Rasayana Treatment for Memory Loss

by Sheela Rani Chunkath

I am coming across many people who say that their old parents suddenly see to be having memory issues. "Where is my breakfast?" says one parent who had just finished eating his idly and sambar.

Another friend of mine complained that she has to keep the door locked at all times lest her father wander out. He is convinced that his father cannot get back home.

You will be surprised if I tell you that all these conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, forgetfulness, memory loss etc. can be counteracted by regularly taking swarna bhasma i.e. gold bhasma if you can afford it. Naturally you have to purchase it from a source which is reliable. I have gold ornaments I hardly ever wear and I think that I will slowly convert them to gold bhasma so as to remain with my indriyas and senses fully intact.

It is very amusing that in Tamil Nadu, if you mention gold bhasma almost everyone will ask whether it is not a fact that Dr. M.G. Ramachandran, the popular Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu affectionately known as MGR, consumed gold bhasma and that he had to have kidney transplant because of that. MRG had been shot by M.R. Radha and the bullet had entered near MGR’s left ear and had lodged itself behind the first vertebra . That bullet was never removed but he was treated with modern allopathic medicines. Nobody ever wonders of think to ask whether that treatment or some other health issue could have caused the kidney failure. Ayurvedic bhasmas are somehow treated as being the villain. I have come across many iatrogenic cases where modern allopathic medications have caused major damage to patients leading to even cancer and eventual death, even when the medicines have been prescribed by qualified practitioners, as these are the side effect of these drugs. One of these drugs is cyclophosphamide. In fact it is said that a reasonable person might conclude that the treatment appears worse than the disease. It is used in the treatment of vasculitis and a well known side effect is predisposition to certain types of cancer. I see patients using cyclophosphamide with, pardon the expression, gay abandon and quite willing to take the risk. And yet if you suggest an ayurvedic bhasma they will immediately ask you "Are you sure it will not affect my kidney or liver". I wonder how this reaction become so universal. Did we get brainwashed by Western media, pharma companies or by our own contempt for traditional practices. Or is it that we think we somehow become less of a person with scientific temper and have joined the multitude of people who believe in black magic. Whatever the reason I find that it is affecting our attempt to make the lives of Indians healthier and longer.

For those who feel they need a rasayana drug that will help prevent memory loss you could do well by having punarnavadi manduram, arogyavardhini vati, saraswat arishtam or Brahmi vati suvarnayukta. Do always consult your vaidya when consuming these drugs.

Brahmi vati suvarnayukta contains gold bhasma, Brahmi (Bacopa monieri ) known for its memory enhancing properties, vacha (Acorus calamus ), shankhpushpi (Convolvuluspluricaulis ) gudichi (Tinospora cordifolia ) and jata manshi (Nardostachys jatamanshi ). All the ingredients in the medicine have a rasayana effect in that they have the effect of helping increase longevity, memory, intelligence, health, youthfulness, and in general to make all the indriyas and dhatus function better. Now why would I be so fearful to consume this product even when made by reputed manufacturers but be quite willing to consume something which promises to poison me. This mindset of Indians need to be addressed quite urgently before we deny the benefits of Ayurveda to our aging parents and let them lead miserable lives when better options are available.

--- The writer is retired Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/