Rasayana

What is rasayana?

Rasayana is one of the eight branches of classical Ayurveda, the one concerned with nourishing the tissues and sustaining vitality over time. The usual English rendering is rejuvenation.

Three kinds, not one

The word is often encountered as a label on a jar, which makes it look like a category of herbs. In the classical treatment it is wider than that, and comes in three forms.

• Rasayana substances: herbs such as ashwagandha, amla and triphala
• Rasayana of food and living: nourishing food, sufficient sleep, a regular life
• Rasayana of conduct (achara rasayana): honesty, not holding on to anger, evenness toward others, continued study

That last category is the one that surprises people. The tradition puts conduct in the same list as herbs because it holds that how a person lives affects ojas, the subtle essence of vitality, as directly as what they swallow.

The prerequisite

There is a condition attached, and it is the part most often skipped. Rasayana adds nourishment, so it presumes the body can process it: agni, the digestive fire, should be working and ama, undigested residue, should not have accumulated. Nourishing on top of a system that cannot digest is described as adding to the problem rather than to the reserves.

This is why classical rejuvenation programmes are placed after a cleansing phase, not before one.

This entry introduces a traditional system of thought and general information. It does not guarantee any specific effect and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. For health concerns, please consult a qualified medical professional.