AGEING- WHAT CHANGES HAPPEN WHEN WE AGE?
Changes are happening in human body each day. It is believed that free radicals cause damage to the cells resulting in aging. ROS or reactive oxygen species like hydrogen peroxide and superoxide are also blamed for inducing oxidative stress on cells.Free radical damage causes illnesses like cancer,arthritis,diabetes and alzheimer's disease.
The mitochondrial theory of ageing states that the reactive oxygen species in mitochondria causes damage to lipids,proteins and even DNA.
WHAT IS FREE RADICAL?
Any atom or molecule which has an unpaired electron in the outer shell is free radical.This atom or molecule will be highly reactive and therefore can cause oxidative damage .These atoms or molecules causes a chain reaction in the body which causes damage to all tissues.
HOW DO ANTIOXIDANTS HELP?
Antioxidants can donate electrons which can neutralize free radicals without forming a new one.In other words antioxidants inhibit the oxidation of other molecules.They stop the chain reaction before damage is done.Vitamin E,Vitamin C and Beta carotene are very good anti oxidants.
ROLE OF AYURVEDA
KASHAYA OR DECOCTIONS
Phenolic compounds in plants are water soluble antioxidants.The various kwatha or kashaya preparations
(herbal decoctions) which contain phenolic compounds can be used to heal the damages due to free radicals in connective tissue,muscles and joints.The kashayas or kwathas which can fight the inflammatory and degenerative changes in cells due to free radicals are Rasnerandadi kashayam,Maharasnadi kashayam, Manjishtadi kashayam, Sahacharadi kashayam and Dhanwantharam kashayam.
When there is damage to collagen and IgG it leads to inflammation of joints and damage of cartilage.The radical scavenging activity of the above kashayas help to reverse the damage.
CHURNA OR HERBAL POWDER
Ayurvedic churnas like Triphala churna and Aswagandhadi churna contains antioxidant herbs. Ingredients of Triphala churna are amla,haritaki and vibhitaki. This is a formula which can be easily used daily.
MEDICATED GHEES
Medicated ghees are powerful formulas which can prevent aging and enhance scavenging of free radicals.Brahmee ghrutham and Kalyanaka ghrutham may be used even in Alzheimer's disease.
RASAYANA OR LEHYA
Rasayanas in Ayurveda are like herbal jams with all the antioxidant herbs blended together.These ancient formulas are being used in India since thousands of years to prevent ageing.
A few important formulas are Chyavanprash,Dasamoolahareetaki,Aswagandha rasayanam and Vidaryadi lehyam.
ARISHTA OR HERBAL WINES
Arishtas in Ayurveda are like herbal wines with specific formulas.Arishtas which have antioxidant properties are Dhatryarishta,Aswagandharishta and Dasamoolarishta.
YOGA AND ABHYANGA
Yoga exercises helps to prevent ageing by providing more oxygen to tissues while exercising.
Abhyanga or regular oil massages using Ayurvedic oils like Eladi keram,Balaswagandhadi tailam and Dhanwantharam tailam help to prevent ageing of skin and muscles.
Changes are happening in human body each day. It is believed that free radicals cause damage to the cells resulting in aging. ROS or reactive oxygen species like hydrogen peroxide and superoxide are also blamed for inducing oxidative stress on cells.Free radical damage causes illnesses like cancer,arthritis,diabetes and alzheimer's disease.
The mitochondrial theory of ageing states that the reactive oxygen species in mitochondria causes damage to lipids,proteins and even DNA.
WHAT IS FREE RADICAL?
Any atom or molecule which has an unpaired electron in the outer shell is free radical.This atom or molecule will be highly reactive and therefore can cause oxidative damage .These atoms or molecules causes a chain reaction in the body which causes damage to all tissues.
HOW DO ANTIOXIDANTS HELP?
Antioxidants can donate electrons which can neutralize free radicals without forming a new one.In other words antioxidants inhibit the oxidation of other molecules.They stop the chain reaction before damage is done.Vitamin E,Vitamin C and Beta carotene are very good anti oxidants.
ROLE OF AYURVEDA
KASHAYA OR DECOCTIONS
Phenolic compounds in plants are water soluble antioxidants.The various kwatha or kashaya preparations
(herbal decoctions) which contain phenolic compounds can be used to heal the damages due to free radicals in connective tissue,muscles and joints.The kashayas or kwathas which can fight the inflammatory and degenerative changes in cells due to free radicals are Rasnerandadi kashayam,Maharasnadi kashayam, Manjishtadi kashayam, Sahacharadi kashayam and Dhanwantharam kashayam.
When there is damage to collagen and IgG it leads to inflammation of joints and damage of cartilage.The radical scavenging activity of the above kashayas help to reverse the damage.
CHURNA OR HERBAL POWDER
Ayurvedic churnas like Triphala churna and Aswagandhadi churna contains antioxidant herbs. Ingredients of Triphala churna are amla,haritaki and vibhitaki. This is a formula which can be easily used daily.
MEDICATED GHEES
Medicated ghees are powerful formulas which can prevent aging and enhance scavenging of free radicals.Brahmee ghrutham and Kalyanaka ghrutham may be used even in Alzheimer's disease.
RASAYANA OR LEHYA
Rasayanas in Ayurveda are like herbal jams with all the antioxidant herbs blended together.These ancient formulas are being used in India since thousands of years to prevent ageing.
A few important formulas are Chyavanprash,Dasamoolahareetaki,Aswagandha rasayanam and Vidaryadi lehyam.
ARISHTA OR HERBAL WINES
Arishtas in Ayurveda are like herbal wines with specific formulas.Arishtas which have antioxidant properties are Dhatryarishta,Aswagandharishta and Dasamoolarishta.
YOGA AND ABHYANGA
Yoga exercises helps to prevent ageing by providing more oxygen to tissues while exercising.
Abhyanga or regular oil massages using Ayurvedic oils like Eladi keram,Balaswagandhadi tailam and Dhanwantharam tailam help to prevent ageing of skin and muscles.
