Medicina alternativa e integrativa

To Age or Not to Age-Modern versus Traditional Concepts

Abstract

Marilena Gilca

The modern oxidative hypothesis of ageing states that oxidative stress is a significant marker of senescence. This age related-oxidative stress is generated by a combination of increased free radicals production, decreased antioxidants levels and impaired repair of oxidative damages. Modern scientific anti-aging strategies delay the loss of physiological functions by modulating the activity of antioxidants and oxidants in the body. Various redox-dependent gerontomodulatory approaches include: (I) nutritional and pharmacological intervention by free radical scavengers (antioxidant therapy); (II) hormesis based interventions (caloric restriction, fasting, pro-oxidants). On the other hand, traditional Rasayana chikitsa (ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy) also provides certain dietary and therapeutic measures which are able to arrest process of ageing and can even rejuvenate whole functional dynamics of the body system. According to Ayurveda, reversal of ageing process is possible if Rasayana therapy is applied before a critical age (which depends upon the organ involved in sequential ageing process). Correlations between redox-dependent gerontomodulatory approaches and ayurvedic antiageing strategies (Rasayana chikitsa, preparatory procedures for Rasayana chikitsa) are presented and discussed in this paper. A literature search was conducted to collect data from studies on Rasayana drugs and fasting available up to November 2012 using PubMed and High wire. Based on this review, it appears that Rasayana drugs have cytoprotective and antioxidant effects, while fasting therapy has a direct effect on the modulation of free radicals synthesis. Thus, this integrative approach including modern and traditional concepts can be a lead towards future rejuvenative therapy research in the management of ageing.