Immortality potion recipe. Is there an elixir of immortality and an elixir of youth? Is there everlasting life? What elixirs were made of
It was in the 18th century. Once, the servant of the legendary Count Saint-Germain was asked whether his master had met Julius Caesar personally and had the secret of immortality. To which the servant replied with an imperturbable air that he did not know, but over the past 300 years of his service with Saint-Germain, the count had not changed in appearance ...
Nowadays, the issue of immortality has not lost its relevance, and active work on finding a way to gain physical immortality is being carried out in all industrial developed countries the world.
If we omit the mythological story of the biblical Adam, who, according to legend, lived for 900 years, the Eternal Jew Agasfer and Koshchei the Immortal, then the first popularizer of the elixir of immortality will be the same Saint Germain, a personality, I must say, is very mysterious. In the 18th century, popular rumor seriously claimed that the earl was 500 years old, and in his castle there is a unique mirror in which you can see the future.
It was rumored that the count personally showed in the mirror to Louis XV the decapitated body of his grandson. In turn, the famous adventurer Count Cagliostro, who considered himself a student of Saint Germain, mentioned a vessel during interrogation in the Inquisition. In it Saint Germain, according to Cagliostro, kept the elixir of immortality, made according to the recipes of the ancient Egyptian priests.
The most interesting thing is that people who personally met Saint-Germain in various parts of Europe described him as a man of about 45 years old with a dark complexion. At the same time, over the course of decades, the graph did not change at all externally. He was rich, well-mannered, and possessed a truly aristocratic manner. The count spoke equally well in French, English, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Turkish and Arabic.
Often in conversation with monarchs Saint-Germain mentioned the rulers of bygone days and in conversation often claimed that he had personal conversations with many ancient rulers and philosophers, including Jesus Christ. Saint-Germain died either in 1784 in Holstein, or in 1795 in Kassel.
But his grave was never found. And many aristocrats who knew the count during his lifetime met him more than once after his official death! There is evidence of the appearance of Saint-Germain in 20th-century Europe. Did the count really possess the elixir of eternal youth, is it possible?
YOUTH FOR TYRANE
As you know, the most notorious sinners and satraps cling to life more than others. Historical sources claim that the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, the legendary Shi Huang, who lived in the 3rd century BC. e., was literally obsessed with the idea of his own immortality. His entourage from morning to night studied ancient treatises in the hope of discovering a recipe for eternal youth.
But in vain. As a result, the upset emperor issued a decree in which he forbade himself to die. But he died all the same. Subsequently, many emperors of China tried to find the elixir of eternal life, but, apart from unique methods of rejuvenation, nothing was invented.
Medieval rulers became famous for their search for a recipe for immortality. All the methods invented by them bordered on the rare inhuman sadism. They say that Marshal of France Count Gilles de Rais, the prototype of Bluebeard, was more famous in this field. After being arrested during interrogations by the Inquisition, he confessed that he had killed several hundred young people in order to make an elixir of immortality from their genitals.
In the second half of the 16th century, the Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory took baths from the blood of virgins to gain eternal youth and beauty. A total of 650 girls found their end in the countess's castle.
BLOOD FOR THE DRIVER
Like the medieval aristocrats, the first Soviet leaders also wanted to live forever. In the 1920s, the famous revolutionary Alexander Bogdanov headed the world's first Blood Institute, in which they tried to transfuse the blood of young people to the elderly leaders of Soviet Russia.
However, the matter did not work out. Lenin, unlike his sister, who underwent a rejuvenating procedure, refused a blood transfusion, calling it scientific vampirism. Perhaps the research would be successful, but Bogdanov unexpectedly died during one of the experiments on himself. After his death, the disappointed Stalin ordered to interrupt the experiments.
Half a century later, the problem of gaining longevity through blood transfusions of young compatriots was successfully practiced by the leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung. Having begun the procedures at the age of 65, the dictator lived to a very old age at 82, although he planned to last until at least 120 years.
