Frequently Asked Questions section deals with the common issues related to female health (women’s health) from ayurvedic perspective. Ayurved, the science of life, believes in prevention than cure. The health aspect regarding women as given Ayurved and as derived from our experience has been over simplified to make it easy to understand and interpret, but please remember that this is not a medical textbook, but an informational source intended for lay people.

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Cancer is the growth of cells which grow in an uncontrolled and unwanted manner to disturb the healthy body parts.
Although cancer is a common term used, it could affect one or many body parts. The symptoms and treatment varies according to it.
Ayurvedic Text (Granthas) has not described Cancer or Karkaroga as such. There are many other descriptions of diseases which show simili with the signs and symptoms seen in Cancer. An Ayurvedic physician considers these descriptions in the treatment of Cancer.

Ayurved does not mention any illness by this name. Modern medicine describes Cancer as the deformation of tissues and their undesired growth. Ayurved describes some other illnesses which are very similar to this modern observation of Cancer.

The diseases are :-
Those formed within the body parts.
Dushta Shotha
Dushta Vrana
Dushta Granthi
Dushta Arbud
Dushta Vidradhi
Dushta Visarpa
Dushta Nadivrana
Dushta Manspradoshaja vikara

The above mentioned conditions that develop in certain parts of the body are very similar to those of Cancer. Although all types of Shotha may not be cancerous. Impure or imbalanced doshas, Vata, Pitta or Kapha or infested. Shothas could lead to Cancer. If care is not taken to cure the Shotha and if the causes which cause them are not taken care of the these causes which cause shotha may further lead to Cancer.

Leukemia or Cancer of the blood – we have found the following similarities.
Rasa – Rakta Dhatu Jwara (Fever)
Sannipatik Jwara
Pandu
Rakta Pitta
Raktaj Krumi
Deformity in the Rasa – Rakta – Dhatu causes abnormality in the Blood which is not thereafter capable to give nutrition to the body.

This leads to jwara (fever), pandu (anaemia), skin disorders etc.

General Type of Cancer :

1. CA Brain
2. CA Eye
3. CA Larynx
4. CA Lung
5. CA Mouth / Oral Cavity
6. CA Oesophagus & CA Stomach
7. CA Intestine
8. CA Rectum & CA Anus
9. CA Liver
10. CA Bladder
11. CA Skin
12. Sarcoma
13. Leukaemia

Male Specific Cancer :

1. CA Prostate

Female Specific Cancer :

1. CA Uterus
2. CA Ovary
3. CA Vagina
4. CA Cervix
5. CA Breast

THE DANGER SIGNALS OF CANCER

1. Change in bowel or bladder habits

2. A sore that doesn’t heal

3. Unusual bleeding or discharge

4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere

5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing

6. Obvious change in wart or mole

7. Nagging cough or hoarseness

The cause of disease is more important factor than the treatment part. When the cause is taken care of, one can work towards better cure and can avoid the illness in the future.

The research center has adopted 2 ways to find out causes of Cancer.

1. Dushta Shotha – Vrana – Granthi – Arbud – Vidradhi – Visarpa etc. which are mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts are studied.
2. Cancer patients are examined and details of their food, activity, habits, emotional status, anxieties, heredity factors etc., which could be the cause of Cancer are verified alongwith the causes of disease mentioned in the texts.

The above mentioned observations have shown that the following causes have lead to Cancer.

1. Dietary Causes like regular intake of – Excessive spicy, Sour or Sweet food, Contradictory food, Stale food, Preservatives, Fermented food etc.
2. Worms – Conflicting foods mentioned above could lead to the formation of worm infestation in the body.
3. Causes due to improper activities like Contradicting nature calls, Reverse sleep habits
4. Causes related to occupation / activities like use of caustic soda, brass, copper, chlorine, nitric acid and other acids, pesticides, likewise chemical exposures, those exposed to cotton fibers, extreme heat conditions, radiations etc.
5. Disturbances of the mind like excessive anger, worries, suspicion, envy, fear, greed etc.
6. Addictions like Vices, Betal nut, Tobacco, Smoking, Alcohol, Snuff etc.
7. Previous illnesses
8. Heriditary factors

Please visit the Causes and Symptoms of Cancer section in our website.

