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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Ayushdhara (E-Journal) AYUSHDHARA ISSN: 2393-9583 (P)/ 2393-9591 (O) An International Journal of Research in AYUSH and Allied Systems Review Article RASAYANA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NUTRACEUTICALS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY Sikha lekharu1*, Khagen Basumatary2 *1P. G. Scholar, 2Professor and HOD, Dept. of Samhita & Siddhanta, Govt Ayurvedic College, Guwahati, Assam, India. KEYWORDS: Ayurveda, Rasayana, ABSTRACT Nutraceuticals. Concept of promoting health and preventing diseases through nutrition and special nutritional preparations has been used for millennia in Ayurveda. The concept of promotion of health through Rasayanas is based on Ayurveda pathophysiology and its understanding of health and physiological system imbalances that lead to disease development. The word Rasayana is composed of 2 words ‘Ras’ + ‘Ayan’. The means by which one gets the excellence of Rasa (The nourishing fluid which is produced immediately after digestion) is Rasayana. These Rasa nourishes our body & stimulates the immunity of the body & keeps us healthy. The term Rasayana connotes a specific meaning ‘Drugs, diet + *Address for correspondence regimens’ which promote longevity by delaying aging & preventing diseases are Dr Sikha lekharu called Rasayana. Impairment of circulation of this body fluids results in disease Post Graduate Student, Dept. of and decay. This ancient understanding is being re-introduced as Samhita & Siddhanta, Govt “Nutraceuticals”. The word is a portmanteau of nutrition and pharmaceutical Ayurvedic College, Guwahati, and refers to the extracts of foods claimed to have a medicinal effects on human Assam, India. health (Defelice 2002). In order to bring a parlance among the two concepts and Email: [email protected] better understanding of the Ayurvedic concept, an comparative analysis of both the concepts has been done. INTRODUCTION Ayurveda is a great tradition with sound rather than disease categories, drawing heavily from the philosophical, experiential and experimental basis. concepts of the Ayurvedic healthcare model emphasizing Increased side effects, lack of curative treatment for Dosha (governing psycho-physiological biogenetic several chronic diseases, high cost of new drugs, principles of intelligence) imbalances, diet and personal microbial resistance and emerging diseases are some habits. reasons for renewed public interest in alternative The United nation’s WHO recognizing the medicine. It has been postulated that by 2020 at least inability of the dominant allopathic medical model to two thirds of the United States population will be using deal with ever increasing healthcare costs and epidemics one or more of alternative therapeutic approach. of many chronic diseases. In its search for affordable and However the progress and phenomenal success in the sustainable health care for the nations of the world, the past 150 years or so in the field of medicine, based on a WHO defines health as follows The world’s wisdom on Cartesian/Newtonian biomedical model in terms of health is captured by the above prophetic communicable diseases, emergency medicine and pronouncement from the father of Western Medicine, technology driven surgical and other procedure, has Hippocrates, i.e. food be thy medicine and medicine be thy practically obliterated the importance of food and food. This statement on food reflects, the critical lifestyle on one’s health. Our fast paced, stressful lives, importance of food and lifestyle on one’s health. The processed convenience foods and over-reliance on drugs quotation, “swatsthasya urjaskaram kinchit and the high tech procedure driven medical system of kinchitartasya roganut” extending the concept, has been disease care are simply unable to deal with the chronic the basis of health promotion and disease prevention in disease crisis and ever increasing healthcare costs (Patel the oldest and longest continuously practiced medical 1998). system in the world, known as Ayurveda (meaning The comprehensive/integrative spirit mind Science of life). body environment concepts of the Ayurvedic model This ancient understanding is being re- (Singh, 2001, 2005) have been reappearing in many introduced as “Nutraceuticals” by present day healthcare healthcare approaches to the chronic disease crisis the provider. They recognize the fact that our heavily world is experiencing. For instance, in the United States, processed food supply, coming from crops grown with the emerging integrative model called ‘functional chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and often medicine’ is based on physiological system imbalances AYUSHDHARA | January - February 2017 | Vol 4 | Issue 1 1026 AYUSHDHARA, 2016;4(1):1026-1035 genetically modified seeds, lacks sufficient nutrients a physical or mental fitness. Ojas give a bright look, sharp necessary for optimum health. memory, high performance and every expected pleasure. The term Nutraceuticals was coined by Stephen Rasayana chikitsa is supposed to nourish blood, lymph, Defelice, in 1989. The word is a portmanteau of nutrition flesh, adipose tissue and semen and thus prevent and pharmaceutical and refers to the extracts of foods freedom from chronic degenerative disorders like claimed to have a medicinal effects on human health Arthritis + disease of senility. Rasayana is to improve (Defelice 2002). Nutraceuticals are usually contained in a metabolic processes which results in best possible medicinal format such as a capsule, tablet, powder or biotransformation and produce the best quality bodily liquid in a prescribed dose. The term further implies that tissue and delay senility and prevent other diseases of the extract or source food is demonstrated to have a old age. Rasayana which has a marked action on sexual physiological benefit or provide protection against a organs are called Vrishya as Shukra dhatu is best chronic diseases. nourished by it, Rasayana builds natural resistance Since the passage of the US dietary supplement against infection. Rasayana drug invigorate the body in Health and education Act of 1994, there has been an general by sustaining the required balance between explosion of various kinds of Nutraceuticals in terms of anabolism & catabolism. Rasayana drugs which may act both food supplement and functional foods as antioxidants as well as Immunomodulator may also Nutraceuticals are a multibillion dollar industry, rivaling act as anti-aging. the pharmaceutical industry many new entrepreneurs Rasayana and nutraceuticals, thus both as help and pharmaceutical companies filed with the intention of in treating and preventing diseases, which can be improving their bottom line. This enthusiasm is based on understood by the Sloka, as mentioned by Charak in epidiological studies of the prevalence of chronic Chikitsa sthana. Examples of Agastya Haritaki, Yograj diseases in different parts of the world and of the churna, Sarpi guda are given by Chakrapani which are beneficial health effects of whole foods, fruits and useful for both the purposes. So, in order to bring a vegetables and probable active ingredients of these food relation, a hypothesis has been created, that Rasayana studies and their predicted influence on biochemical helps in disease prevention and treatment by the pathways. Prabhava of Rasayana has been believed to be by This concept of promoting health and preventing increasing. diseases through nutrition and special nutritional Longevity preparations has been used for millennia in Ayurveda. Immunity The concept is known as Rasayana or rejuvination Vitality therapy and it is part of one of the eight specialties of Strength Ayurveda. The Sanskrit roots of Rasayana (Rasa+Ayana) essentially refer to acquisition, movement or circulation Vigour of nutrition needed to provide nourishment to the Anabolic effects organs, tissues and tissue perfusion. Improved luster The concept of promotion of health through Mental competence Rasayanas is based on Ayurveda pathophysiology and its Antioxidant effects understanding of health and physiological system imbalances that lead to disease development. The word Antiaging effects. Rasayana is composed of 2 words ‘Ras’ + ‘Ayan’. The And it can be possible if the Oja, Bala, means by which one gets the excellence of Rasa (The Vyadhikshamatva are in proper functioning, without nourishing fluid which is produced immediately after formation of Ama and by following Achara Rasayana, as digestion) is Rasayana. These Rasa nourishes our body & the basic physiology of Rasayana is believed to be stimulates the immunity of the body & keeps us healthy. Ahara→Agni →Ahara rasa →Sapta dhatu formation → The term Rasayana connotes a specific meaning ‘Drugs, Ojhas. diet + regimens’ which promote longevity by delaying Thus, corresponding to the mode of action of aging & preventing diseases are called Rasayana. nutraceuticals which is basically by antioxidants and Impairment of circulation of this body fluids results in immunomodulators and the topic entitled “A disease and decay. This body fluid of good quality should comparative analysis of Rasayana and nutraceuticals not be present in adequate quantity but also it should be have been done” able to permeate (circulate) throughout the various cells Material and methods of the body to provide the type of nourishment they Detailed review of material available in texts of need. Rasayana is a specialized type of treatment Ayurveda as well as modern literature was carried out to influencing