Rasayana is responsible for
longevity, outstanding memory, intelligence par excellence, health, youth,
complexion, melodious voice, strength of body and sense organs, power of
expressions, vigor etc. and it is the best means to obtain all dhatu.
Rasyaan is one of the acclaimed concepts that deals with rejuvenation of
physical body and wellbeing of psyche (mind). It also depicts remedy in the
form of aahar (food), vihaar and aachar (conduct) closely related to mental
hygiene, immunity and intellect.
Classification
Kamya Rasayan
The word meaning desire is further classified into:
- Prana kamya (longevity)
- Vayasthapan (rejuvenation)
- Medhakamya (intellect promoting)
- Varna (complexion)
These are the natural desires present in all humans and since rasayan
helps us in fulfilling these desires it is called Kamya rasayan. Few
examples are amalaki for prana kamya and brahmi for medha.
Naimittik Rasayan
This term refers to something that serves a specific purpose. In this
process rasayan serves as a nimitta to treat a patient inflicted with a
particular disease in order to restore health. Ebest example is of shillajit
for treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Naimittik Rasayan is also classified according to the methods used:
- Vata Tapik (out patient basis)
When rasayan is used in daily routine.
- Kuti Praveshik (in-patients basis)
This refers to the use of rasayana in specially constructed Kuti
(room). Further classification is on the basis of mode of action:
- Poshak or Rasvardhak (nutrition)
It refers to the assimilation into rasadhatu and shatavari that happens
aftre the process of digestion and absorption.
- Agnivardhak (bio transformation)
Agni is inmcreased in this process due to rasayn i.e. they act at the
levels of jatharagni and dhatvagni or influence the body by effecting
digestion and metabolism e.g. pippali.
- Strotoshodak (purification of the microchannels)
The action is by augmenting the micro- circulation in the body e.g.
guggul.
