Ayurveda

Overview

Theorized to be as old as the Indus Valley Civilization, Ayurveda is an alternative medicine practice widely practised in the Indian subcontinent since before the advent of Vedas. The most famous treatise of Ayurveda which describes the use of various rasa or dravya, metals, minerals and many naturally occurring herbs and spices to create a balance in the human body. The founding principle of Ayurveda is that life is centred in our soul and it’s extended functionalities which are in turn interconnected. We know these functionalities by the name of organ systems like the digestive system, the nervous system etc. which no one can deny are very tightly bundled together which makes it quite impossible to classify them as distinct.

Just like Yoga, Ayurveda considers our body to be one moving part and treats it as a whole rather than focusing on one affected area as Western medicine does. Rather than concentrating just on the immediate disease or ailment, Ayurvedic recipes and healing methods maintain a stance on eliminating the source problem that exists within the body. This all-encompassing targeting makes sure that the disease is not only removed from the body but also doesn’t return in the future.

Ayurvedic medicine’s key concepts:

• Universal interconnectedness among people, health and the universe
• The body’s constitution (prakriti)
• Life forces and biologic factors (dosha)

Based on these concepts, Ayurvedic physicians prescribe individualized treatments comprised of compounds of herbs or proprietary ingredients and  lifestyle recommendations for diet, exercise and other aspects.3 Ayurvedic practice can include many types of treatments and therapies, including these:

• Dietary advice and special diets
• Ayurvedic medications
• Herbal medicines
• Massage
• Meditation
• Yoga, breathing and relaxation techniques
• Bowel cleansing

Ayurveda uses perfectly natural herbs and spices which unlike other drugs and have no or very less side effects. Here at Love Heals Cancer, we believe in trying everything at our disposal to treat cancer symptoms and after effects for people who have been failed by traditional medicine, mainly when there is no downside. Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha, Mulethi, Amalaki, Aloe Vera etc have a load of antioxidants, minerals and everything our body requires for rejuvenation. Turmeric and Holy Basil are well-known anti-carcinogenic compounds. 

This is just the beginning. The knowledge of all of these Ayurvedic remedies and the sources where you can procure them is available at your disposal here.

Ayurveda and Cancer

Very limited evidence of Ayurveda’s effectiveness against cancer exist, although reviews of individual therapies show anticancer properties and preliminary effects, as well as efficacy in treating symptoms, as these examples show:

• A 2017 review concluded that withaferin A, used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, is effective against high-grade gliomas.
• Compounds of Aquilaria spp. (agarwood) show anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.
• Clinical studies with a small number of patients have shown that Ocimum sanctumLinn. (holy basil) was effective as a radioprotective agent.
• Compounds of the stem bark of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. show anticancer effects.
• In lab studies, Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) has reduced the growth of cancer cells of the breast, central nervous system, colon and lung. Ashwagandha has also been shown to selectively kill cancer cells without affecting normal cells, to contribute to reducing anxiety, either alone or with other therapies, and to reduce joint pain.   Ashwagandha is also considered an adaptogen—a nontoxic medication that normalizes physiological functions that have been disturbed by chronic stress, acting by correcting imbalances in the neuroendocrine and immune systems.
• Some preparations of Tinospora cordifolia (known as heart-leaved moonseed, guduchi and giloy) have sensitized cancer cells toward chemotherapeutic drug-mediated cytotoxicity and may have the potential to reverse the drug-resistant phenotype and improve the efficacy of cancer chemotherapy.

Locations

This list contains the information on various Ayurvedic Centers across India. This isn’t exhaustive, we’ll keep adding more to this list. If you know of any popular Ayurvedic Center in your city, comment on the post below and we’ll add it to the list.

