CANCER – AN AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE AND OVERVIEW

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in India. Nearly three million patients are suffering from this disease at present. Every year nearly a million new cases are reported. Cancer seems to be holding its grip on India. Experts say the incidence of the killer disease is expected to raise five-times by 2025. It becomes a global challenge where the modern cancer therapy also burdened by drug-induced toxic side effects hoping perfect cure of disease from the complementary and alternative system of medicine. Nowadays scientists are keener to researches on complementary and alternative medicine for the management of cancer. Ayurveda, the oldest Indian medical system understands cancer as the derangement of tridosha as a whole of neuro-humoral, metabolic and nutritional imbalance that causes loss of mutual coordination in homeostasis resulting critical condition in tissue proliferation. Ayurveda defines these changes as “ARBUDA” a mass of tissue growth independent of function. At this juncture a natural remedial and preventive approach is the demand of the society to combat the altered homeostasis. Ayurveda emphasises some herbo-mineral medicaments, purificatory therapy, immunomodulators and holistic life style adaptation to cure, prevent and improve the quality of life.