Research Article International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091

ROLE OF ‘’ AS RASAYANA IN VARIOUS TREATMENTS Ketki Prakash Adhav1, Kunal H Lahare2, Prakash R. Adhav3 1Lecturer-ASS AyurvedCollege,Nashik, , India 2Lecturer-SSAM &H Ayurved College,Nashik, Maharashtra, India 3Principle, HOD, 3Professor- SVNH Ayurved college, Rahuri, Maharashtra,

ABSTRACT Rasayana is the most famous treatment in aging. Ayurveda also accepted in yoga as a vital Rasayana in the different disease management. This study explains conceptual role of yoga as Rasayana. The objective of this study is to give collective information of yoga references with its benefits. Books available on yoga & Ayurveda in different libraries as well as on internet were reviewed.Results of the study were presented under headings namely types of yoga, physical strength, mental health, improvements in illness, other changes in health. Discussions regarding references regarding yoga werediscussed with experts in Ayurveda&yoga.The findings of refer- ences are significantly useful for quick review to the physicians in different disease management. The practice of Yoga not only works the physical body by keeping it fit while strengthening and elongating the muscles, it also helps the nervous and circulatory systems by purifying and ba- lancing them. Key words: Yoga, Rasayana, treatment

INTRODUCTION Rasayana is the most famous treat- So yoga not only helps in increasing ment in aging. Ayurveda also accepted Yoga physical, mental health of human being but as a vital Rasayana in the Antiagingma- it also increases all the eight bala(Power) nagement.1Those who are practicing Yoga in which further improves satvatat- their day to day life got some benefits. Yoga va(immunity) in humans.3 In the old age is also mentioned in Ayurvedic Classics for basically all the indriyakarma(body sys- that we have to search some references from tems) becomes kshin(Sluggish in function). Samhitas of those one well-known Samhita Yoga helps in improving the quality of life, in which Precious Yoga and its usefulness as ancient Rushimunies(Aacharya) were sur- mentioned is Charak Samhita.2 Rasayana is vived for years without food & they didn’t defined as it improvises basic body elements hampered the power of body [physical or such as ashtadhatu. It also increases lifespan mental]. by its antiaging property. It increases memo- This study includes such benefits of ry, improvises body texture, skin colour, yoga in Antiaging management which acts physical & mental health. similarly to the Rasayana medicine quoted in Ayurveda. Ketki Prakash Adhav Et & All :Role Of ‘Yoga’ As Rasayana In Various Treatments 2. Aim&Objective: &abd muscles. Relaxes mind, helpful in a. To collect all the references mentioned mind concentration. Helps in depressive, in all yoga & Ayurvedic classics. back & abdominal disorders.

b. To explain the effectiveness of yoga in 5. Sarwangasan8- Helps in body growth, different disease management. increases immunity, keeps skin healthy, c. To give collective information on yoga improves metabolism Increases confi- as Rasayana to the physicians of modern dent. Helps in circulatory disorders of era. heart & brain, useful in IBS, headache, 4. Methodology: Material onyoga&its use abdominal painand constipation.

in different disease management was re- 6. Halasan9- Strengthens spinal cord and viewed from Ayurvedic classics available in vertebral column. Helps in Constipation, different libraries like Pradipika metabolic & liver disorders.

or Gherandha samhita or 7. Shalabhasan10- Strengthens muscles of etc…and scientific papers published in jour- back & buttocks, reduces backache. nals. Helps in Metabolic disorders

5. Observation &Result:The review of lite- 8. Naukasan11- Reduces abdominal fat, rature gives following information.As Strengthens muscles of back & buttocks. are the easiest among all the yoga, we ex- Reduces backache, abdominal disorders.

plained it in detail- Some papers were re- 9. Ardhamatsendrasan12- Strengthens mus- vived from pub med like Comparative im- cles of back & abdomen, improves liver mediate effect of different yoga on & spleen function, intestinal motility. heart rate and blood pressure in healthy Reduces backache, abdominal disorders.

young volunteers., Muscle utilization pat- 10. Pashchimottanasan13- Strengthens mus- terns vary by skill levels of the practitioners cles of back & abdomen, reduces abdo- across specific yoga poses (asanas) etc. minal fat. Reduces backache, abdominal

