Cancer medicines - Ayurvedic / herbal medicines

What is Cancer

Cancer or Malignant Tumor is a medical condition where uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body and these cells are called as malignant cells. When there is no proper mechanism of cells in particular tissue cancer may appear and the growth of cells in the body become out of control and these cells multiply quickly. Depending on tissue involved, cancer may affect to many parts of the body such as skin, breast, bones, colon, lungs etc.

Causes of Cancer

There are multiple causes for cancer and the cancer causing agents are called as carcinogens and they are present in benzene, or many similar substances, or drinking of too much alcohol, toxins like poisonous mushrooms, aflatoxins, radiation, genetic problem, viruses etc. Otherwise, it is divided into Physical carcinogens (Ultraviolet and ionizing radiation), Chemical carcinogens (Asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxins, arsenic, benzene etc., and Biological carcinogens which include viruses, bacteria or parasites.

As per WHO, Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer do cause most cancer deaths each year. It is believed that behavioral patterns, and dietary irregularities such as obesity, or high body mass index, Lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol usage, low fruit and vegetable intake may lead to 30% of cancer deaths, that means lifestyle and diet do play major role.

Types of Cancer

Pertaining to organs, there are many types of cancer such as Brain cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Cervical cancer (women), Ovarian cancer, Uterine cancer, Kidney cancer, Liver cancer, Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Skin cancer, Testicular cancer, Thyroid cancer etc.

Ageing do play major role for development of cancer and hence, one should be cautious in rejuvenating the body and preventing ageing process. For preventing ageing process, one can rely on some natural remedies.

WHO says the risk factors for cancer are Tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, infectious diseases like hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

The importance of prevention is avoiding risk factors mentioned above, which is main strategy and other preventive measures are vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), control occupational hazards, and avoiding too much exposure to sunlight.

Early detection of Cancer

Early diagnosis and screening are important tools to prevent cancer and to treat accordingly. These are the methods to assess stages and prognosis of the cancer and it is very important.

Symptoms of cancer

Symptoms of cancer depends on the location and target organ of the cancer. Example:

1. In lung cancer, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing etc.
2. Colon cancer, diarrhea, constipation, or blood in the stools are symptoms.
3. In this way, symptoms do vary from type to type cancer.
4. In few cancer types symptoms are minimum or no symptoms, examples are pancreatic cancer.
5. Generalized symptoms would be fatigue, low body weight, chills, fever, malaise, night sweats etc.
6. There are common tests for cancer such as biopsy of tumor, blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, chest x-ray, CBC, CT scan or MRI.
7. In few cases, cancer is suspected with CBC, like if there is low hemoglobin levels and low platelet count, one can suspect for any kind of cancer depending on other associated symptoms. When there is suspicion, one can get it diagnosed by biopsy and other related diagnostic tests like CT scan etc.

Treatment

After diagnoses, doctors will assess the stage of the cancer, and if the cancer condition is initial stage, it can be treated accordingly and prevent the risk of life.

In allopath there are series of interventions, including Medical, psychosocial support, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy which is important to cure the disease and to control, and even to maintain healthy lifestyle.

Use of Alternative therapies

Ayurveda and other alternative system believe to treat most of the disease with psychosocial support method, which is very important and called as improving Satva Guna or Satva property.

There are early detectable cancers like breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, oral cancer where physician or expert can detect in early stages and appropriate treatment can be given and supportive alternative therapies are given.

Other cancers are also treated with advance technologies like lymphomas, leukemia, testicular cancer or seminoma with good cure rates and is mentioned by WHO too.

In advance stages or in certain cases, Palliative treatment is recommended for treating cancer.

Here, the role of alternative system comes in terms of disease prevention and support the lifestyle of the patient. There are many Medicines or herbal medicines, herbo-mineral medications, which are included in ayurveda, siddha system of medicine, homeopathy, unani etc, they are helpful in Palliative treatment and even for curative purposes also.

Ayurveda on Cancer

Ayurveda classics focus on preventing the diseases which is very important to prevent the recurrence of the disease and to prevent the spreading of the cancer like metastasis or from spreading to other parts of the body.

Lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph glands, is rarely treated with surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are most often used to treat lymphoma.

After radiation therapy or during the therapy, one should be on well-balanced diet which is very important and there are many herbs and herbal medicines which are helpful in similar way.

In the same way, when a patient is undergoing chemotherapy, one should eat well-balanced diet and indicated foods. Usually, patient’s immune system will become weaken and hence, one should develop immunity with the help of alternative therapies, Indian medicines like ayurveda, siddha, homeopathy, unani and other system of medicines, and relaxing mind and body with rest and other supportive methods such as Yoga and pranayama which do play good role.

Usually, Patient will undergo stress and anxiety, and sometimes gets irritated where an individual go for meditation sessions.

As modern sciences and Traditional and ancient system of medicines do focus on prevention, Ayurveda, yoga and meditation specially improves state of mind which is very important.

Ayurvedic Medicines for cancer

Following medicines are helpful to gain immunity and to prevent rapid growths and acts as palliative care. Few examples are Cancer Treatment Package which contains many herbal medicines such as Divya Sila Sindura, Divya Tamra Bhasma, Divya Giloy Sat, Divya Abhraka Bhasma, Divya Svarna Basanta Malati etc., and other herbs such as Divya Arogya Vati etc.