Rapamycin: The miracle life extending drug

Ritesh Bawri

06 Apr 2025 — 2 min read

Rapamycin was first used as an anti-fungal drug. Quickly researchers found it had immune suppression properties, and it was began to be used during organ transplants.

But we are after its life extending properties as a longevity drug.

Longevity experts ask you to take rapamycin preventively. I will spare you the science, but in short, it promotes autophagy, the natural process by which the body removes dysfunctional cells.

But can you get rapamycin without paying for expensive drugs?

To understand this, we need to go back to the discovery of the drug. In 1972, Dr. Surendra Sehgal isolated rapamycin from a soil sample of streptomyces hygroscopicus, a bacterium.

The inhabitants on the island from where the sample was collected were known as the Rapa Nui, hence the name, rapamycin.

While abundant on this island, streptomyces species are also found in rich, undisturbed soils, especially forest floors and mountainous or volcanic terrains.

This bacterium species is what is responsble for that lovely earthy smell you experience after it rains in the forest.

So how can you get it naturally?

Spend time in nature. Play in the garden or forest. Garden, play with soil. Take your shoes off. The bacteria will not spontaneously become rapamycin. But the effects of exposing your hands and feet in soil is well documented.

What rapamycin does well is activate a pathway called mTOR. You can get the same effects by fasting, exercising, having turmeric and green tea.

I have a strong bias toward natural and lifestyle based initiatives.

Therefore, my opinion will always be to build a lifestyle and not take the medicine. In all of my studies, I have repeatedly found value in whole natural foods or lifestyle habits.

The collective benefit of a turmeric with several polyphenols, many of which are not researched will always be more valuable than isolated curcumin, the active ingredient.

The collective benefit of being in nature playing with soil will always beat the benefit of taking isolated rapamycin.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain

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