Abstract

PRAKARADI YOGAS AS RASAYANA AND ITS IMMUNOMODULATORY PROPERTIES

Karuna S. Ratnaparkhi and Rutuja S. Kale*

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Abstract

An entire section of the Materia Medica of Ayurveda is devoted to “Rasayana”, drugs reputed to enhance body resistance. Rasayana that age specific can be prescribed for particular age groups which can ultimately retard age specific conditions to extend and can promote longevity. Thus, a plan for Rasayana therapy right from birth shall be introduced in routine immunization schedule. The Rasayana herbs seem to operate through immunostimulant, immunoadjuvant, and immunosuppressant activities or by affecting the effector arm of the immune response. An authentic book of ayurveda called Arogya Raksha Kalpadruma, aims at achieving the same goal by taking care of the base that is the phase in which various traditional ayurvedic formulations are used right from beginning of birth up to 12 years of age. For achieving disease free body this book has mentioned various PRAKARADI – YOGAS (Immunomodulatory measures) that are mentioned to be given specifically at starting phase of each growing month. This article highlights the role of prakara yogas and its immunomodulatory properties.

Keywords: Prakaradi yogas, Immunomodulatory, Rasayana, Immune system, botanical name, Immunoadjuvant, Immunosuppressant, Arogya Raksha Kalpadruma.