1. Swastikasan4- Strengthens ankle &knee disorders. joints, improvises their function. Keeps 11. Chakrasan14- Improves lungs function, mind calm. Helps in Abdominal disord- strengthens muscles of back & abdomen, ers. reduces abdominal fat. Helps in Tuber-

2. Vajrasan5- improvises circulation at culosis, reduces backache, abdominal abd& pelvis, increases movements of disorders.

ankle, knee. Keeps mind calm. Helps in 12. Aakarnadhanurasan15- strengthens mus- Arthritis, Abdominal disorders cles of back & abdomen. Reduces low-

3. Padmasan6- Improvises metabolism backache, abdominal disorders. &excretion of body waste, maintains 13. Trikonasan16- Strengthens muscles of health, increases movements of ankle & back & legs, reduces abdominal & but- knee. Reduce mind hyperactivity, con- tocks fat. Reduces low-backache, calf trols emotions. Helps in depressive, muscle disorders, increases lung capaci- Arthritic, Abdominal disorders. ty.

4. Siddhasan7- Best asana, helpful in pra- 14. Yogmudra17- Strengthens muscles of nayama, dhyan (concentration), relaxes back & abdomen, reduces abdominal & body, strengthens vertebral column 1054 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 2; Issue 6; November- December - 2014 Ketki Prakash Adhav Et & All :Role Of ‘Yoga’ As Rasayana In Various Treatments buttocks fat. Reduces low-backache, ab- , diabetes, asthma, AIDSand Irritable

dominal disorders. Bowel Syndrome.21 Six shudhikriya like Dhouti (Danta- -Restorative yoga is often , Hrud-Dhouti, Antar-Dhouti, Mu- associated with healing from diseases. Res- lashodhana), (Jala&Shushka), , torative yoga is yoga practiced in a very re- , Tratak, Kapalbhati, Pranaya- laxed state by using supports instead of ma,Kunmbhak(Suryabhedan, , Shita- muscular tension to maintain the pose li, Sitkari, Bhasrika, , Murcha, alignments. Restorative poses help relieve Plavini), Panchadharana, (Pashini, the effects of chronic stress in several ways. Kaki, Matangini, Bhujangini, Shaktichali- Many references were seen in different re- ni, Tadagi, Manduki, Shambhvi, Ashwi- view articles on pub med like Effect ni,Nabho), (Mula, Jalandhar, Ud- of restorative yoga vs. on diurnal diyaan, ViparitKarani,Nadanusandhanalso dynamics and psychosocial out-

helps in different diseasemanagement.18 All comes in individuals with the metabolic of these should be done under supervision of syndrome: the PRYSMS randomized con- experts. trolled trial, Feasibility and acceptability DISCUSSION of restorative yoga for treatment of hot History-Yoga dates back to over 5,000 flushes: a pilot trial etc. years, and is a form of a spiritual practice in First, the uses of this provide a com- India.Yoga invokes= ideals of harmony, pletely supportive environment for total re- health and balance, it “fits” well in the envi- laxation. Second, each restorative sequence ronment of modernity. Yoga as has is designed to move the spine in all direc- evolved into numerous subdivisions and var- tions. Third, a well-sequenced restorative iations. There is debate as to whether or not practice also includes an inverted pose, the term HathaYoga properly describes yoga which reverses the effects of gravity. Be- as exercise, since the traditional HathaYoga cause we stand or sit most of the day, blood system originated as, and still is, a spiritual and lymph fluid accumulate in the lower ex-

path in its own right.19 tremities. By changing the relationship of Overview as -Yoga is the legs to gravity, fluids are returned to the believed to calm the nervous system and upper body and heart function is enhanced. balance the body, mind, and spirit. It is Fourth, restorative yoga alternately stimu- thought by its practitioners to prevent specif- lates and soothes the organs. With this ic diseases and maladies by keeping the movement of blood comes the enhanced ex- energy meridians (shatchakra) open and life change of oxygen and waste products across energy ()flowing. Yoga is usually the cell membrane. It is presented in article practiced in classes that range from 60 to 90 on pub med named Stress, inflammation, minutes in length. Yoga has been used to and yoga practice. lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and im- Finally, yoga teaches that the body is prove coordination, flexibility, concentra- permeated with energy. Prana, the mascu-

