Showing posts with label Cancer Treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cancer Treatment. Show all posts
Ayurvedic Herbs for Treatment of Cancer
Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases in the world and in United States it is the leading cause of death, it accounts for 25% of all the deaths in humans presently.
Ayurvedic therapies are able to cure cancer better than western medical practices. The ancient Indian medicine has evolved and has been a center of attraction among researchers for its therapeutic qualities curing cancer treatment on a scientifically proven research background.
Lets have a look at few of the herbs for Cancer treatment
1. Triphala
Triphala is an herbal formulation used in the Indian medicinal system of Ayurveda for the treatment of various ailments. It consists of three medicinal plants: Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, and Terminalia belerica. It is also used for treating anemia, jaundice, constipation, asthma, fever, chronic ulcers, inflammation, obesity and to strengthen the immune system against infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and AIDS. Triphala was shown to have beneficial effects in studies done in laboratory. Triphala has shown to have high antioxidant level, required for fighting cancer.
2. Ashwagandha :
A popular Ayurvedic medicinal substance derived from the root and berry of the plant. Extracts of the root also increase the number of red and white blood cells and platelets in the blood. Ashwagandha has been shown to relax the central nervous system. Studies in laboratories have shown that extracts of ashwagandha kill some cancer cells and enhance some immune cells. It is thought that the structure of Ashwagandha extracts may damage the cancer cells ability to generate the energy it needs to reproduce.
3. Green tea (Camellia sinensis):
Green Tea has been shown to reduce the incidence of a variety of cancers, including the most impossible to cure, pancreatic cancer, and also to prevent stomach, colon, and breast and lung cancer. This conclusion was based upon a study of the population of China which showed that as tea consumption increased, cancer rates sharply decreased. A study in Japan showed green tea to reduce the likelihood of metastasis in patients with breast cancer and overall improved prognosis. Still, the main action of green tea appears to be preventative and its effects in patients with cancer are largely unknown.
4. Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa):
It has shown to actually reduce cancerous cellular growth. These studies were performed on leukemic cell lines in 1998.
5. Madagascan Periwinkle (Vinca Roseus):
It is a herb from which anti-cancer drugs have been produced. The young leaves contain two phytochemicals used to produce the drugs vinblastine and vincristine. These drugs help to treat leukemia and lymphoma. It has also been used in the treatment of breast cancer.
6. Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia)
It has shown to have mild antineoplastic activity and is often used as a part of uterine and ovarian cancer formulas.
Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases in the world and in United States it is the leading cause of death, it accounts for 25% of all the deaths in humans presently.
Ayurvedic therapies are able to cure cancer better than western medical practices. The ancient Indian medicine has evolved and has been a center of attraction among researchers for its therapeutic qualities curing cancer treatment on a scientifically proven research background.
Lets have a look at few of the herbs for Cancer treatment
1. Triphala
Triphala is an herbal formulation used in the Indian medicinal system of Ayurveda for the treatment of various ailments. It consists of three medicinal plants: Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, and Terminalia belerica. It is also used for treating anemia, jaundice, constipation, asthma, fever, chronic ulcers, inflammation, obesity and to strengthen the immune system against infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and AIDS. Triphala was shown to have beneficial effects in studies done in laboratory. Triphala has shown to have high antioxidant level, required for fighting cancer.
2. Ashwagandha :
A popular Ayurvedic medicinal substance derived from the root and berry of the plant. Extracts of the root also increase the number of red and white blood cells and platelets in the blood. Ashwagandha has been shown to relax the central nervous system. Studies in laboratories have shown that extracts of ashwagandha kill some cancer cells and enhance some immune cells. It is thought that the structure of Ashwagandha extracts may damage the cancer cells ability to generate the energy it needs to reproduce.
3. Green tea (Camellia sinensis):
Green Tea has been shown to reduce the incidence of a variety of cancers, including the most impossible to cure, pancreatic cancer, and also to prevent stomach, colon, and breast and lung cancer. This conclusion was based upon a study of the population of China which showed that as tea consumption increased, cancer rates sharply decreased. A study in Japan showed green tea to reduce the likelihood of metastasis in patients with breast cancer and overall improved prognosis. Still, the main action of green tea appears to be preventative and its effects in patients with cancer are largely unknown.
4. Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa):
It has shown to actually reduce cancerous cellular growth. These studies were performed on leukemic cell lines in 1998.