YOUTH GENERATOR EXISTS
In the modern world, there are dozens of promising methods for extending human life. But humanity is not waiting for a unique diet, an expensive operation or freezing of its own body, but the invention of a device that, in a few sessions, would help a person completely get rid of diseases and live an extra 40-50 years.
Oddly enough, but such an apparatus exists and works on principles that are logically close to the cruel experiments of medieval rulers. However, now we are not talking about the transfusion of young blood to the old man, but about the transplantation of a young biofield.
One of the presentations of the technique took place in 1997 in St. Petersburg at the First International Congress "Weak and Superweak Fields and Radiations in Biology and Medicine". Yuri Vladimirovich Jiang Kanzhen, a scientist of Chinese origin from Khabarovsk, made a report on his unique technique. According to the scientist's theory, which has been repeatedly confirmed by practical experiments, all living organisms exchange with each other some genetic information invisible to the eye.
The process takes place with the help of electromagnetic waves in the ultra-high frequency range. The device, invented by Dr. Jiang Kanzhen, can transfer the biofield of young organisms to old ones, rehabilitating their DNA and stimulating rejuvenation. As a real scientist, Jiang Kanzheng experimented both on himself and on his father - the result was both the youthfulness of the scientist himself and the processes of regeneration of the body in his 80-year-old father.
It is interesting to note that, unlike many similar inventions, the official science accepted and even granted patents for several inventions. So it is likely that in the foreseeable future in every clinic there will be a device capable of transferring the biofield of a young person to his elderly relatives, rejuvenating them. In this case, the duration of human life will almost double.
SCIENCE DOESN'T STAND IN PLACE
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician of VAKB Dmitry Valerievich GLUKHOV agreed to comment on the possibility of creating a technique that significantly prolongs human life:
The elixir of eternal youth really has a right to exist. But not in the medieval sense. All over the world, research is being actively carried out in the field of methods of rejuvenation, in this area there are significant successes. In Russia alone, more than 10 rejuvenation systems and more than 30 rejuvenation techniques have been put on commercial rails, not counting a variety of dietary supplements and pharmacological preparations. Basically, work is carried out in the field of cosmetology and correction of the human immune system. Every year, new techniques appear based on advanced, promising technologies. So, nanotechnology gave impetus to a new direction of rejuvenation - supramolecular chemistry. Development is proceeding rapidly, and, perhaps, in the near future, one of the researchers will show the coveted bottle with a cloudy liquid. Today, the technologies of electromagnetic transformation, or modification of the human genome, have advanced farthest in this direction. Again, many scientists in Russia are working in this direction. In my opinion, Jiang Kanzhen's works look quite promising. It is impossible not to mention Professor Zakharov with his cell therapy and revitalization, Goryaev, Komrakov and other researchers. In case of their success and the massive introduction of methods, the average human life expectancy can increase from the current 65-70 years to 140-160 years. True, in this case, a person will have to, among other things, lead a relatively healthy lifestyle.
At all times, people dreamed of becoming immortal. How many hunters for life without death have searched for the formula of the coveted elixir on the worn pages of the most ancient tomes. The endless pursuit of eternal life became a curse and obsession for many seekers, pushing them to monstrous crimes.
It is believed that the elixir of immortality is a fabulously magical substance that can rejuvenate the human body and make a person's life endless.
The elixir of immortality is often referred to in myths, traditions and legends of many peoples as the "food" of the gods. For example, the gods of Ancient India ate amrita, Ancient Greece- ambrosia, Ancient egypt- water of immortality, Iranian deities - haomu.
The desire to acquire immortal life was the most desirable and seductive goal. But no one can say with certainty that someone managed to gain an immortal life - this is still a mystery.
Each person is sure that their life span is very short. How many means to find endless life were there! And every time they gave hope to prolong life! It is not excluded that some people still succeeded….
