In another article, simple facts about reverse aging have been discussed with respect to modern medicine, as also some practical tips for good health. In this article, the Ayurvedic perspective of reverse aging will be discussed in simple terms and in brief. The question and answer format will be maintained here for ease of understanding.
1) What is Aging?
In Ayurveda, aging is defined as Jara, something which has become old by the act of wearing out. This denotes a gradual deterioration and decay with the passage of time. Ayurveda mentions human life as having different stages such as childhood (up to 16 years), youth and middle age (ranging from 16 to 60 years), and old age (after 60-70 years), wherein the body elements , sense organs, strength etc begin to deteriorate.
2) How can Aging be measured? 3) What contributes to Aging?
Ayurveda takes into consideration several factors while describing the process of aging. This mainly includes Prana, which is the life energy that performs respiration, oxygenation, and circulation. Prana governs two other subtle essences known as Ojas and Tejas. Ojas is the essence of the seven dhatus or body tissues, and is necessary for longevity since it is responsible for immunity and intelligence. Tejas is the essence of energy and governs metabolism through the enzyme system. Ayurveda also envisions the body into functional elements (tridosha comprising of vata which denotes motion, pitta which denotes metabolism and kapha which denotes structure), and structural elements comprising the seven dhatu and three mala or bodily wastes.
For maintenance of longevity and cellular health, the prana, ojas, tejas, and also the tridosha need to remain in balance. While kapha maintains longevity at the cellular level, pitta governs digestion and nutrition, and vata, which is closely related to pranic life energy, governs all life functions. A disturbed ojas can create kapha or vata related disorders, while tejas, which represents Agni, and if aggravated, can burn away ojas, reduce immunity, and overstimulate pranic activity. Aggravated prana produces degenerative disorders in the dhatu. Reduced tejas results in overproduction of unhealthy tissue and obstructs the flow of pranic energy.
Healthy skin gives a youthful appearance ; a balanced tridosha in the skin ensures this, with adequate moisterisation (balanced kapha), chemical and hormonal skin changes (balanced pitta), and efficient circulation and transport of nutrition (balanced vata). Skin health also reflects the health of the first three tissues, i.e., nutritional fluid (Rasa), blood cells (Rakta) and muscle tissue (Mansa).
Ayurveda mentions the symptoms of reduced, increased or disturbed vata, pitta, kapha, seven dhatu as well as the three mala.
4) How can Aging be reversed?
It is a well known fact that chronological age, which is related to time, cannot be reversed; however, biological age, which is related to cellular health, can be reversed or modified to some extent. Ayurveda describes several processes to control, prevent, and possibly reverse aging. These include detoxification procedures known as Panchkarma, and a treatment process known as Rasayan. Panchkarma includes pretreatment (purva karma) processes known as snehan (oleation) and swedan (sudation); the main processes (pradhan karma) include Vaman (induced emesis), Virechan (induced purgation), Nasya (medicated nasal administration), Basti (medicated enema), and Raktamokshan (Blood-letting). The post-treatment (paschat karma) process includes a gradual return to normal diet starting from watery soups, thin gruel (paste), followed by thicker gruels, and then normal diet as the digestive power increases.
This process is then followed up as required either by treatment (in the case of disease) or Rasayan treatment for rejuvenation. Rasayan treatments can be either Kutipraveshik (similar to inpatient therapy) or Vataatapik (similar to outpatient therapy). The former is usually more prolonged, costlier but with pronounced benefits, while the latter is simpler, cheaper but obviously with lesser benefits.
Rasayan treatment is known to (1) open up blocked or defective bodily channels (2) rejuvenate damaged or degenerated tissues (3) help increase vitality and energy (4) enhance memory and intellect (5) build up general as well as specific immunity (6) help to calm and nourish the nervous system (7) improve skin health (8) improve the functioning of the sensory organs and (9) bring about reverse aging by maintaining mental, emotional and physical health and increasing virility. Actually, Ayurveda has a separate branch of medicine known as Vaajikaran which deals exclusively with maintaining and improving sexual health.
5) How can Ayurvedic medicines and herbs help reverse aging?
As per modern medicine, oxidative stress, telomere shortening, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction are said to be the main factors that regulate the aging process. The following discussion includes several herbs which act as Rasayan and help with reverse aging: (1) Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) improves immunity and increases telomere length when taken orally, and can prevent or reverse signs of skin aging if applied locally. (2) Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) has potent anti-inflammatory properties, reduces liver and skin damage, and improves immunity. (3) Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an adaptogenic herb which improves immunity, makes skin and muscles healthier, reduces stress, improves stem cell proliferation, and also has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. (4) Emblica officinalis (Amla) has very good antioxidant properties, helps improve immunity, helps reverse aging by improving telomere length, and is frequently used in skin and hair care products. (5) Curcuma longa (Turmeric) is a very good antioxidant spice and herb with good anti-inflammatory properties with respect to the skin, nervous system and brain. It improves immunity, manages chronic pain and helps reverse aging. (6) Asphaltum punjabium (Shilajit) has very good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and helps strengthen the genito-urinary system. (7) Allium sativum (Garlic) is a spice with very well documented antioxidant properties and helps prevent cancer, reduce or prevent dementia, prevent cardiovascular disease, and enhance blood circulation. (8) Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) has good antioxidant an anti-inflammatory properties and is best known to improve cognition. (9) Convolvulus pluricaulis (Shankhpushpi) is known to help with depression and neurodegenerative disorders. (10) Glycyrrhiza glabra (Yashtimadhu) has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is known to help strengthen multiple body systems and organs. (11) Polyherbal combinations like Amalaki Rasayana, Medhya Rasayana, Brahma Rasyana, and Chyawanprash, have demonstrated properties which improve telomere length, repair DNA damage, improve brain and nerve damage, and thereby help with reverse aging.
6) What are some Practical Tips, as per Ayurveda, to Stay healthy and Reverse (Biological) Aging?
(1) Establish a daily healthy routine (Dincharya). Get up early (brahma muhurta), drink plenty of water, develop the habit of having a clear bowel movement daily, eat wholesome (sattvic) foods. These practices need modifications as per changing seasons (Ritucharya) and also as per constitution (Prakriti), and changing age (Kaal/Vaya) of the individual.
(2) Get sufficient sleep. Good sleep has been mentioned as one of the important pillars (Stambh) of health.
(3) Exercise regularly and beat stress using yogasanas, breathing exercises (Pranayama), and meditation.
(4) Do daily body and scalp massage (Abhyang) to get a healthy skin, toned muscles, good hair growth, and sound sleep.
(5) Use Panchkarma procedures judiciously to detoxify the body and prevent disease. Also use Rasayan medications judiciously to improve health, prevent diseases, reverse biological age and improve quality of life. To achieve this, do take the help of a qualified and experienced Ayurvedic Practitioner.
(6) Women need to observe additional care (Garbhini-charya) during pregnancy so as to have healthy offspring. This includes modifications in diet, lifestyle as well as medications.
(7) Practice good and healthy behaviour (Sadvritta) and moral conduct (Satvavjaya) so as to balance physical, mental and spiritual health.
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