tion, sleep, and digestion.20 line energy, resides above the diaphragm, It has also been used as supplementa- moves upward, and controls respiration and ry therapy for such diverse conditions as heart rate. Apana, the feminine energy, re- 1055 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 2; Issue 6; November- December - 2014 Ketki Prakash Adhav Et & All :Role Of ‘Yoga’ As Rasayana In Various Treatments sides below the diaphragm, moves down- yields 25 clinical trials published in 2007, ward, and controls the function of the abdo- 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 relating to minal organs. Restorative yoga balances yoga and emotional and psychological these two aspects of energy so that the prac- health. In addition, three review articles and titioner is neither over stimulated nor dep- three systematic reviews published during

leted.22 this period investigated the effects of various for treating diseases- combinations of yoga, and yogic

Most yoga classes consist of a combination breathing on mental health.24 some of the of physical , breathing exercises, papers are on pub med like Potential long- and meditation. These characteristics make term effects of a mind-body intervention for yoga a particularly beneficial kind of exer- women with major depressive disorder: cise for people with certain health condi- sustained mental health improvements with tions, including heart disease/, a pilot yoga intervention, Physical activity asthma, and back problems. and depressive symptoms after stillbirth: For people with heart problems, stu- informing future interventions, Application dies have shown yoga to help people young of an integrative yoga therapy programme in and old. Specifically, yoga seems to promote cases of essential arterial hypertension in heart health in several ways, including regu- public healthcare etc. lating high blood pressure and improving However, in recent years, there have resistance to stress. It was mentioned in been increasing reports of yoga-related inju- many scientific papers on pub med like Po- ries. These include carotid artery tears, bulg- tential long-term effects of a mind-body in- ing intervertebral discs, rotator cuff injuries, tervention for women with major depressive ganglion cysts, compression of the spine disorder: sustained mental health improve- (vertebral column) and hyperextension of ments with a pilot yoga intervention, Appli- the neck. In yoga without care, injuries can

cation of an integrative yoga therapy pro- absolutely happen.”25 Some of the papers gramme in cases of essential arterial hyper- like Do side- tension in public healthcare, Yoga based effects/injuries from yoga practice result in cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery discontinued use? Results of a national sur- bypass surgery: One-year results on LVEF, vey etc. are explaining injuries. lipid profile and psychological states - A Breast cancer studies- randomized controlled study etc. Yoga also In 2006, scientists at the University Of Tex- has the potential to buffer against the harm- as conducted an experiment on 61 breast ful effects of bodily self-objectification as cancer patients. Thirty of the patients parti- well as to promote embodiment and well- cipated in yoga around the time of their rad-

