CHAPTER 31
Brahma Rasayana: An Antiaging Nervine Tonic

The oneness of mind and body holds the secret of illness and health.

Arnold Hutschnecker

Ayurveda has given number of herbal products for natural rejuvenation and longivity. Among all, brahma Rasayana is believed to be on top of the list. It is believed that this herbal recipe has been prescribed by Lord Brahma, hence it is called Brahma Rasayana. As per the Ayurvedic texts the famous Rishies of Vaikhanas and Balkhilya group used this brahma Rasayana and acquired youth replacing physique endowed with great memory, intellect, concentration and physical strength and attained immeasurable life span. In spite of its superiority, this formulation is not as popular and widely used as chyawanprash. Brahma rasayana is an herbal jam preparation (similar to chyawanprash); both are amalaki based. The difference between two is chyawanprash is a well-known anti-aging Ayurvedic product with immense effect on respiratory health, mental health and immunity and considered general all purpose rasayana, while brahma Rasayana is another anti-aging Ayurvedic formulation with immense effect on mental health and immunity and considered special purpose Rasayana. It is extremely useful to those who do intensive mental work. Combination of immunity enhancing and antioxidant herbs blended in Brahma Rasayana make, it a very special powerful preparation.

Composition

It is a herbal preparation containing more than 40 different herbs, and the main ingredients are amalaki fruit (Emblica officinalis), haritaki (Terminalia chebula) which constitute about 20% and 6.7%, respectively. Important ingredients with their functions are summarized in Table 31.1

Table 31.1 Composition of Brahma Rasayana

SR. No.	Name of Herb	Scientific Name	Functions
1.	Amalaki	Emblica officinalis	Acts as Rasayana and is one of the best anti-oxidants known. While providing anti-aging effect, it also improves the functioning of sensory organs.
2.	Haritaki	Terminalia chebula	A Rasayana for the mind and nervous system. Through its sharp quality, haritaki strengthens the nervous system, bringing sharpness and clarity to mind, and acts as a carrier for the numerous phytochemicals provided by the other herbal ingredients of this formula. Its sharp quality helps removing mental fog caused by excess kapha. Haritaki brings about vitality to the mind through its capacity to penetrate and spread through the nervous system.
3.	Dashamula	Roots of 10 herbs.	Dashmula is a special combination of 10 roots, selected specially for their grounding effect and capacity to balance vata dosha, which governs the functioning of the nervous system.
4.	Shankhapushpi and vacha	Convolvulus pleuricaulis), Acorus calamus	Excellent memory enhancer, improves speaking capability. Shankapushpi is a calming brain tonic and balances the three doshas.
5.	Pippali	Piper longum	A brain tonic strengthening the tejas, mental fire and it brings about clarity and mental strength, removing the weakness of brain, and it heals vata related mental disorders.
6.	Cinnamon	Cinnamomum zeylanicum	Remove neural debilities and is a very good appetizer and digestive, while bringing its pleasing warm aroma to this formulation.
7.	Haridra	Curcoma longa	Haridra reduces exess Kapha and calms the nervous system through its mildly analgesic properties. Haridra – highly recommended anti allergic agent. Good for skin, lungs and fights against cancer.
8.	Cardamom	Elettaria cardamomum	Cardamom removes weakness by strengthening mental stamina through increasing agni, the digestive fire. It also contributes to the taste of this formula, providing sense of freshness.
9.	Guduchi	Tinospora cordifolia	An immunomodulator is one of the most important divine herb of Ayurveda, as it has the capacity to balance all bodily tissues as well as to build up ojas.
10.	Ushir	Vetiveria zizanoides	Gives strength to the nerves and brain, provides healing in brain disorders, as well as by reducing excess space element from the brain, helping the individual not to feel “spaced out”, and be more grounded.
11.	Mabdukpabi	Centella asiatica	Best and most respected Medhya rasayana (mental tonic) herbs, is an excellent memory enhancer, helps to prevent brain weakness and cure mental disorders.
12.	Musta	Cypendus rotundus	Excellent brain and nervine tonic, and helps to prevent mental disorders and convulsions.
13.	Bala	Sida codifolia	Overall strength
14.	Vidanga	Embelia ribes	Vidanga, again considered as one of the best Rasayana, is very good nervine tonic. It fights against toxins and microorganisms bacteria.
15.	Jatiphal	Myristica fragrans	Its aromatic qualities gives depth to the taste of this formula while acting as a tonic for mental disorders, preventing convulsions, while being also a good vata Shatavari – good for male and female reproductory systems.
16.	Shatwari	Asparagus racemosus	Shatavari – good for male and female reproductory systems and for gastric pacifier.
17.	Nagakesar	Mesua ferrea	Brain tonic and helping in brain debility. It also prevents as well as heals from schizophrenia.
18.	Bimbi	Coccinea indica	Fights against fever.
19	Jivanti	Leptadaenia raticulata	A rejuvenator, cooling, eye tonic.
20	Licorice	Glycyrrhiza glabra	Today, licorice is used as a folk or traditional remedy for stomach ulcers, bronchitis, and sore throat, as well as infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis.
21	Punarnawa	Boerhaavia diffusa	Cardiotonic, diuretic, helps in anaemic.
22	Shali rice	Oriza sativa	Complete & essential food as it is rich in vitamins, micro nutrients, amino acids & essential elements.
23.	Kans	Saccharum spontaneum	Useful in treatment of dyspepsia, burning sensation, piles, sexual weakness, gynecological troubles, respiratory troubles etc
24.	Plava (Night Jasmine)	Nyctanthes arbor-tristis	In the treatment od piles, dry cough, intestinal worms in children.
25.	Patala Trumpet (root)	Stereospermum suaveolens	Powerful Analgesic and Anti inflammatory herb, good cardiac tonic and used in heart diseases.
26.	Bilwa	Aegle marmelos	A treatment for diarrhoea.
27.	Shyonaka	Oroxylum indicum	Treatment of cancer
28.	Shara	Serratophyllum submersom	Enlivening, anti aging group of herb
29.	Gambhari – Coomb Teak (root)	Gmelina arboera	It is used in the treatment of all types of Vata disorders involving emaciation, lack of strength, pain, stiffness etc.
30.	Rishabhaka	Manilkara hexandra	Used in Ayurvedic post natal care of mother and in gynaecological diseases. It is also effective against Vata diseases, low back ache It is a good uterine tonic.
31.	Agnimantha	Premna corymbosa	Useful in neuralgia, arthritis, muscular dystrophy – useful in premature ejaculation
32.	Prishniparni	Uraria picta	Used in depression and psychiatric condition
33.	Brihati	Solanum indicum	Analgesic, Respiratory problems · Anti-pyretic · Urinary tract infection
34.	Kantakari	Solanum xanthcarpum	Kantkari is useful in treating worms, cold, hoarseness of voice, fever, dysuria, enlargement of the liver, muscular pain, spleen and stone in the urinary bladder.
35.	Sugarcane	Saccharum officinarum	Principally used to reduce elevated blood cholesterol levels, aiding in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. It has been shown in many therapeutic trials to be an effective and safe cholesterol-lowering supplement, capable of reducing cholesterol equally as well as most statin drugs used for this purpose.
36.	Jivaka	Malaxis acuminata	It is helpful in the smooth functioning of circulatory, nervous system.
37.	Meda	Litsea monopetala