The ancient Indian epic "Mahabharata" speaks of the sap of a certain plant, which prolongs human life up to 10 thousand years. But where to find this wonderful plant is not said. But the ancient Greek sources tell of the fruit of the "tree of life", which is capable of returning youth to a person. In Russian epics, you can often find a mention of "living water", the source of which is located on the island of Buyan.
At the time of the discoveries of Christopher Columbus, many believed that lands were found, on which the sources of eternal life are located. For example, an associate of Columbus wrote to Pope Leo X: “To the north of Hispaniola, between the other islands, there is one island at a distance of three hundred and twenty miles from it, as those who have found it say, an inexhaustible spring of flowing water of such a wonderful property beats on the island that an old man who begins to drink it, while observing a certain diet, after a while will turn into a young man. I implore your Holiness, do not think that I would say this out of frivolity or at random: this rumor was really established at court as an undoubted truth, and not only the common people, but many of those who stand above the crowd in their intelligence or wealth, too believe him. "
Many seekers have spent the time of their lives looking for an island with a mysterious source. As a result, many unknown lands were discovered, but no one found the source of immortality.
But there are many known recipes for the elixir of immortality. For example, a Tibetan recipe: put in a glass jar stones - rock crystal, smoky and rose quartz, amethyst, carnelian, cacholong and pour water, then put it in the sun for 10 hours. As a result of exposure to sunlight on this solution, a rejuvenating drink is obtained, which significantly increases vitality. This drink is taken orally, washed with it, make compresses for cuts, bruises and burns.
Or here's another fairly simple recipe for making a rejuvenating infusion - it is known to many as a remedy found Tibetan monks... An infusion is prepared from the herbs of chamomile, immortelle and birch buds in equal quantities and I take half a glass with honey. The course lasts 45 days, but it can only be repeated after five years.
The recipe for the elixir of youth, which is described in ancient Indian legends, is also quite simple. Chopped two heads of garlic must be boiled in 1 liter of milk, and then infused for at least 1 hour. You need to drink this infusion 1 tablespoon three times a day. This life-giving liquid helps cleanse blood vessels and enhances immunity.
Many researchers claim that at one time Cleopatra allegedly drank a drink that gives immortality. However, since after some time she committed suicide, it is impossible to judge the success of the experiment.
Also interesting is the case of the Chinese emperor Xuanzong (VIII century). The court witch doctor-alchemist prepared a drink of immortality for his ruler. The drug was being prepared for a year. But a month later, after taking the "drink of immortality," the emperor died.
It is said that a 75-year-old woman named Sei Senagon lived in the small provincial Japanese town of Fukuoka. Perhaps her fate would have developed, like that of millions of women her age, if not for the mistake of the medical staff. She received an overdose of a hormonal drug. The result stunned everyone - like a child, her teeth grew again, gray hair and wrinkles disappeared. The rejuvenated Japanese woman not only got married, but also gave birth to a child. After that, many elderly people rushed to take hormonal drugs, but none of them achieved the desired result.
Today, there are many theories that explain aging, but none of them is a universal means and basis for combating this phenomenon.
According to the Bible, initially, human life was eternal. However, the fall of Eve and Adam led to the punishment, which consisted in the deprivation of the gift of immortality. However, there are no rules without exception - it is known that the Lord gave one of Noah's ancestors Methuselah the opportunity to live up to 969 years. Since then, the phrase "mafusailov age" has become a popular expression.
The legendary Hippocrates believed that a decrepit man can turn on the process of rejuvenation through sexual contacts with young girls. This is the method used by the famous king David, thereby delaying the time of his decrepitude.
It should be noted that today the life and immortality of Count Cagliostro is discussed quite a lot - some consider him a charlatan and a crook, others - a man who knew the secret of the philosopher's stone.
