Rejuvenation & Enhanced Virility (Rasayana & Vajikarana)
Charaka’s emphasise on Rasayana (rejuvenation) and Vajikarana (virile therapy) with incorporation of many hymns of Atharva Veda is after close watching of human conduct which is in an all-time changing format. He was of the opinion that freedom from passions, self-control, truthfulness, confidence and good virtues is the best rejuvenant than any formulation. Unless mind and body are clean and firm no rejuvenation therapy will yield result, he affirmed.
He adopted two methods for rejuvenation. Both the methods have several herbal formulations with iron content. One method is known as Kutipravesika in which the beneficiary has to remain in a chamber in isolation. This method is not largely followed. The second method is known as vatatapika in which the therapy is carried out in open air. In the herbal formulations the life lengthening herbals haritaki and malaki play major roles.
Charaka’s virile therapy was capable of enhancing potency rate and also the sexual capability of man to as high as a horse’s. For sexual pleasure and offspring he suggested the use of aphrodisiacs by men. He has suggested many formulations, many of them without animal products.