 

Health Benefits

Sages (Rishi) have taken this unique recipe and attained immense longevity, their body were free from ageing effects and became young and energetic, and they were free from diseases and fear, and were endowed with intellect, memory and strength.

• • Since this brahma Rasayana is prescribed by lord Brahma, it has spiritual value. Person who desires youthful and longevity should consume it. So when one regularly take it, he/she becomes free from diseases and gains longevity and vigour. It increases memory power, mental awareness, calmness, focus, concentration and helps to improve intellect. By providing calmness and serenity, it works wonders in many cognitive and psychological problems, such as memory loss, anxiety and depression.
• • It restores youthfulness and improves complexion, memory power, will power, body strength, luster, sweetness of voice; increase physical strength and immunity, cures drowsiness, laziness and weakness.
• • It is a powerful Ayurvedic Rasayana, rejuvenating tonic for the brain, mental functions and the nervous system. It also improves mental concentrataion, alertness.
• • It maintains correct balance of tridoshas. It pacifies the vata, pitta and kapha, thereby maintains balance of tridosha.
• • It is supposed to nourish various organs of the body, blood, lymph, flesh, adipose tissue and semen, and thus prevent freedom from chronic degenerative disorders like arthritis and disease of senility.
• • Brahma Rasayana improves metabolic processes which results in best possible biotransformation and produce the best quality bodily tissue and delay senility and prevent occurrance of other diseases of old age.
• • Rasayana builds natural resistance against infection.
• • It invigorates the body in general by sustaining the required balance between anabolism and catabolism.
• • The ingredients incororporated in Brahma Rasayana are powerful antioxidants which protect the body from aging.
• • It is said that the herbal preparation provides great strength providing a life span of one thousand years. In ancient times, sages use to enjoy such a long life in healthy disease free state. It is also claimed to be effective in promoting intellect and sense organs. Perhaps this may not be possible in pesent era, but certainly with consumption of brahma Rasayana, one can attain a long disease free life.
• • It rejuvenates the body and fights against tiredness, fatigue, early grey hairs, wrinkling (skin rejuvenation and hair rejuvenation). It is the best anti aging formula. It also improves intelligence, memory and immune power.
• • Brahma Rasayana renders it a potential therapy for the prevention of cancer. It is antitumor, minimum side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, possible treatment of cancer. Rasayana therapy fight against denerative changes occurring in the body and for mainteaining health through out life span of the individual.
• • It also improves intelligence, memory and immune power. It is a good natural rejuvenating anti-aging formula. The person who take brahma Rasayana regularly, his body becomes compact like steel.
• • This is a fantastic and truly unique but very well balanced formula having combination of herbs for the mind, body, brain and nervous system. This ancient formula of Brahma Raasayana has earned its praise and reverence as one of the most astonishing examples of the deep knowledge of the ancient Rishis of India for the benefit of human kind.
• • It provides excellent year round protection, gently detoxifies and promotes healthy cellular regeneration throughout the body.