The average life expectancy in our society is increasing steadily, but this gives rise to a whole new set of problems. While we can expect to live longer than our predecessors, the average number of illness-free years is falling. With old age comes a long list of chronic sicknesses and disabilities which we are expected to regard as inevitable. Arthritis, rheumatism, heart and circulatory problems, mental illnesses, weak bones and eye diseases are all high on the list.

A large part of mainstream research is dedicated to hormone replacement. Hormones are chemical messengers that set processes in motion to keep all our systems working properly – for example in regulating our metabolism, our immune system, our reproductive processes and our growth. The levels of some of these hormones, for example the male and female hormones and the growth hormone, decline over time. This causes systems to run down and some of the characteristics of old age, such as wrinkled skin, become apparent. What we do not see is the inner equivalent – the drying out of the gut lining and consequently of all the body tissues, as they are dependent upon effective gut function to transport their vital nutrients.

Artificially introducing hormones into the system can in such circumstances be asking for trouble. The body maintains a delicate balance between the amount of hormone it needs to perform a particular function and the amount it produces. This even fluctuates constantly throughout the day. Too much of a hormone in the system can actually cause the opposite of the desired effect, or may even cause the body’s own regulatory system to stop working. Even worse, excess hormones are accumulated in sensitive tissue and can lead to diseases such as cancer.

Ayurveda does not refer to hormones but rather to ‘Amrita’ – the vital fluid or ‘nectar’ that bathes all the body’s tissues. When the gut dries out there is little point in trying to stimulate the production of more Amrita as it will not be assimilated. A chicken-and-egg situation arises as the absence of hormones leads to a deficiency in production of enzymes so that foods cannot be fully processed, or conversely the weak digestion caused by enzyme deficiency means that the body cannot produce sufficient hormones. Ayurveda’s first priority is to repair the gut, and the necessary vital nutrients are provided for this purpose Just as a power station needs coal and water the body needs a supply of the requisite raw materials, then it can start to take control of its own physiological balance.

In Part 2 later this week  –  Ayurvedic Rejuvenation In Action