It should be noted that interest in the Philosopher's Stone arose in the middle of the 10th century and continues to this day. Philosopher's Stone - a mythical substance is considered the beginning of all beginnings. It can give its owner immortality, knowledge and eternal youth. But not only these properties attracted alchemists all over the world. The main reason for the search for this mythical substance was that the philosopher's stone was able to turn any metal into gold.
Modern science does not deny the possibility of converting one chemical element into another. In addition, I must say that today there are many legends about the transformation of metals into gold. For example, it is said that Raymond Llull smelted about 60 thousand pounds of gold from tin, mercury and lead at the order of the English king Edward II. And this gold was of the highest standard. Coins minted from this gold are still kept in English museums.
Or, after the death of Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612), a large amount of gold and silver in ingots (approximately 8 and 6 tons, respectively) remained in the treasury. No one could understand where he could get such an amount of precious metal, and most importantly, it was of such a high standard that it did not contain any impurities. And this fact amazed the researchers most of all, because at that time it was impossible to technically obtain a precious metal of this quality.
But let's return all the same to the legends of immortality. They say the legendary Genghis Khan, feeling that his strength was waning and old age was not far off, gathered sorcerers, healers, sages and healers from all his lands, who claimed to know the secret of the elixir of youth and immortality. He ordered everyone to prepare an elixir. The test was simple - after the medicine man drank his potion, his head was cut off. If the severed head did not grow attached to the body, the next healer passed the test. This "fun" of Genghis Khan would have continued long enough if one decrepit sage had not told him: “Great Khan, I have lived in this world for many years and have long lost track of my days. I have read many wise ancient books, and I know many hidden secrets. But there is no elixir of immortality, you are doing a useless business and wasting your days allotted in vain. The immortality of the mortal body does not exist. Only the deeds of a deceased person and his spirit are immortal. " Having dismissed the wise old man, the great conqueror ordered to prepare for a new campaign in order to conquer the whole world. According to legend, Genghis Khan died during his campaign against the Tangut state in 1227.
In India, you will be told about the Raja Tapaswiji, who lived for 186 years (1770-1956) and this has been documented. At 50, he retired to the Himalayas and became a hermit. Engaging in spiritual practices and yoga, he achieved perfection in managing his body (the state of samadhi). Tapaswiji told about his meeting with an old hermit who spoke only the language of Ancient India - Sanskrit and claimed that he lived for about 5 thousand years. This old man told Tapaswiji about the elixir of immortality that he had. The drink should be taken no more than once every 10 years. After the death of Tapaswiji, his dwelling was thoroughly investigated for the search for the elixir of immortality, but the search was unsuccessful.
Scientists believe that some multicellular organisms that exist on earth are potentially immortal or can exist for a long time, if this existence is not interrupted by some accident. These organisms include freshwater hydras, sea anemones, some species of fish and reptiles. It is possible that this quality of these organisms is promoted by the low energy level of metabolism of these organisms, therefore, the rate of aging in them is significantly slowed down.
At the same time, the opinion of modern scientists gives hope that science is able to solve the problem with an increase in the life of a person. In this regard, genetic engineering, stem cell technology, transplantation, hormone therapy and many other branches of medicine are actively developing. Developments in the field of cryonobiology and artificial intelligence are very promising.
American physicist R. Feynman said: “If a person decided to build a perpetual motion machine, he would have faced a prohibition in the form of a physical law. In contrast to this situation, there is no law in biology that would assert the obligatory finiteness of the life of every individual. "
Since ancient times, the dream of people is to be immortal or return youth. Legends and traditions of countries mention the elixir of immortality. Wherever magicians, scientists, kings and commoners were not looking for a miraculous drug. But who was able to unravel the formula of immortal life, and whether they could at all, is still a mystery.
How they looked for the elixir of immortality
A person at all times regretted that he had lived too little, so he was looking for a means that prolongs life or postpones old age.
