After all, cancer is one of the most frightening diseases ever. Most of the people who have the disease and those who love them are searching for a practical means to cure it. Some people who wish to achieve this goal also seek Ayurveda and other ancient medicines. Ancient Indian medicine fosters an even more holistic perception of health and recovery. But do Ayurvedic cancer medicines really substitute modern medicine? Let’s look at what Ayurveda says about cancer and see how it is different from modern ways.
What is Ayurvedic medicine?
Ayurvedic treatment delivery system can be traced back to over five millennia ago. It states that the state of health is the balance in the state in which the mind, body and the spirit. All the three should be in their ideal equilibrium for a person to be healthy. To achieve this, It prescribes medicines, dietary regimes and other techniques in order to promote health.
In Ayurvedic theory, everyone consists of three fundamental life forces called doshas, and within everyone lies a unique one. Dosha imbalance is a key causative factor in disease occurrence in Ayurveda even for cancers. With respect to cancer, Rasayana ayurvedic treatment restores balance and works on healthy functioning of the entire system.
Ayurvedic Approaches to Cancer Treatment
Contrary to modern Western medicine, Ayurvedic medicine understands cancer differently. Ayurveda perceives cancer as a system imbalance that is susceptible to sharing and correction, in contrast to the popular belief that it is a disease that requires combat.
In most cases, Ayurvedic treatment for cancer includes changes in diet, consumption of non-conventional medicine in the form of herbs, cleansing practices, guided physical exercise, mental relaxation techniques, and lifestyle changes. Getting the doshas back into balance and improving the person’s natural healing skills are the main goals. Ayurvedic treatments for cancer that are commonly used are;
Plant based medicines
Most of the rare herbs that are used to combat cancer are recommended to the patients by the ayurvedic physicians.
Panchakarma: An ancient mode of treatment incorporating massage and detoxifying techniques. Physicians use certain compounds and herbal medicines to remove toxins while restoring their purity.
Diet care: In Ayurveda, dietry regime is taken as a sort of lifestyle to prevent and treat illness. So, often, Ayurveda prescribes what foods to eat to cancer patients based on how a person’s dosha is disrupted.
The goal of yoga and meditation is to help cancer patients feel better overall, lower their stress, and boost their immune systems.
Rasayana therapy involves giving certain ayurvedic drugs that are meant to heal the body and make people live longer.
Is there a way to treat cancer that is different from modern medicine?
To answer the question above, we need to look at how well Ayurveda and modern cancer treatment work, how they are applied, and how scientific they are.
What is the treatment approach?
Modern methods like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and others are used today. These are called focused treatments because they directly remove cancer from the body. In fact, these treatments can be very harsh and cause many side effects, such as the death of both cancerous cells and healthy cells.
For example, Ayurvedic medicine focuses on increasing the body’s ability to fix itself instead of targeting specific cells in the affected area. So, the goal shifts from killing the cancer cell to making a space inside the body that stops cancer cells from spreading. These methods might have fewer side effects, but they are kinder.
There is scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness.
One of the most striking differences between Ayurveda and modern medicine is that, while the former practices without any supporting evidence, the latter strives to provide scientific proof for its claims. Every antineoplastic procedure and drug used in cancer treatment is first subject to a thorough clinical testing process to justify its use in treating patients. Researchers have conducted studies on specific clinical cancers to assess the safety, efficacy, and advantages of these drugs over other medications. For instance, extensive scientific databases do not support Ayurvedic cancer therapies. Some studies have evaluated the effects of specific Ayurvedic herbs or procedures on cultured or animal cancer cells. However, human clinical data are extremely scarce, making it difficult to estimate how well Ayurvedic methods are for human cancer treatment.
Some preliminary studies have yielded some positive outcomes for specific Ayurvedic treatments. One study suggested that turmeric, which contains curcumin, possesses anticancer effects. However, most such studies are inadequately powered, poorly controlled, or designed to make any conclusions. There is a substantial gap in the literature about the role of Ayurvedic treatment in the cancer control program.
