The various drugs used for the treatment of mental health are classified as medhya rasayanas. These act as brain tonics and adaptogens, and are specific molecular nutrients for the brain promoting health thus leading to the alleviation of various behavioural disorders including memory impairment. The medhya rasayanas afford biological nourishment of the brain producing tranquility of mind, mental concentration and promotion of memory.
The Rasayana Concept
In Ayurveda, rasayana (or science of rejuvenation) is a unique concept and is one of the eight specialised branches of Astang-Ayurveda. The main object of rasayana therapy is the management of age related disorders. The principal physiological effect of rasayana is to improve and revitalize the physiological and endocrine functions of the body, to decelerate the aging process and to make an individual more responsive and resistance to disease, i.e. to improve body function by strengthening the immune system (See in following Figures). The rasayanas are postulated to act through a psycho-endocrinological immune axis.
Figure. The three dimensional effect of rasayana.
Figure. The rejuvenation channel of Rasayana effect
Acara-Rasayana (Rejuvenating Code of Conduct)
It is pertinent to emphasis emphasise that besides nutritious diet practice of achara-rasayana (rejuvenation through proper code of conduct) was also strictly advocated (See in following Figure).
Figure. An aspirant who lives such a life and practices sadachar (good conduct) achieves the rasayana effect, immunity, longevity and intellectual power. He is free from emotional disturbances, is less stressful, has pronounced anabolic static and thus leads a happy and healthy life.
In essence, Rasayana or science of rejuvenation deals primarily with geriatric problems and lays great emphasis on specific measures to improve the physical, physiological and psychological adaptation to various pathological changes related to the problems of aging. It considers aging as a gradual decline in adaptive behavior of an individual to the environmental changes. Several scientific studies conducted to evaluate the effects of acara rasayana, diet and treatment have revealed clinical improvements and significant positive alterations in specific biochemical parameters like plasma cortisol, catechol and indole amines etc. The EEG studies have revealed accentuation of alpha and beta waves and diminution in spikes of delta waves. It provides significant improvement and correction in the physiological and endocrine functions of the body and makes an individual more responsive and responsive to varies geriatric diseases by augmenting body immunity.
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Dr Hemant Singh was superannuated as Deputy Director of the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow. His main original work in the CDRI was the evaluation of memory enhancing effects of selected plants of Ayurveda, which led to the development of Memo Plus Gold. In the following series of articles, Dr Singh will tell anecdotal and factual events related to his research.
