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In early ayurvedic medicine, rasāyana (Pali and Sanskrit: रसायन, "path of essence") is one of the eight areas of medicine in Sanskrit literature.
The 11th-century Persian scholar Abū Rayhān Bīrūnī noted an Indian science named Rasāyana, focused on restoring health and rejuvenation through plant-derived medicines. Nagarjunacharya conducted experiments in his laboratory called "Rasashala" and authored Rasaratanakaram, detailing alchemical transformations of metals. Al-Bīrūnī conflated the earlier rasāyana practices with rasaśāstra alchemy.
Rasaśāstra utilized alchemical processes involving substances like mercury and cinnabar. This practice extended beyond metals, incorporating the preparation of medical tinctures from plants. Rasaśāstra's goals included longevity, health, cognitive enhancement, virility, and extraordinary abilities. Its historical influence was evident in the Ajanta Caves and Ellora cave paintings, the Vishnustambha monument, and the Kondivade caves' processed wood sample.
In contemporary times, rasāyana remains relevant through modern formulations combining herbal wisdom and scientific knowledge, intended to improve well-being and vitality.
Early Indian alchemical texts discuss the use of prepared forms of mercury or cinnabar (see samskaras). However, there is also ample mention of the preparation of medical in the early science of Indian alchemy.
Significant progress in alchemy was made in medieval India. An 11th-century Persian chemist and physician named Abū Rayhān Bīrūnī reported
Two known examples were Nagarjunacharya and Nityanadhiya. Nagarjunacharya, was one of the prominent chemists in the history of Indian alchemy. He ran many experiments in his laboratory known as the "Rasashala". His book, Rasaratanakaram is a known example of ancient Indian medicine, in which he describes the procedure of transmuting base metals like mercury, into gold. Due to his contributions and insight in chemistry, he was appointed as chancellor in the university of Nalanda. From the 14th century onwards, many materials from rasāyana and rasaśāstra were translated and integrated in the Persian texts written by Muslim scholars in South Asia.
In essence, rasāyana sought to promote aspects of vitality. In pursuit of these matters, herbal prescriptions with many herbal substances, preserved in ghee and honey are given. Specific herbs are also included in rasayanas including haritaki, amla, shilajit, ashwaganda, holy basil, guduchi and shatavari.
These classical rasayana formulas, contain a large number of ingredients, including minerals, pearl, coral and gems, and include a specially processed mercury (the word R as indicates mercury as an ingredient). Because of negative publicity and cost factor, the use of the classical rasayana formulas has declined considerably, and most of the preparations available now have herbal ingredients with a couple of mineral and animal products. The non-availability and wild life protection act has made the use of musk, amber, and parts of wild-life animals nearly impossible.
The current Rasayana formulas are based on such ingredients as amla ( Emblica officinalis) which, if fresh, has high content of vitamin C, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia chebula, shilajit, long pepper, black pepper, ginger, processed guggul, guduchi, ashwaganda, shatavari and similar ingredients.
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