Regulation and Standardization:
One other area of divergence concerns the policies governing the practices. In the same way that modern medicines for cancers are available, these medicines also undergo a rigorous approval process by the relevant authorities. Such agencies ensure that the medications are safe, effective, and manufactured to the same level of depreciation.
Ayurvedic drugs, however, are less regulated than modern medicine. Depending on the sources of herbs used and their preparation, the quality and strength of herbal products can be highly inconsistent. The possibility of heavy metals or other toxins in some Ayurvedic products further compounds the situation. Research on Ayurvedic treatments becomes more challenging due to the need to follow elaborate procedures to ensure the treatments’ safety and efficacy.
The individual approach to therapy
One aspect that distinguishes Ayurvedic treatment is its extreme individualism. Ayurvedic doctors prescribe unique therapies considering the patient’s body type and imbalances. The treatment of cancer patients is also becoming more personalized due to the development of various genetic tests.
Can Ayurveda complement modern cancer treatment?
Viewing Ayurveda as a stand-alone cancer treatment may not be the most appropriate approach. In their supportive treatment programs, they incorporate Ayurveda and other healing traditions. This implies that they strive to enhance the patient’s well-being and treatment while still delivering standard cancer therapy.
For instance, convenience services may include ‘Yoga’ and ‘meditation’ sessions for patients to enhance their well-being. As a result, treatment may consist of dietary nutrients based on Ayurvedic tenets that will assist these patients while on medication. One day, after extensive research confirms their non-toxicity, we may integrate some Ayurvedic drugs with other drugs to reduce side effects or boost treatment effectiveness.
Making informed decisions about cancer care
Cancer is very dangerous for not only the patient but also to his family members. So, proper choice of care should be needed for cancer. Ayurveda appears to be a softer approach as it seems to be natural than the traditional treatments, and however, there is not yet enough evidence science-wise to prove that only ayurvedic practice should be used for cancer treatment. The treatment and interventions that are now possible in oncology today save and prolong lives in quite marvelous ways.
Still, this doesn’t mean that Ayurvedic ideas can’t be used to treat cancer. For instance, most of the Ayurvedic lifestyle suggestions, like eating well, managing stress, and being active, are in line with what cancer patients say today. Using some Ayurvedic ideas can help you feel better. Should you wish to use some Ayurvedic ideas in your cancer treatment, you should talk to your cancer doctor about it. It is safe and helpful to use these ideas along with your main cancer treatment plan.
Remember that responsible cancer doctors will often want to talk to you about other options that may improve your health and care. As soon as you think of another treatment, you should let your doctors know. So, they can tell you about safe methods and any risks or side effects that might come with different ones.
Conclusion
Ayurvedic medicine can help people think more rationally and compassionately about their health. However, for these treatments to work, they must be part of most patients’ treatment programs.
Ayurveda may help treat cancer in several ways. Its principles about healthy recovery and modifying your life could help cancer patients cope with modern procedures and make treatment more enjoyable. Researchers are combining the finest values from both ways to create the optimal cancer treatment plan.
Finally, cancer patients should know that most treatment decisions are their own and not made by doctors. Staying informed and talking to your healthcare provider regularly can help you make choices that improve your treatment plan and health.
References:
- National Cancer Institute. (2021). Ayurvedic Medicine. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/ayurvedic-pdq
- Abrams, D. I., & Weil, A. T. (2014). Integrative Oncology. Oxford University Press.
- Chaturvedi, P. (2015). Curcumin and cancer: An “old-age” disease with an “age-old” solution. Cancer Letters, 267(1), 133-164.
- Prasad, S., & Aggarwal, B. B. (2011). Turmeric, the Golden Spice: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine. In Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis.
- World Health Organization. (2018). WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine 2019. World Health Organization.