March 23rd, 2007 | admin

Jara chikitsa is one among the eight branches of Ashtanga Ayurveda. Jara chikitsa or Ayurvedic geriatrics deals with diseases and conditions associated with old age. Jara Chikitsa is also called Rasayana Chikitsa or rejuvenation therapy, because it aims at revitalizing the body tissues for a youthful being.

Jara (pronounced jera) means wrinkles on skin. Rasayana chikitsa, however is not only for people of old age, but also used as a preventive method against diseases and unhealthy body changes. Rasayana chikitsa is aimed at longevity of life, good mental condition including sound memory and physical strength.

Rasayana chikitsa is re-vitalizing tissues that were worn out or are in the process of wearing out due to factors like diseases and aging. Rasayana chikitsa enhances immune system, arrests aging, gives luster to the skin, gives youthful enery, nourish blood and body tissues (sapta dhatus), and brings in several benefits.

Real rejuvenation therapy is too hard for modern man. It requires moving into an isolation for a long time, as if in a secluded hermitage, without any connection with outside world. Such a therapy is called kaya kalpa. The person is taken to a hermitage like environment. The person will not be able to connect with the outside world by telephone, TV, or newspapers. The environment is relaxing and gives the best stress-free for the person. The person will however be under the observation of an Ayurvedic practitioner. There are special rasayanas and specially prepared food items. The person is also directed to follow a sage like lifestyle. At the end of the therapy, all the seven dhatus of saptha dhatus will be replaced with new tissues. This is the rejuvenation. Today kaya kalpa therapy is given on a commercial basis for as little as 28 days.

Rejuvenation therapy as it is called today includes body purification therapies like panchakarma followed by taking in appropriate rasayanas. It includes rasayana chikitsa on a very short-term basis. Such short-term therapies become necessary when the person has very little time or is not willing to go through the long and often hectic procedure.