Indian legends tell about the sap of a tree, drinking which you can live for 10,000 years. Unfortunately, the location of the tree remains a mystery.
The records of the ancient Greeks tell about the magic fruits from the tree, returning youth, but not giving immortality.
In Russian epics, “living water” from a spring from Buyan Island is sung. Where this island is located is also unknown, as is the tree with magic fruits.
We were looking for an elixir of immortality in the New Lands, discovered by Columbus... They even described a rejuvenating source that turns old people into young people.
Now everyone who wants to rejuvenate knows the word "antioxidant". More and more cosmetics appear on the market, in which this component is mentioned.
Antioxidants, or oxidizing agents, preservatives, are chemicals that neutralize oxidative effects.
The old age of the body is associated with the fact that free radicals, that is, atoms with unpaired electrons, damage cells. Radicals break white bonds, damage molecules of fats, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules, which disrupts the work of our body.
Organ and tissue cells are oxidized. A malfunctioning organism wears out, ages and dies.
Anti-free radical measures:
- following a low-calorie diet and eating foods rich in antioxidants;
- establishing the correct metabolism;
- work on the breathing rate: full inhalation and extended exhalation, since breathing is directly related to metabolic processes;
- normalize the production of melatonin, which is produced by the pineal gland of the brain.
The pineal gland is the epiphysis of the brain - a small gland that is responsible for puberty, sleep and wakefulness. That is why sleep disturbance leads to a malfunction of the pineal gland and a decrease in the production of the antioxidant melatonin.
As well as the abuse of fatty, fried, flour, sweet, salty foods and animal products. With the help of inverted yoga poses, the pineal gland is restored.
The body produces its own antioxidant substances, which are not enough. Therefore, they make up for the deficiency by including fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet, which have a high% content of antioxidants.
Fresh fruits contain a lot of vitamins C and E, provitamin A. Tomatoes contain lycopene, other vegetables are full of avalanches and flavonoids. The red berries are packed with anthocyanins.
Walnuts have the highest antioxidant content, followed by cinnamon and vanilla. Further, in order: curry, white pepper, mustard and paprika, red pepper and raw hazelnuts.
Each nation has found its own recipes for miraculous elixirs. Great importance in the preservation of youth is attached to honey. Supports mental clarity with the addition of nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and saffron.
# 1. Cooking Tibetan drinking water... Put rock crystal, amethyst, smoky and rose quartz, cacholong and carnelian in a jar. Pour water and let stand for 10 hours in a sunny place.
This is how water becomes a rejuvenating drink. Drink 2 glasses a day, wash your face, apply a compress on cuts, wounds and burns.
No. 2. Insist chamomile, immortelle and birch buds, taken equally. Drink for 1.5 months, 0.5 cups each, adding honey. Repeat the course in 5 years.
Ancient Indian anti-aging elixir
Boil for 6 minutes in the morning. chopped garlic (two heads) in one liter of milk. Insist warm for 1 hour. Divide into 4 portions and eat until evening. Reception 3 months for 5 days.
The drug is useful for cleaning blood vessels and as a preventive measure against diseases.
Pour chopped garlic into a 0.5 liter bottle. Pour in vodka (2 glasses). Insist in a cool dark place for 2 weeks and 1 day. Take 1 tbsp. l., adding to food during lunch.
Slavic compote from wild berries
Grind 1 part of the fruits of the red mountain ash and wild rose hips. Brew 1 tsp. in a glass of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. Drink this tea in the morning and in the evening.
Rejuvenation tea from Sweden
In a glass of boiling water, take rose hips, nettle herb and knotweed, all 1 tsp. Insist 3 hours and drink like morning tea.
Pour mint (2 tablespoons) with boiling water (1 l). Insist for 5 minutes, drain and pour in the juice from half a lemon, then add honey (1 spoon).
Drink 1 glass of the drink before going to bed on the dates: February - April and October - December.
