Cancer – Ayurveda Perspective
Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases of 21st century but Cancer – Ayurveda Perspective has already given by ancient Vaidyas exist from thousands of years. Approximately one in five people will develop some form of malignant cancer at some time in their life. Lung cancer being the most common form of cancer, followed by colorectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Cancer is a fatal disease. It is very complex to find a cure. The treatment for cancer in allopathy involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. All of these procedures carry a bundle of side effects that are more painful than the disease itself. Chemotherapy and radiation lower the immunity, unlike ayurvedic science that aims to boost the immune system.
Every day, in every person malignant cells are formed and circulate. In a healthy person these cells are destroyed by body`s immune system, but for the people with cancer, body’s ability to deal with these cells fails. Malignant cell then start to multiply out of control or invade other tissues causing the disease “CANCER”.
Ayurveda and Cancer
Classical texts have several references to cancer. “Arbuda” is the most specific terminology for cancer. “Granti” was the term often used for non-malignant tumours. They describe cancer as inflammatory and non-inflammatory swellings.
According to Ayurvedic principles, a successful treatment for cancer patients can be done if the change that has undergone in Dosha, Dhatu, Mala, Updhatu and Oajas are clearly understood. Many factors are taken into consideration such as the patient’s diagnosis, the reason behind cancer, which dosha and dhatu are impaired, etc before planning the treatment.
According to Ayurveda, cancer originates due to deranged metabolism and imbalance of body constituents causing faulty division of cells and improper growth. This leads to the depletion of systemic ojas or the vibrant energy.
Ayurveda follows symptomatic anti-cancerous treatment through correction of metabolic imbalance and even immunotherapy.
Our Body-Mind-Spirit are inseparable and their harmony is the life driving force which always help create good health and encourages healing. When comes to cancer management, Ayurveda helps to bring an overall health balance, increase immunity, facilitate internal healing process and enhances recovery. Early detection and better screening plays a key role in Cancer Cure.
Root Cause of Cancer
Any disease can be successfully treated or managed if its root cause is known and targeted effectively. It is now established that Cancer is also a “Metabolic” disease through the researches in Molecular biology.
The disease process is initiated in our cellular ” Power House” called, Mitochondria and then through reverse messaging system inside the cell, faulty messages are sent to the nucleus and a Cancerous process is spread. Sometimes, it may take a decade or two to completely transform a normal cell into a “Cancerous” cell. During this phase, there are important changes occur in the cell, which is called ” field effect” or “Field defect “which can be picked by certain metabolic investigations.
Mitochondria – in terms of Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, this cellular powerhouse i.e. “Mitochondria” can be compared with a very important factor, called ” Agni”. Surprisingly, there are word to word similarities between the structural and functional description of “mitochondria” and “Agni” as follows:
• Both are said to be inherited through Mother only
• Both are responsible for converting food to bodily consumable energy and nourish tissues and organs.
• Both are the site of production of heat, essential for survival and for burning of Fat.
• Both are essential for the growth and responsible for death of the non-functioning cells,
• Both are essential for various metabolic processes related to calcium, iron, hormones, detoxification and so on.
In Ayurveda, it is said that person is healthy till his/ her “Agni” is intact. A person becomes diseased if Agni is vitiated and Person dives to death when his/ her “Agni” is vanished completely. Same is the description and importance of modern Mitochondria. So much was the vision of our ancient scientist, who without the help of microscope had discovered and described the minutest portion and function of Cell biology and wrote down for the generations.
Treatment Cancer – Ayurveda Perspective
Ayurveda aims to increase the immunity of patient which can help fight against cancerous cells. Patients would definitely show a positive change in terms of symptom relief, increased survival and quality of life.
Following are the ayurvedic treatments that can help in reducing the formation of cancer cells:
• Immunomodulator
Immunomodulator and Rasayan work at the DNA level. It boosts the immunity of cancer patients which can help fight against cancer cells & inhibits the uncontrolled division of cells. Swarna bhasma, Heera bhasma and Mercurial Preparations are some Rasayan treatments prescribed in cancer.
• Herbal medicines
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Emblica officinalis (Amalaki), Zingiber officinale (Shunthi), Centella asiatica (Mandukaparni), Plumbago zeylanica (Chitrak), Bauhinia variegata( Kanchnar), Andrographis paniculata(Chiretta), Phyllanthus niruri (Bhumi amla), Piper longum( Pippali), Tinospora cordifolia(Giloy), Semecarpus anacardium ( Bhallatak), Vitis vinifera (Grape vine), Baliospermum montanum (Danti), Madhuca indica (Mahua), Oroxylum indicum (Shyonak), Basella rubra( Malabar spinach), Moringa oleifera (Suhanjana), Ficus bengalensis ( Banyan tree), Curcuma domestica (Haldi), Allium sativum (Garlic), Calotropis gigantean (Aak), Picrorrhiza kurroa (Kutki), Rubia cordifolia ( Manjistha), Saussurea lappa (Kushta) etc. are various plants having scientific evidence of anticancer property. Nowadays, many herbs are under clinical studies and being investigated phytochemically to understand their anticancer potential.
• Panchakarma
This is the best technique for detoxification of the body. The duration of Panchakarma therapy varies in accordance with the severity of the condition.
What diet is recommended to a patient suffering from Cancer?
As per Cancer- Ayurveda Perspective diet is to follow intermittent fasting or calorie restricted diet which is sufficient enough to provide all required nutrients to the body and immunity but at the same time, deprives cancer cells of their food and compel them to die. Generally following instructions of diet should be adopted in diet –
• Strictly avoid all Maida and bakery products
• No Sabudana, no vinegar, no tobacco and no Liquor.
• Avoid deep fried food
• Avoid late night dinner (dinner should be over by 7 pm)
• No raw food or salad, especially when on chemotherapy
• Minimum intake of Sugar with one or two days of ” NO sugar” per week in any form
• Once a week fasting as per the advice of expert Vaidya.
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