‘Rasayana’ Rejuvenation: Ashwagandha & the Path to Ageless Wellness
Tired, frail, forgetful, slow, weak—what words spring to mind when you think of ageing? These descriptors are often associated with our perception of ageing, painting a picture of inevitable decline. But what if ageing could be seen in a different light? What if we were able to build strength and resilience, becoming more capable instead of less so?
This idea of building strength and resilience aligns with the Ayurvedic concept of 'Rasāyana'. Defined as 'a herbal preparation that promotes a youthful state of physical and mental health and expands happiness' (Singh et al., 2011), Rasāyana isn’t merely a term; it's a philosophy inviting us to embrace the potential for not just ageing, but ageing well. It’s about cultivating resilience, strength, and a thriving vitality as we navigate the passage of time.
Among the many Ayurvedic preparations, herbs, and lifestyle practices that fall under the 'Rasāyana' category, Ashwagandha holds a prominent place (Singh et al., 2011). With a history dating back to 6000 BC in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, Ashwagandha has long been regarded as a Rasāyana. It was perceived as a tonic, believed to bestow the strength of a horse upon those who consumed it (Singh et al., 2011). In India, it’s heralded as one of the best tonics for the elderly.
According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, Ashwagandha is known as Balya (increases strength), and Pushtida, indicating its nourishing qualities (Mukherjee, 2021). Today, we classify Ashwagandha as an adaptogen—a herbal medicine that helps the body adapt to stressors in non-specific ways. In essence, adaptogens assist the body in coping with stress, whether it's emotional or physical, by making you stronger.
Rasāyana serves as a measure for prolonging positive health, enhancing mental faculties, and fortifying resistance and immunity against diseases (Newton, 2001). With supporting evidence showcasing its safety (Verma et al., 2021), Ashwagandha solidifies its place as a well-known Rasāyana.
It's time for us to paint a new picture of ageing, embracing the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. Let's embark on a journey filled with vitality, resilience, and the capacity to relish life to the fullest. Sfera Ashwaganda provides a standardised extract of this ancient remedy, bringing together the best of modern science and ancient wisdom.
REFERENCES:
Mukherjee, P. K., Banerjee, S., Biswas, S., Das, B., Kar, A., & Katiyar, C. K. (2021). Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal - Modern Perspectives of an Ancient Rasayana from Ayurveda. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 264, 113157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113157
Newton K. G. (2001). The Biology of Aging (JARA): An Ayurvedic Approach. Bulletin of the Indian Institute of History of Medicine (Hyderabad), 31(2), 161–179. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12841194/
Singh, N., Bhalla, M., de Jager, P., & Gilca, M. (2011). An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines: AJTCAM, 8(5 Suppl), 208–213. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9
Verma, N., Gupta, S. K., Tiwari, S., & Mishra, A. K. (2021). Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, study in Healthy Volunteers. Complementary therapies in medicine, 57, 102642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102642