# 1. Mix dry leaves of black currant and oregano in 1 tablespoon, blackberry leaves and stoneberries in 3 tablespoons. In a glass of boiling water, brew half a spoonful of the collection and leave for 20 minutes, pouring into a thermos. Drink 0.5 cups after meals.
No. 2. Blueberry leaves and drupes, succession, St. John's wort - 2 tablespoons each. Rosehip berry - 3 spoons and thyme - 1 tsp. Brew 1 spoonful of the collection in a glass of boiling water.
Elixir to prolong youth
To live 100 years, every year for a month, you should regularly eat a quarter of a lemon with a crust and drink olive oil (1 spoon) on an empty stomach.
The next month before breakfast: licorice root (a piece of a nail), seaweed (1 spoonful of powder), spruce or pine resin - 5 g and agave juice (1 spoon).
Scientific approach
Many scientists around the world are developing ways to prolong youth, and their successes are impressive. In Russia, people use 10 anti-aging systems, 30 methods are also available:
- supramolecular chemistry;
- electromagnetic transformation technology or alteration of the human genome;
- cell therapy;
- revitalization and more.
With a positive result of the work of scientists, people will live up to 140, up to 160 years, subject to a healthy lifestyle.
The human body is 70% water. It is not for nothing that one well-known biologist figuratively called living things "animate water". Obviously, for the health and longevity of a person, it is not indifferent what kind of water nourishes the tissues of his body.
Indeed, in recent years it has become known that water differs significantly not only in chemical impurities, but also in isotopic composition and other features. Many properties of water change, for example, if it is passed between the poles of a magnet. Water can be more biologically active, and this affects the aging process of the body. But we still do not know much about the properties of water - an important component of our body.
In any case, today it is no longer vague legends and not ancient legends, but scientific research that speaks about the effect of water on the health and life expectancy of inhabitants of different regions of the Earth.
Where do people live longer?
It is known that the inhabitants of some islands The Caribbean the islands of Guadeloupe, for example, look much younger than their European peers. When they are asked how they manage to stay young for a long time, the answer usually follows: “On our island there is such water flowing from the springs that rejuvenates a person ...” The inhabitants of the central regions of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) are also distinguished by their excellent health. The inhabitants of Sri Lanka consider the climate and water of mountain springs to be the reason for their health. Apparently, it was no coincidence that the ancients tried to look for life-giving water on this island.
Some scientists associate the longevity of the highlanders and a number of peoples of the North with the water they drink. This is the so-called "melt water effect", which has a beneficial effect on the metabolism and thus, as it were, "rejuvenates" the body.
Today, searches are not conducted on distant islands or in unknown lands. They are carried out in dozens of laboratories of the world's largest scientific centers studying the properties of water and its effect on the human body.
People who were extremely anxious to lengthen their lives as long as possible were mostly endowed with wealth and power. They were looking for shortest way... And such a path seemed to exist. The most ancient traditions and legends mentioned about it - it is the "elixir of immortality", which was consumed by the gods. V different countries ah he was called by different names. The gods of the ancient Greeks used ambrosia, which gave eternal life, the Indian gods - amrita, the gods of the Iranians - haoma. And only the gods of Ancient Egypt, showing majestic modesty, preferred other food to the gods - water. True, all the same water of immortality.
Alchemists and the elixir of immortality
Nobody from people came to the elixir of immortality as close as the alchemists, who, however, were looking for something completely different - the ways of making gold. There was a well-known logic in this. Immortality is a state that is not subject to change. Isn't gold the only substance that is not subject to external influences? It is not afraid of either alkalis or acids, it is not afraid of corrosion. It seemed that time itself was powerless in front of him. Does this metal not contain some principle that makes it so? And is it possible to isolate this substance from it or bring it into the human body along with gold? "Whoever takes gold inside," says one ancient oriental text, "he will live as long as gold." This is the traditional basis of ancient beliefs: if you eat the eyes of an eagle, you will be like an eagle; if you eat the hearts of a lion, you will be strong like a lion ... Gold was an indispensable component of different versions of the elixir of immortality. A recipe compiled by the personal physician of Pope Boniface VIII has come down to us: it is necessary to mix crushed gold, pearls, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, topaz, white and red corals, ivory, sandalwood, deer heart, aloe root, musk and amber. (We hope that prudence will keep readers from being too hasty about the composition given here.)
