Ayurveda, the holistic science of life, since time immemorial focuses
mainly on preserving youthful vigor, and extending longevity by delaying the
ageing process. Noted Ayurveda practitioner Dr Asharani writes; –

The traditional science of Ayurveda encompasses several principles
describing the base of all creations. For instance, it mentions nine dravyas viz., Panchmahabhutas,
Manas, Atma, Kala and Dik.

Among these, Kala is the most important, as it includes
all creation in itself. Right from conception till death, Kala interacts
with human beings and effects various changes in the body. Depending upon the
type of changes that occur, lifespan is divided into Bala (early stage
of life), Madhya (middle stage of life), and Jirna or Vriddhavastha (later stage of
life). Growth, achievement, maintenance and decay are the major changes carried
out in the body during these stages. Growth involves both physical & mental
development.

While geriatric population, children and youth population, all,
 have to deal with various mental sufferings in the fast-paced modern
life, the former (mostly in the age group of  60-65 years) have high
susceptibility to cognitive & memory impairment, loss of perception,
insomnia, fear, anxiety, depression, loss of immunity etc besides other senile
diseases.

 Statistically, the prevalence of overall mental illness in
children & young people is 12.5% with overloading stress, fear, anxiety,
depression and lack of sleep affecting their learning capacity, social and
mental functioning. These sufferings are nothing but imbalances in the mental
functioning of Dhee (power of acquisition), Dhriti (power
of retention) and Smriti (ability to recall). Hence, Ayurveda
explores Rasayana therapy, Medhya Rasayana in
specific, to deal with these disabilities.

In Medhya Rasayana, a group of four cognition enhancing
herbs that can be applied alone or in combination is used. These herbs possess
multifold benefits in memory, cognition, intelligence, creativity and improves
learning skills. It provides the brain with essential nutrients and improves
the power of remembrance, retention and acquisition.

Medhya Rasayana comprises of:

1.      Whole plant Juice of Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica Linn.)
with honey

2.      Yastimadhu root (Glycirrhiza
glabra Linn.) powder with milk

3.      Juice of Guduchi stem (Tinospora
cordifolia) with honey

4.      Paste of
Shankapuhpi plant (Convolvulus pleuricaulis Chois) with milk

Mandukaparni plays a significant role in improving cognition and memory. Yastimadhu has
anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects that increases blood circulation
into the Central Nervous System, improves learning and memory; Guduchi 
possess learning and memory enhancing properties, antioxidant and anti-stress
action, enhances the cognition in normal and helps in cognition deficits, also
helps in improving behavior disorders deficit and IQ levels; Shankhapushpi is
found to be effective in treating anxiety, neurosis and used in cerebral
abnormalities, insomnia, serve as wonderful nervine tonic and  enhances
memory function, thanks to its antioxidant property.

Other Medhya Rasayanas are:

•      Vacha (Acorus calamus), Brahmi (Bacopa monniera), Jyotismati (Celastrus panniculata), Kushmanda (Benincasa hispida), Jatamamsi (Nardostachys jatamamsi), Ksheera (milk)
and Ghrita (ghee).

Various formulations like Kushmanda rasayanam, Brahmi
ghrita, Brahmi vati, Brahmi taila, Saraswatha
ghrita, Kalyanaka ghrita, Smriti sagara rasa, Medhya
vati, Jatamamsi taila, Shankpushpi preparations, Saraswatharista, Himasagara
taila also helps the geriatric as well as child population to overcome
mental sufferings. Indication, dose and duration of these Rasayanas vary
as per age and disease.

Uses:

1.      Insomnia:

·         3gms of Mandukaparni powder
to be taken with a cup of warm milk an hour before sleep.

·         2 drops of Jatamamsi oil
should be instilled to each nostril daily

·         Foot massage
with Yastimadhu taila at bedtime

·         Drinking 2-3 gms
of Shankpushpi powder, 1gm of cumin powder mixed in 100ml of
warm milk.

2.      Intellect promoting:

·         1-2 grams of Mandukaparni powder
is mixed with ½ tsp of clarified butter in children.

·         For adults, 4-5
fresh leaves of Mandukaparni are crushed with 10ml of cow milk
and a paste is to be prepared and taken in an empty stomach.

·         2-3 gms each
of Vacha powder, Shankapushpi powder to be
mixed with 5-10ml of Brahmi juice.

3.      For improving attention in mental
lethargic conditions:

·         1 gm Mandukaparni
powder, 250mg Vacha powder, 125mg black pepper powder, 5 gms
of Sugar candy powder to be boiled in 250ml of milk and reduced to half the
quantity and can be taken twice daily.

·         Head massage
with Brahmi oil

·         10-15ml of
decoction of Shankapushpi to be taken daily

4.      In mental outbreaks, anger,
restlessness with insomnia:

·         5ml of Mandukarni leaf
juice and 5ml of Sankhapushpi fresh juice to be taken with
250ml of warm milk.

·         Head massage
with Brahmi oil

·         Massaging the
forehead and scalp with Shankapushpi oil

5.      Memory enhancement:

·         1-2 gms of Yastimadhu powder
with 1/2tsp of ghee in children.

·         Dried stem of Vacha should
be rubbed on a pumice stone along with 5ml of its essence to be taken along
with 10ml of milk daily.

·         Swarna vacha (a thin gold
wire is inserted in to a piece of Vacha stem): This stick is
rubbed on a sterile flat surface/ wooden surface along with 10 drops of cow
milk or breast milk for 30 seconds and the child should be made to lick this
paste on empty stomach.

·         Consuming daily ½
-1 tsp of Brahmi ghritha in an empty stomach.

·         1-2gms of Jatamamsi powder
with 1tsp of honey.

6.      Immune enhancement :

·         Eating 1-2 leaves
of Guduchi daily

·         Kushmandha juice / Kushmandha
rasayana

At the outset, the modern society with high speed urbanization and
industrialization is immensely changing the psychological and social structure
of the individual and the impact on older people and children groups is far
greater, producing long term stress, anxiety, lack of focus, depression,
sleeplessness, memory loss etc. In total, these Medhya Rasayana herbs
serve as CNS Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, enhance cognition, act as stress
buster, mood enhancer and stable the mind. These herbs also have a role to play
in Neurodegenerative conditions, psychosomatic disorders, attention deficit
conditions and behavioral disorders etc.