Ayurveda is the oldest system of Medicine in the world, its antiquity going back to the
Vedas. It adapts a unique holistic approach to the entire science of life, health and cure. The areas of special consideration
in Ayurveda are geriatrics, rejuvenation, nutrition, immunology, genetics and higher consciousness. The Ayurvedic texts describe
a set of rejuvenative measures to impart biological sustenance to the bodily tissues. These remedies are called
Rasayana which are claimed to act as micronutrients. Some of these
Rasayanas are organ and tissue specific. Those specific to brain tissue are called
Medhya Rasayana. Such
Rasayanas retard brain aging and help in regeneration of neural tissues besides producing antistress, adaptogenic and memory enhancing
effect. In addition to the long tradition of textual and experience-based evidence for their efficacy, certain recent studies
conducted on these traditional remedies on scientific parameters have shown promising results which have been reviewed in
this paper for providing lead for further studies. The popular
Medhya
Rasayanas are
Ashwagandha (
Withania somnifera Dunal),
Brahmi (
Bacopa monnieri Linn)
, Mandukaparni (
Centella asiatica Linn) and
Sankhapuspi (
Convolvulus pluricaulis Chois).
Keywords Brain aging - Ayurveda -
Rasayana therapy - Neuronutrition - Medicinal plants