#Ajayan

If an expectant mother begins her mornings, starting from the fifth month, by taking a spoonful of Kalyanaka or Mahakalyanaka ghee for seven consecutive days, she can gift her child with extraordinary cognitive powers. This, the mother’s pure and virtuous (satvika) thoughts, can unlock the latent brilliance of the unborn, according to Dr P Sethumadhavan, a distinguished healer and Ayurveda physician.

In his study ‘Toning the Brain and Tapping the Intellect – Medhya Rasayanas Revisited’ published in the latest issue of international journal Kerala Ayurveda Vaidyam, he unveils a refreshing new lens on medhya rasayana, an ayurveda treatment revered for nurturing brain health, delaying the inevitable march of aging and amplifying cognitive brilliance. Dr Sethumadhavan, chief physician at Padinharkkara Ayurveda Hospital and Research Centre, Ottappalam, has been a pioneer of Kutipraveshika Rasayana Chikitsa, a rare  rejuvenation therapy. His dedication over the years has not only earned him accolades within the country but has also cast a ripple of admiration far beyond its borders.

Rasayana or rejuvenation therapy is the seventh of the eight branches (astanga ayurveda) and is also called jara chikitsa. This branch is intricately woven into the fabric of aging, a phase where the body succumbs to chemical transformations, slowly yielding to the forces of decay. The primary goal of this healing science is to halt the relentless tide of aging, extend the breath of life, sharpen intellect, fortify strength and immunity and usher the body into recovery from illness. As Dr Sethumadhavan says, at its core, it is nothing but the management of oxidation, the very essence of biological transformation.

For a disease-free life, one must harmonize the delicate dance of the body's bioenergies (dosas), ensuring the vibrant flame of the digestive fire (jatharagni) burns bright, alongside the metabolic fire within the tissues (dhatvagni). Equally vital is the tranquility of the intellect and the serenity of the mind, which must settle into a state of deep placidity. This balance, however, can only be nurtured through pure and wholesome satvika food, mindful activities and virtuous thoughts, all working in unison to preserve the body’s equilibrium.

Consumption of invigorating foods and potent medicines serves to elevate tissue metabolism, skillfully neutralizing harmful metabolic byproducts while breathing fresh life into decaying cells - a process that unfolds even within the brain. These substances, which fuel the regeneration of brain cells, are medhya rasayanas or brain tonics.

Pure ghee from cow’s milk curd, quality sesame oil and pristine honey are known to harmonize the body's three doshas. When artfully blended with the right herbs, these ingredients imbue the mixture with a powerful synergistic (yogavahi) and nourishing (snehana) effect, unlocking the potential to sharpen cognitive function and elevate memory. They neutralize harmful free radicals, cleanse the body's channels (srotas) and foster an enduring sense of well-being and happiness, which, in turn, bring forth mental clarity and unwavering stability, says Dr Sethumadhavan’s study.

Drawing from his wealth of personal experience, Dr Sethumadhavan reveals that medhya rasayana therapies have shown remarkable success in alleviating a range of conditions increasingly common among children - such as hyperactivity, lethargy, speech difficulties and autism. These ancient remedies, when skillfully crafted into herbal formulations and administered with the expertise of a seasoned physician, offer profound benefits.

Children who undergo these Rasayana treatments are often destined to blossom into exceptional individuals. Cognitive-enhancing therapies (pratibha rasayana) and intellect-nurturing treatments (medhya rasayana) can unlock hidden brilliance and sharpen the mind.

It should be a norm to awaken children early, guide them to complete their morning routines, followed by a bath after oil application (abhyanga snana). Breakfast, served afterwards, must be both wholesome (hita) and offered in just the right quantities (mita). Dr  Sethumadhavan also highlights the age-old custom of anointing an infant’s tongue with a paste of sweet flag (vayambu), macerated in honey, starting from the 28th day after birth and continuing for two months. This practice is believed to illuminate the intellect, ensuring a lifetime of brilliance and mental clarity.

To affirm the wisdom of these practices, Dr Sethumadhavan states with conviction, “I have been practising and observing the benefits of these rasayana treatments since 1982 and continue to do so.”