Ancient recipes
Not much simpler was another composition, which can be found in one ancient oriental book: "You need to take a toad that lived for 10,000 years, and a bat that lived for 1000 years, dry them in the shade, crush them into powder and take."
And here is a recipe from an ancient Persian text: “You need to take a man, red and freckled, and feed him with fruits until he is 30, then lower him into a stone vessel with honey and other compounds, put this vessel in hoops and seal it hermetically. In 120 years, his body will turn into a mummy. " Thereafter, the contents of the vessel, including what became the mummy, could be taken as a healing and life-prolonging agent.
Delusions that sprout in any area of human activity, in this area, bring a particularly bountiful harvest. Mention may be made in this connection of a French scholar of the fifteenth century. In search of a vital elixir, he boiled 2,000 eggs, separated the whites from the yolks and, mixing them with water, distilled them many times, hoping in this way to extract the desired substance of life.
The obvious senselessness of such recipes does not yet testify to the senselessness of the search itself. Only what was discarded as unnecessary became known. But if we judge the history of a particular science only by unsuccessful experiments and failed discoveries, the picture will probably be about the same.
Elixirs of immortality, living water, recipes for eternal youth - this is a favorite topic of myths, legends, historical and archaeological investigations, scientific works. We decided to understand the topic and find out what eventually mankind managed to do on the way to immortality.
Where and how was immortality sought?
Xu Fu's expedition in search of the elixir of immortalityThe elixir of youth and immortality is mentioned in the legends and traditions of many peoples of the world as the food of the gods. The gods of Ancient Greece ate ambrosia, the gods of Ancient India - amrita, the Iranian gods - haomu, the gods of Ancient Egypt drank the water of immortality. One of the legends of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest literary work, is dedicated to the search for immortality. Ancient East, created almost 5,000 ago. Alchemists from different countries tried to recreate the recipes for the miraculous drinks described in the oldest books, ordered by the rulers.
The Chinese emperors were especially obsessed with the search for recipes for immortality. Thus, the emperor of China Qin Shi Huangdi was pathologically afraid of dying and desperately wanted to find the elixir of immortality, which, according to Chinese mythology, will provide eternal life for three sacred mountains in the middle of the sea. During his reign, he equipped two expeditions for the magic drink: in 219 and 210 BC. NS. For the first time, he sent people towards the sacred mountains-islands, where, according to legend, immortals lived. There was no news of that campaign. Therefore, Qin organized a second expedition, which included four magicians, including the court fortuneteller at the Xu Fu court. Upon his return, Fu informed the emperor about the unsuccessful search and the giant fish that prevented him from reaching magic island Penglai. He also showed a magical text that reported the fall of the Qin dynasty due to the invasion of the barbarians. It is described that Xu Fu's fleet consisted of 60 ships with a crew of 5,000 sailors, there were 3,000 girls and boys on the ships and artisans with different skills. For the third time, Xu Fu also took archers on a journey to exterminate the fish, but he never returned: the researchers suggest that he settled in Japan, mistaking for the mythical Penglai mountain Japanese mountain Fuji. Soon the 39-year-old emperor took the custom-made elixir of immortality pills and died as they contained mercury. He was buried in a huge mausoleum built in advance: it was erected by 700,000 workers and artisans, the perimeter outer wall burial was equal to 6 km.