being.23 iation treatments. The yoga was customized Research on yoga and psychological and for cancer patients; it focused on breathing emotional health- and relaxation, and excluded difficult exer- A growing number of clinical trials cises, given possible limitations on range of are being published on the benefits of yoga motion. The study found increased physical for psychological and emotional health. A function, slightly better levels of social func- Pub Med search for "yoga and depression" tioning, and lower levels of sleep dysfunc- 1056 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 2; Issue 6; November- December - 2014 Ketki Prakash Adhav Et & All :Role Of ‘Yoga’ As Rasayana In Various Treatments tion and fatigue. There was no difference in The practice of Asanas in Anti-aging rates of anxiety or depression.26 Effects Yoga promotes flexibility of the muscles and of yoga on arm volume among women strength in the bones and tissues. It also with breast cancer related lymphedema: A massages the organs, brings balance to dif- pilot study, - ferent internal and glandular functions, pro- based cancer recovery and supportive- motes the flow of vital energy, prana and expressive therapy maintain telomere length balances the physical and metaphysical parts relative to controls in distressed breast can- of the body (). cer survivors, Effect Asanas are techniques that promote of Yoga on cancer related fatigue in breast awareness, concentration, meditation, and cancer patients with chemotherapy, etc are relaxation through the physical body. As the scientific paper present on pub med. practice becomes more regular, there are CONCLUSION significant results. Such results include good There are so many papers on different types mental and physical health through stret- of yoga therapy like The effects of an 8- ching, massage and the stimulation of the week Hathayoga intervention on executive energy channels of the internal organs. function in older adults, Effect of regular Scientific studies have shown that yogic training on growth and de- hydroepiandrosterone sulfate as an endo- the practice of Yoga has anti-aging and cura- crine marker of aging, Comparative impacts tive abilities and can prevent disease by of Tai Chi, balance training, and a specially- promoting energy and health. That is why designed yoga program on balance in older more and more professionals have started fallers, Fluid intelligence and brain func- using Yoga techniques in patients with dif- tional organization in aging yoga and medi- ferent mental and physical symptoms, such tation practitioners, Muscle utilization pat- as psycho-somatic stresses and different dis- terns vary by skill levels of the practitioners across specific yoga poses, Age-related eases. changes in cardiovascular system, autonom- ic functions, and levels of BDNF of healthy A regular Yoga practice can cleanse the active males: role of yogic practice, etc. tissues through muscle stretching and mas- supports following conclusion saging of the internal organs. This brings the Benefits of Anti-aging Yoga waste back into circulation so that the lungs, The practice of Anti-aging Yoga not intestines, kidneys, and skin are able to re- only works the physical body by keeping it move toxins in a natural way. fit while strengthening and elongating the  Yoga and meditation relieve stress muscles, it also helps the nervous and circu-  Yoga keeps your body fit and energy latory systems by purifying and balancing level high thus suppressing aging them.  Yoga rejuvenates the glands. Yoga has a The regular practice of Anti-aging marked effect on the pituitary, thyroid, Yoga produces many benefits. This includes adrenal and sex glands. greater endurance, flexibility, deeper breath-  Yoga strengthens muscles and regulates ing, and an overall improvement in mood the flow of oxygen in our system. and emotional well-being.  Yoga provides elasticity to the spine and improves posture 1057 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 2; Issue 6; November- December - 2014 Ketki Prakash Adhav Et & All :Role Of ‘Yoga’ As Rasayana In Various Treatments  Yogafirms up the skin. Yoga reduces fa- 7. Swatmaram , Hathpradipika, trans- cial wrinkles and produces a natural lated by Bendkule, AadarshVid- 'face-lift yarthiprakashan, pune-2, Reprint 2008,  Yoga is a combination of breathing and page no.4, 1/35. body postures that increases blood circu- 8. Gherand, Gherandsamhita, translated by lation. Shri.V.G.Devkule, AadarshVid-  Yoga increased resistance to disease. Yo- yarthiprakashan, pune-2, Reprint 2008, ga produces a healthy strong body with page no.24, 2/21. increased immunity against disease. 9. VishwasMandlik, Yogparichay, Yog- ST  Yoga has many mental and emotional ChaitanyaPrakaashan, Nashik,1 Edi- benefits tion, 2006, page no-74.  Anti-aging Yoga will help you to feel 10. Gherand, Gherandsamhita, translated by more confident, enthusiastic and gener- Shri.V.G.Devkule, AadarshVid- ally optimistic. yarthiprakashan, pune-2, Reprint 2008, REFERENCES: page no.30, 2/42. 1. Gherand, Gherandsamhita, translated by 11. VishwasMandlik, Yogparichay, Yog- Shri.V.G.Devkule, AadarshVid- ChaitanyaPrakaashan, Nashik,1ST Edi- yarthiprakashan, pune-2, Reprint 2008, tion, 2006, page no-90. page no.12-13, 1/8-13. 12. Swatmaram yogi, Hathpradipika, trans- 2. Vd.YadavjiTrikamjiAacharya, lated by Bendkule, AadarshVid- CharakaSamhita commentary by Chak- yarthiprakashan, pune-2, Reprint 2008, rapanidatta, Varanasi, Chaukhamba San- page no.14, 1/32. skrit pratishthan , Reprint 2000,pg no- 13. Swatmaram yogi, Hathpradipika, trans- 300,1/140-141. lated by Bendkule, AadarshVid- 3. 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