Diseases like vitiated Vrana, Granthi, Arbud, Vidradhi, Visarpa, Nadivrana are mentioned in the Charak and Sushrut Samhita. Cancer symptoms are quite similar to these diseases. These diseases can seek refuge in any parts of the body or organs. They could affect the Brain, Oesophagus, Stomach, Liver, Kidney etc. If an Arbud develops in a particular organ, the disease also leads to deformity and affecting the normal functions of the organ in which in occurs.

In such situations two types of situations arise.
1. Symptoms caused by the actual disease.
If the patient suffers from vitiated vrana then symptoms like acute pain, burning, redness etc. will be observed / experienced.

2. Symptoms shown by the affected organ.
The organ or bodypart in which the disease takes refuge, the bodypart or organ suffers physical or functional deformity thus we can observe related symptoms.

For e.g.
Organ affected An arbud which harbours itself in the stomach one may observe vomiting, loss of appetite, acidity etc.

Body part affected An arbud that develops in the thigh region then symptoms like acute pain on moving the leg, heaviness, difficulty in walking etc.

Strotasa affected (Vital channels)
Liver is the vital organ in the Raktavaha Strotasa. If an arbud manifests itself in the liver then symptoms related to the disorder of the Raktavaha Strotasa are observed. Kamala (Jaundice), Raktapitta (Blood oozes from the nose, mouth, anus, vagina etc.) are seen.

Though many tests are used to diagnose the cancer occurrence, type of cancer and the stage cancer is in, mainly following tests are done –
1. Biopsy
2. X-ray
3. Scan
4. Endoscopy
5. Pap test
6. Mammography
7. Tumor Marker Test
8. Blood Test

Yes……Cancer is a challenging disease to be treated. Inspite of religiously treating the disease, there are chances of recurrence. Ayurvedic medications help in keeping a restraint over the disease.
Dushta vrana – Treatment of the earlier mentioned diseases like dushta vrana, dushta arbuda etc. is treating cancer, as the similarities have been established. The intensity of the doshas which lead to cancer and the health status of the patient are the deciding factors for the treatment of Cancer. Treatment is divided into two types –

1. Shodhan chikitsa (Panchakarma)
– In this form of treatment, the vitiated dosha, which have caused the disease are expelled out of the body. Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Raktamokshana and Nasya are five elements of the Pancha(five) karma treatment.

2. Shaman Treatment
– When the health of the patient suffering from Cancer does not permit Shodhan procedures, Shaman treatment is followed. Medicines are primarily advocated orally to treat the vitiated doshas. Either solo herb treatment of combination of herbs are used to treat the patient.

Maintain the health of healthy and cure the diseased is the foundation of Ayurvedic Therapy.
Ayurved emphasizes on maintaining a healthy body and therefore has described regimes to be followed on day – night basis, according to climate changes and seasonal changes. Environment changes cause imbalance within the level of the doshas – vata, pitta, kapha which gives rise to illness and henceforth to keep cancer at bay, if we make changes in our routine based on the climatic changes, we will be in a better state to adjust to climatic changes.

To keep Cancer at bay one should follow the guidelines described in Ayurveda :

1. Temperature variations during the day cause changes in the levels of the three doshas. Therefore a daily regime has been described by Ayurveda. These guidelines are referred to as ‘Dinacharya’.

2. A regime to be followed during seasonal changes which fluctuate the levels of doshas is called ‘Rutucharya’.

3. A proper diet, activity and sleep pattern need to be followed to maintain a good health.

For more information regarding the Ayurvedic guidelines for Prevention of Cancer please refer to ‘Prevention of Cancer’
section in this website.

Ayurvedic medication help to minimize symptoms of Cancer. Ayurvedic medicines help to stabilize weight, hunger, improve immunity etc.
Patients cured of Cancer may suffer again from it after some years. Patients taking Ayurvedic medicines need to be observed for many years, only after which the limitations or success of Ayurvedic treatment can be established.