The subsequent emperor Wu was engaged in similar searches: he paid magicians and spellcasters, and executed those whom he denounced as charlatanism. Another Chinese emperor, Xuanzong, who ruled in the 19th century, also died from the elixir of immortality. It is known that the elixir was prepared by Taoist monks in a special way - it was boiled for a year. The 49-year-old emperor drank the drink for a month and, ironically, did not rejuvenate, but died.
What were the elixirs made of?
Found VCG Elixir Jugs Learning the recipe for Chinese living water is a task subject to scientists. In early March this year, Chinese archaeologists discovered 3.5 liters of the oldest elixir of immortality. The find was made in the Henan province of Luoyang during the excavation of a 210 m² tomb dating from the Western Han Empire period (202 BC - 8 AD). Archaeologists removed an ancient jug and, upon opening, noted the smell of alcohol. The results of laboratory analysis of the liquid showed that the contents were a mixture of potassium nitrate and alunite (alum stone). According to scientists, this corresponds to the recipe for the elixir of immortality, which is known from Taoist texts.
"This is the first time that mythical medicines for immortality have been found in China," said Shi Jiazhen, head of the Institute for Cultural Relics and Archeology in Luoyang.
In other ancient civilizations, the recipes were different from the Chinese. For example, ambrosia, an ancient Greek divine drink, was replaced by people with olive oil and fat. Another elixir of immortality in ancient times was lammer-vine - a concentrate of unknown composition, in which amber was dissolved.
European alchemists believed that the composition should contain an eternal substance - for example, gold. One of the recipes for the elixir of immortality belongs to the personal physician of Pope Boniface XIII: he suggested mixing crushed gold, pearls, sapphires, emeralds, topaz, white and red corals, ivory, sandalwood, deer heart, aloe root, musk and amber.
The most common elements of elixirs are gold, jade, mercury, arsenic, and many other substances with toxic properties. It is not surprising that the consumption of such liquids often led to poisoning and death.
Life extension scientifically
Japanese plant ashitaba Today, the search for the elixir of immortality continues: gerontologists are looking for ways to prolong a person's youth and life, research and experiments are being carried out. For example, in the United States, not far from San Francisco, the Ambrosia center was opened, where elderly patients receive blood transfusions from young donors. In the first stage of the large-scale study, about 600 people volunteered to participate, who agreed to pay $ 8,000 each for the opportunity to rejuvenate: within two days they are transfused with plasma from donors under 25 years old. In total, the subjects receive about 1.5 liters of young plasma.
The very idea of blood transfusion for rejuvenation is not new - it was expressed by Robert Boyle in the 17th century - but only now they have come to implementation. First, the test was carried out on mice. In 2012, Dr. Robin Franklin from the University of Cambridge proved that the blood of young mice is good for the elderly: they have improved memory, learning ability and other indicators. Conversely, the transfusion of old blood to young individuals worsened the condition of the latter.
An experiment on older Americans is being conducted by 32-year-old Dr. Jesse Karmazin, and he is already reporting positive results for patients: the level of proteins responsible for the development of cancer and Alzheimer's disease has fallen by 20%, improved sleep, mood, cognitive ability, muscle tone and even appearance... In fairness, it should be noted that the scientific community looks askance at these experiments and advises all volunteers to refuse to conduct experiments.
Another modern elixir of youth was discovered by Australian scientists: they gave animals the Japanese plant ashitaba and noticed that with its regular use, the life of individuals increased by 20%. According to the researchers, aging of the body occurs from an overabundance of food, which leads to the accumulation of various mutations in the cells of the body. Ashitaba produces a substance that causes the cells in the body to recycle "biological waste". It is this feature of the plant that prolongs the body's youth and, as a result, life.
The recipe for longevity from Australian scientists looks like this: moderate fasting (lack of food activates and accelerates the process of destruction of improperly folded proteins and damaged mitochondria), balanced nutrition in combination with a small intake of ashitaba extract and moderate physical activity - the body gets rid of heavy metals and other toxic formations.
