good all round health, so that people can engage in achieving the real goal of life-self-realization. The rasayana therapy increases the life force (ojas) and immunity of a person and thus there is a regeneration of cells and tissues in the body. Rasayana is a therapeutic process to defer old age. The sages of ancient times led long, disease-free, and vigorous lives with the help of rasayanas. Lord Indra is supposed to have given the knowledge of these panaceas to the sages. Literally, rasayana means the augmentation of rasa, the vital fluid produced by the digestion of food. It is the rasa flowing in the body which sustains life. Rasayana in ayurveda is, the method of treatment through which the rasa is maintained in the body. Another connotation of rasa in ayurveda is that it is a herbal medicine, which maintains the life and health of the individual, and increases his bodily and mental vigor. herbal medicines are categorized according to whether they promote general health and longevity, sexual vigor, immunity. The three medicine categories are known in ayurveda as rasayana, vajikarana, and aushadhis, respectively. These categories are complementary to each other. Rasayanas prepared from the herbs and medicinal plants of amalaki, haritiki, triphala, bhringaraja, ashwagandha, punarnava, chitraka and many other herbal medicines have been used from time immemorial and have been instrumental in giving long, disease-free, and vigorous lives to their users. The human body contains some chemical elements, which are known as trace elements. Nine such elements are now recognized: cobalt, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc. Ayurveda has always been using various metals, jewels, and pearls as medicines for certain deficiency diseases. These elements are turned into calxes or bhasmas for administration in different diseases. Calxes of gold, silver, copper and iron are widely used. Jewels or ratnas include precious and semiprecious stones, which are used as drugs because of their therapeutic properties. Major jewels or maharatnas include: diamond-hiraka; ruby-manikya; pearl-mukta; topaz-pushparaga; sapphire-neelam; emerald-tarksha; cat's eye-vaidurya; zircon-gomedak; and caulk-vidruma. Uparatnas or minor jewels like sun-stone-suryakant , moonstone- chandrakanta, and crystal-sphatik were in use The calx of diamond is a powerful cardiac tonic and one of the best elixirs. It was applied in curing diabetes, urinary troubles, and anemia. Because of its powerful aphrodisiac qualities the calx of diamond was used to treat impotence. The calx of rubies was used to increase intelligence, virility, and longevity. It also cures disorders produced by the vitiation of the three doshas. Much more than physical health, ayurveda begins with healing genetic physical weakness. It goes a great length to ascertain these inherited hindrances in one's being. Then it recommends practice of suitable lifestyle regimens, which guard those faults, and use herbs and essential oils to heal and mend those weaknesses. Another aim of ayurvedic is to ensure balance of the three doshas. Following these rules the rasayana branch of treatment resorts to herb preparations and oils, bodywork, meditative practices, mantra exercises and breathing/pranayama to attain total mind-body healing. Rasayana oils have properties to bring balance in specific dosha types. We experience ailments premature aging when Body wastes are not efficiently eliminated. Body accumulates toxins (Ama). Ama originates from improperly digested toxic particles that clog the channels in your body. Some of these channels are physical and include the intestines, lymphatic system, arteries and veins, capillaries, and genitourinary tract. Others are nonphysical channels called nadis (river or stream) through which your energy flows. Ama toxicity accumulates wherever there is a weakness in the body, and this will result in disease. The symptoms such as coating on the tongue or feeling tired all the time are signs of ama. Body organs are not functioning normally. Body channels are clogged lack flexibility. Body has accumulated mental physical stresses.Mind is disturbed, emotions are unstable one lacks bliss happiness. The Vata, Pitta and Kapha are in balance.The digestive fire(agni) is balanced.- Agni is Sanskrit means fire. In Ayurveda, Agni is the digestive and metabolic “fire” produced by the doshas theat grabs the essence of nourishment from food, feelings, and thoughts and transforms it into a form your body can use. Agni helps various tissues of the body produce secretions, metabolic reactions, and other processes needed to create energy and maintain and repair the body. Agni is also part of the immune system since its heat destroys harmful organisms and toxinx. The activity of agni varies throughout the day and good flow of your digestive fires is needed for good digestion, good immune function, and resistance to disease. Agni is needed to form ojas.The 7 body tissues are functioning normally.The waste products are produced and eliminated normally Digestion- The Cornerstone of Health Two aspect of food Physical food & Mental food   According to Ayurveda, digestion is the cornerstone of health. Good digestion nourishes the body. Eating the proper foods will make a big difference in your well being. There are two aspects to the food and nutrition in Ayurveda. One is the physical food you eat, digest, and assimilate. In this process the organs of your digestive system has a big role. The second aspect of it is what you consume through your mind-body. What you see, hear, taste, smell, feel and think are all important for your well being and impact your health considerably. For example, stress plays a key role in the health. Ayurveda had recognized the importance of the environment in the total health. Remember, everything in your environment is composed of doshas that interact with your own doshas. You are affected by everything else which goes on in this universe as you are part and parcel of this cosmos. Thus we have the “big picture” of “holistic outlook” in Ayruveda. Male are the waste products of your body and include urine, feces, mucus, and sweat. Eliminating waste is crucial to good health, but dosha imbalances stifle the flow of the malas, creating a toxic internal environment. If you are not eliminating malas, it means you are accumulating ama somewhere in your system and you may have to undergo Ayurvedic cleansing to get rid of these toxins from your body. The mind, Senses and Consciousness are working in blissful harmony. When the balance gets Disturbed, Disorder Prevails, Disease and Premature Ageing sets in the body.The accumulated Toxicity (AMA) starts affecting: Vital life energy (Prana). Cell metabolic energy (Tejas).  
 The body works constantly to cleanse itself of impurities (Toxins). The body’s self-purifying operations include: Kidneys, Liver, Bowels, Bladder, Skin and Lungs. These work by collecting impurities and toxins for being unloaded out of the body. However, bacuse of the increasing intensity of pollutants and the stress caused by modern life-styles, the toxins and free-Radicals pile-up faster than the through put capacity of the body to discharge them. This Situation creates disruption of the normal working of body & mind causing fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and variety of common and serious ailments, and premature ageing.
Administration of Rasayana
The Rasayana therapy is taken in two different ways: Kutipravesika In this process, elaborate arrangements are made for the construction of a special type of cottage where the individual is supposed to stay secluded, while taking the Rasayana. The person has to strictly follow the diets and other instructions of the physician. Here, he undergoes the detoxification process called Panchakarma therapy before taking the rejuvenation. Rejuvenation is done with help of some specific medicinal formulations and a specific lifestyle regimen. Kaya kalpa is a special rejuvenating method. The term kaya kalpa means renewal of body. According to ayurveda the human body is made of seven types of dhatu or tissues-structures such as plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and reproductive fluids. To prolong the youthfulness of the body several physical as well as mental disciplinary methods along with rasayanas or herbal medicines are used, to rebuild the body's cells and tissues after the initial process of detoxification-panchakarma. Kaya kalpa is that unique therapy, which brings about complete rejuvenation of the body through cell and tissue renewal. It is supposed to endow an individual with longevity, memory, intellect, youth, strength of sensory and motor organs, even, an excellent complexion and voice. |
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