INTRODUCTION

Rasayana is a specialized branch of Astanga Ayurveda which is primarily

meant for healthy people, because it provides means for preservation and
promotion of positive health. Ayurveda the science of life is aimed to maintain the
health of a healthy person and to cure the disease of a diseased one. 1 On the other
hand it has been an earnest desire of a man to have a disease free long and happy
life, from time immemorial. To achieve this first and foremost one Ayurveda has
advocated certain rules pertaining to diet and regimen of life under Dinacharya
and Ratricharya along with Rasayana and Vajikarana.
This Rasayana therapy serves the both purpose of Ayurvedic science i.e. it
restore the normal health of a healthy person and to some extent it alleviate the
disease of a diseased person also.
According to Charaka, the Aushadhi are of two types viz. Swasthaurjaskar
and Artasuroganuta. The first category of drug has been stated to promote and
preserve the health, strength and longevity in a swastha or healthy person while
the second one has got capacity to curing the disease of the ailing and afflicted
people.2 Here the first objects related to an increase in bala and oja in healthy
persons, is achieved by resort to Rasayana and Vajikarana. Whereas the next
objective is obtained mostly by subduing or curative properties of the drugs. 3
A classical Rasayana remedy according to Ayurveda is supposed to
promote molecular nutrition through different modes of action. The prominent one
are :1. At the level of Rasa
2. At the level of Agni
3. At the level of Srota.
Acting through one or all the above mechanism the Rasayana drugs
produces its effect on the body leading to improved physical and mental health.
The very meaning of the word Rasayana (Rasa + Ayana) refers to nutrition and its
transportation in the body. Such a stat of improved nutrition is claimed to lead to a

secondary attributes like prevention of aging and longivity, immunity against

disease, mental competence, increased vitality and luster of the body.4
Rasayana therapy is one of the eight major branches of Ayurveda. With the
passage of time this important branch of knowledge has ceased to be in practice in
its appropriate form. Comprehensive efforts are needed to revive this useful
discipline for the welfare of the humanity at large. A need was felt to bring out the
total concept of Rasayana therapy by screening the entire Ayurvedic literature and
the allied texts so that an up-to-date idea may be framed. Besides the up-to-date
development of the Ayurvedic concepts, there is an equally urgent need of the
clinical evaluation of the real efficacy of the Rasayana drugs and measures.
Lots of studies regarding the real efficacy of drugs and their application
have been going on since ancient period. But the basic difference in between
ancient research and modern research is that the efficacy of a drug was assessed
by observing their effect on body clinically with the help of pramanas
(pratyakshya, anuman, aptopadesh, yukti) and conclusion was made in ancient
time whereas modern research is done with the help of modern techniques and
sophisticated laboratory investigation along with clinical observation. Hence
today if a scientific research with the combination of modern and ancient
techniques is carried out, then we can get a wonderful success in re-establishing
the science in the field of treatment.