5. Madagascan Periwinkle (Vinca Roseus):
It is a herb from which anti-cancer drugs have been produced. The young leaves contain two phytochemicals used to produce the drugs vinblastine and vincristine. These drugs help to treat leukemia and lymphoma. It has also been used in the treatment of breast cancer.
6. Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia)
It has shown to have mild antineoplastic activity and is often used as a part of uterine and ovarian cancer formulas.
cancer--ayurvedam
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine. It tries to maintain or reestablish harmony between the mind, body, and forces of nature. This balancing is used for both prevention and treatment of illness. Ayurveda combines a number of approaches, such as changes in lifestyle, Ayurvedic medicines, cleansing or detoxifying, massage, exercise, and meditation. Overall, it aims to strengthen and purify the body and mind and increase spiritual awareness.
Overview
Ayurveda is one of several ancient Asian healing systems that have become more popular in the West. The effectiveness of Ayurveda has not been proven in scientific studies, but early research suggests that certain herbs may offer potential therapeutic value. Ayurvedic medicines are mainly composed of herbs, minerals, metals, and/or animal products. Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury have been found in excess quantities in up to 1 in 5 Ayurvedic medicines, and a number of lead poisoning cases have been reported. Certain Ayurvedic cleansing methods such as enemas, vomiting, bloodletting, or laxatives might cause serious problems for some people.
How is it promoted for use?
A central idea in Ayurveda is that illness results when a person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual forces are out of balance with each other and with the natural environment. Those who practice Ayurveda claim that certain combinations of methods, matched to a patient’s unique physical and emotional needs and personal medical history, increase physical vitality, foster spiritual well-being, bring people into harmony with the world, and even prevent and cure disease.
One of the primary goals of Ayurveda is to restore this balance and invigorate the body’s biological and spiritual forces. Practitioners of Ayurveda promote a combination of therapies to try and restore physical and spiritual harmony by balancing energy forces.
What does it involve?
Practitioners of Ayurveda may combine special diets, Ayurvedic medicines, cleansing, yoga, meditation, massage, breathing exercises, and visual imagery to treat their patients. Ayurvedic medicines often consist of complex mixtures of herbs, minerals, metals, and/or animal products. Ayurvedic cleansing can include special diets, internally and externally applied oils and herbs, massage, nasal washing, sweating, vomiting, laxatives, enemas, and even bloodletting. Gentler cleansing methods may be used for the frail or ill.
To diagnose illness, Ayurveda practitioners closely observe a patient’s tongue, nails, lips, and the body’s 9 “doors”: the eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, genitalia, and anus. They also listen to the lungs and observe the pulse, then take a detailed history of the patient’s life and health. Through these observations, practitioners claim to evaluate a patient’s doshas, or primary life forces. Practitioners say that each person is dominated by one of three doshas, but is influenced to some extent by all three. The dominant dosha describes a person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual characteristics as well as his or her daily habits and lifestyle.
According to Ayurveda practitioners, balancing a person’s doshas not only enables the various organs of the body to work together, it also establishes a person’s connection to the environment and the cosmos.
When planning a course of treatment, Ayurveda practitioners take into account the state of a patient’s doshas and the relationship between the doshas and other factors such as emotions, illness, physical activity, lifestyle, diet, relationships with other people, and even the four seasons, colors, and the time of day. Practitioners strive to harmonize all of these factors so that their patients can attain health and well-being.
What is the history behind it?
Ayurveda is thought to have appeared in India more than 5,000 years ago. It emerged from an ancient body of knowledge called the Vedas. In fact, veda is the Sanskrit word for knowledge. From these Vedas, India developed its moral, religious, cultural, and medical codes. Many of the beliefs and practices of Ayurveda are similar to those of ancient Chinese medicine.
Ayurveda practitioners in India are trained in state-recognized programs. Today, modern medicine is also available to most people in India, especially in urban areas. One study found that 15-20% of people with common ailments preferred Ayurvedic treatment for them. But more than 80% of Indian people said they preferred modern medicine for serious illnesses.
With the interest in Ayurveda from developed countries, practitioners began practicing and teaching Ayurveda in the United States. Today, there are Ayurvedic clinics and a growing number of training programs in North America. The National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) web site lists more than a dozen US training programs for those who want to learn Ayurveda. NAMA started by recommending a minimum of 500 hours of training before starting to practice. As of 2011, NAMA is working to standardize levels of Ayurvedic practice in the US based on the practitioner’s areas of competence.
What is the evidence?
