A Conceptual Review on Importance of Achara Rasayana in Ayurveda w.s.r. Mental Health

Abstract

Background: In recent times mental health has become a burning topic in society. In past, people were mostly affected with sharirika vikara compared to manasika vikara, but with new times come new challenges, mental health being one of them. Aim: To understand the importance of Aachara Rasayana in managing mental health Objective: To analyse ashtanga yoga with accordance to Aachara Rasayana. Material & methods: Charaka Samhita would be considered for understanding the Aachara Rasayana. Text related to mental health data is collected from WHO, pubmed, etc. database. Other relevant text and terms will be collected from ayurvedic text &yoga text. Discussion: when it comes to managing mental health, ayurveda paves the best preventive management in the form of Aachara Rasayana. Aachara Rasayan is mentioned by Acharya Charaka & mentioned in the rasayana pada, which consist of all the do’s & don’ts for an individual. These dos & don’ts can be categorized under the terms of ashtanga yoga. Conclusion: When we study Samhita’s, we are always blinded by the vyadhis which are mostly sharirika in comparison to mansika vikara. A very limited information is obtained for maintaining manasika vikara (mental health), but that too is hidden behind the words. Key to mental health like other vyadhi’s is hidden somewhere in Aachara Rasayan. Even though yoga is something which we approach for promoting well-being, awareness regarding aachara rasayan should be incorporated in people lives.