Many who are past their prime find themselves suddenly staring at illnesses. Unfortunately the diseases that come with old age like arthritis, osteoporosis, cataracts, alzheimer’s disease, depression, urinary problems, prostate enlargement and the like have no substantial remedies yet. While conventional therapy fails to come up with effective management plans, Ayurveda, the age-old medical practice, suggests rasayana chikitsa as the realistic answer for all such conditions.

Ayurveda is perhaps the only science which explains how to slow down the ageing process. The geriatric care in Ayurveda has effective procedures in managing age-related disorders, that too with medicines which are natural and free of side-effects. In Ayurveda, geriatric care is synonymous with rasayana chikitsa as it helps prevent diseases or make effective intervention in degenerative conditions, thereby improving the health of an individual.

Rasayana therapy is classified into two types – vata-athapika and kuti-praveshika. Kuti-praveshika should be done in a specially made kuti or shelter without direct exposure to light and wind. Vata-athapika can be done without much compromise to one’s lifestyle. This hassle-free method of rasayana is meant for people who can’t undergo the strenuous kuti-praveshika. Spring and autumn are the suitable seasons for rasayana therapy. Unlike vata-athapika, which will be completed in a month, it requires at least four-and-half months to complete kuti-praveshika treatment. (The time duration varies according to the patient’s physical conditions and requirements.)

Prior to main treatment, purification therapy i.e, panchakarma should be done. About two months may be required for this. One month should be spent in shelter for administering rasayana followed by one more month of strict regimen. It will take another 15 days for the person to come back to normal routine life. So kuti-praveshika is not a widely practiced treatment method as the process is very laborious.

The complete result of rasayana cannot be expected unless the patient undergoes proper panchakarma purification prior to kuti-praveshika. Rasayana treatment would be incomplete without panchakarma, however, all the five therapies of panchakarma are not required for every individual. The best suited to the person needs to be done.

Almost all regimens of kuti-praveshika are to be followed in vata-athapika too, but in a lenient manner. Though vata-atapika is less strenuous compared to kutti praveshika, the rules and disciplines of medicine are common for both. For eg) in brahmarasayana, it is prescribed that a special rice called “shastika” should be taken along with milk at one food timing and rasayana at the other. This should be followed in kuti praveshika and vata-athapika procedures for complete results. Whereas, in certain other formulae, like narasimharasayana, where no special instruction of food is given, one can undergo the procedure of observing habitual diet and deed.

Based on the purpose for which the rasayana therapy is done, it’s classified into kamya rasayana, administered for youthfulness and increased intellect, naimithika rasayana, administered for curative purposes, and ajaswika rasayana, which brings the benefit of rasayana by regular and long term use.

In geriatric care, wise administration of kamya rasayana/ naimithika rasayana is the solution that Ayurveda recommends. People in their late fifties are often prone to mental morbidities due to factors such as ageing of the brain, problems associated with physical health, socio-economic factors such as breakdown of the family support systems, and the lack of economic independence. Dementia and mood disorders are also frequently encountered by them.

Kamya rasayana drugs such as shankpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) and brahmi (Centalla asiatica) are highly beneficial in these cases. A majority of the old-age disorders like respiratory ailments and arthritis can be managed by pippali rasayana (Piper Longa) and Type-11 diabetes– like disorders with shilajith rasayana (asphaltam). Ajaswika rasayana prayogas are done with long term intentions. One can have it in his younger years to have a trouble-free old age.

To put in a nutshell, one can attain longevity, improved harmony, intelligence, freedom from disease, youthful vigour, complexion and voice, physical strength and good sensory functions through rasayana chikitsa. But the aim of rasayana chikitsa is not conquering time or arresting death, but to lead one’s life comfortably with respect to his age and health.

(The author Dr Syyed Mohammed Jalaludheen is a seasoned Ayurveda Surgeon and well-acclaimed academician. He has authored the ayurvedic book ‘Outline of Salyatantra’)