NAME	WEBSITE / CONTACT	LOCATION	SPECIALITY/USP
Asmi Ayurveda Consultancy & Herbals	http://ayurveda24x7.com/, Email – [email protected]	Karnal, Haryana, India	Free consultation, reliable manufacturer, wholesale suppliers and exporter of Fagonia Cretica Plant and Fagonia Cretica Tea in any part of the world.
AyurVaid	https://www.indheal.com/hospitals/ayurvaid-bangalore	Bangalore, Cochin, Almora	Supportive therapy integrating with the modern medical management
Sreenilayam Ayurveda hospital	https://www.indheal.com/hospitals/sreenilayam	Cochin, Calicut, Kerala	Supportive therapy integrating with the modern medical management
DS Cancer Research	http://dsresearchcentre.com/centre.php	Varanasi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad	Ayurveda based supplements which are shipped on a monthly basis
Arya Vaidshala	http://www.aryavaidyasala.com/about-us.php	Kottakkal, Kerala(HQ), Delhi, Kochi, Baddi	114 years old Charitable Institution engaged in the practice and propagation of Ayurveda
Divyajot Ayurvedic Research Foundation	http://ayurveda-cancer.org/	Ahmedabad, Gujarat	Functioning since 1978, focused on research and treatment of cancer from Ayurveda. Free online consultation provided
Charaka	http://www.charaka.org/cancer/	Hyderabad	Shamana chikitsa (treatment using Ayurvedic medicines orally), Shodhana chikitsa (detoxification through Panchakarma therapy), Rasayana chikitsa (immunotherapy, rejuvenation or Kayakalpa), Diet & lifestyle management, Satvavajaya (counselling), Daiva vyapashraya chikitsa (divine therapy), Yoga & Pranayama are also suggested as per the need and condition of the patient.
Lavanya Ayurveda	http://www.lavanyaayurveda.com/	Lucknow, Noida	A combination of modern technologies like Health Monitoring System (HMS), Aquagraph, Aura Photography etc. with Ayurveda

More Information & References

1. Credit: Beyond Conventional Care Therapies
2. ZenOnco.io Integrative Oncology Cancer Care
3. Ayurvedic Herbs – Alandi Ayurveda
4. 6 Ayurvedic Herbs that help prevent cancer – food.ndtv.com
5. Ocimum sanctum L (Holy Basil or Tulsi) and its phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of cancer – National Center for biotechnology information
6. Neem Tree Miracle – The Truth About Cancer
7. Giloy Herb – Yoddhas
8. An aqueous extract of Fagonia cretica induces DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells via FOXO3a and p53 expression – National Center for biotechnology
9. Catharanthus roseus – Cancer fighting
10. Ayurvedic Medicine – Cancer Research UK
11. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth
12. Dhruva, A.   “Ayurveda and yoga for cancer supportive care” in Abrams DI, Weil AT. Integrative Oncology. 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2014.
13. Narayana DB. Evidence for Ayurvedic products’ efficacy: the devil is in details. Ancient Science of Life. 2016 Apr-Jun;35(4):193-4. (not specific to cancer)
14. Abrams DI, Weil AT. Integrative Oncology. 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2014. pp. 552-559.
15. Marlow MM, Shah SS, Véliz EA, Ivan ME, Graham RM. Treatment of adult and pediatric high-grade gliomas with withaferin A: antitumor mechanisms and future perspectives. Journal of Natural Medicines. 2017 Jan;71(1):16-26.
16. Hashim YZ, Kerr PG, Abbas P, Mohd Salleh H. Aquilaria spp. (agarwood) as source of health beneficial compounds: a review of traditional use, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2016 Aug 2;189:331-60.
17. Baliga MS, Rao S, Rai MP, D’souza P. Radio protective effects of the Ayurvedic medicinal plant Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Holy Basil): a memoir. Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics. 2016 Jan-Mar;12(1):20-7.
18. Acharya N, Acharya S, Shah U, Shah R, Hingorani L. A comprehensive analysis on Symplocos racemosa Roxb.: Traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2016 Apr 2;181:236-51.
19. Jayaprakasam B, Zhang , et al. Growth inhibition of human tumor cell lines by withanolides from Withania somnifera leaves. Life Sciences. 2003;74(1):125-132. As cited at About Herbs. Ashwagandha. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. March 2, 2017. Viewed February 26, 2018.
20. Widodo N, Kaur K, Shrestha BG, et al. Selective killing of cancer cells by leaf extract of ashwagandha: identification of a tumor-inhibitory factor and the first molecular insights to its effect. Clinical Cancer Research. 2007;13(7):2298-2306.