Abstract

ROLE OF VAYAHSTHAPANA DRUGS IN PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF AGEING

Dr. Ashwini Kumar Sharma and *Dr. Monika

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Abstract

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine that emphasizes holistic health and wellness through the balance of body, mind, and spirit. It utilizes herbs, dietary practices, and lifestyle changes to promote health and treat disease, focusing on the individual's constitution and natural healing processes. As we know that ageing is the accumulation of changes in an organism or object over time. In human it refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological and social changes. The detail description of such drugs which are used in prevention and management of ageing are scattered all over the Ayurvedic texts, amongst them Vayahsthapana Mahakashaya of Charaka Samhita is very important. Other drugs which are described in Jivaniya Mahakashaya, Brimhaniya Mahakashaya, Balya Mahakashaya, Rasayana and Vajikarana drugs are also useful for the prevention and management of ageing. According to Ayurveda main cause of ageing is Dhatukshaya, which is based on poshana level, agni level and shrotas level. So the Jivaniya, Brimhaniya, Balya, Rasayana and Vajikarana drugs may be most beneficial for the prevention and management of ageing. As societies advance and lifestyles evolve, geriatric care has become increasingly vital, acknowledging the changing health needs of the elderly. The use of these vayasthapana as internal medicine with general principles of Ayurveda to delayed the ageing process as we cannot eliminate it but we can delay it through some medicines and some life style changes known as Achar Rasayan mentioned as Achar Rasayans in the charak samhita.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Vayahsthapana, Mahakashaya, Dhatukshaya, Rasayana, Vajikarana, Geriatric Diseases, Agni, Shrotas, Ageing, Balya, Svabhavik Vyadhi, Shaman Chikitsa, Shodhan chikitsa, oja.