Although Ayurveda has been largely untested by Western researchers, there is a growing interest in integrating some parts of the system into modern medical practice. In fact, a few of the herbs and substances have been purified into drugs that are used (along with other medicines) to treat cancer. Early studies suggest that other parts of Ayurveda may have potential therapeutic value.
Laboratory and clinical studies have suggested that some Ayurvedic herbal preparations may contain substances that have the potential to prevent and treat certain types of cancer. Randomized clinical trials in humans are needed to learn about the possible role of Ayurveda in cancer prevention and treatment. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded a series of laboratory studies to evaluate 2 Ayurvedic herbal remedies (called MAK-4 and MAK-5). The studies so far have shown some promise against tumors in rats and cancer cells in lab dishes. To date, there are no reports of tests of these 2 herbal remedies in humans.
In a controlled clinical trial of cancer patients in India, researchers found an Ayurvedic herb mixture worked as well as a standard laxative for relieving constipation caused by pain relieving drugs. In 2 small controlled clinical trials, an herb used in Ayurveda (mucuna pruriens) was found to reduce symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Many other individual herbs and spices used in Ayurveda are being studied in the laboratory or in animals. Some are already being tested in human clinical trials to find out if they can be used to treat or prevent cancer. These studies use methods of conventional laboratory and clinical research and are intended to find out whether substances used in Ayurveda can be used with conventional cancer treatment. We are not aware of any scientific research addressing the relevance of Ayurvedic concepts, such as cleansing, to cancer treatment. There is no convincing clinical evidence so far to suggest that traditional Ayurvedic treatments can have a substantial impact on the growth and spread of cancer. (For more information, see documents on individual herbs, such as Turmeric, Garlic, Gotu Kola).
Are there any possible problems or complications?
These substances may have not been thoroughly tested to find out how they interact with medicines, foods, or dietary supplements. Even though some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions below should be considered incomplete.
Some aspects of Ayurveda, such as enemas, laxatives, bloodletting, and inducing vomiting, can be harmful and potentially cause serious complications. Many people with cancer already have low blood cell counts as a result of the disease itself, and removing additional blood can worsen fatigue and other symptoms. Inducing vomiting or diarrhea can cause imbalances of electrolytes (salt and minerals) in the blood.
The potential interactions between Ayurvedic herbal preparations and conventional drugs and other herbs should be taken into consideration. Some of these combinations may be dangerous.
There have been reports of lead, mercury, and arsenic in some Ayurvedic herbal preparations sold in US and international markets. Between 1978 and 2009, more than 80 cases of lead poisoning were reported in the medical literature in people using Ayurvedic mixtures. Patients with lead poisoning can suffer nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, miscarriage, and/or anemia. Because these symptoms occur with many other illnesses, it is likely that many people who have lead poisoning are never suspected of having it. Even when cases are found, very few are actually reported in medical journals, so this is but a fraction of the actual number of people affected.
Some people have allergies to certain plants and may react to combinations of Ayurvedic mixtures that contain them. Some people taking Ayurvedic herbal medicines have had serious heart rhythm problems and low blood pressure from taking too much of the herb aconitum or aconite.
Enemas also have some dangers. Illness and even deaths have resulted from contaminated equipment, electrolyte imbalance, or perforation of intestinal walls. People with certain diseases of the colon may be at higher risk of bowel injury. In addition, fluids, herbs, and other substances that are added to the enema can be absorbed into the body through the colon walls. In some cases, this can result in fluid overload, toxicity, or allergic reactions. For more on this, see our document called Colon Therapy.
Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you are taking. If you use Ayurveda, it should be delivered by a trained therapist who knows all of your medical history and allergies.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and delaying or avoiding conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.
January 9, 2013 at 5:56 am
No comments
admin
What is Cancer ?
Approach to the patient with Cancer
In general, the cells of a multicellular organism are programmed for collaboration. Many diseases occur because the specialized cells fail to perform their assigned task. Cancer takes this malfunction one step further. Not only is there a failure of the cancer cell to maintain its specialized function, but it also strikes out on its own.
Cancer Screening
Screening is a means of detecting disease early in asymptomatic Individuals, with the goal of decreasing morbidity and mortality. While screening can potentially save lives and has been shown to do so in cervical, colon and probably breast cancer. Early detection does not in itself confer benefits.To be of value, screening must detect disease earlier, and treatment of earlier disease must yield a better outcome than treatment at the onset of symptoms.
Principles of Cancer Treatment
The goal of cancer treatment is first to eradicate the cancer. If this primary goal cannot be accomplished. The goal of cancer treatment shifts to palliation, the amelioration of symptoms, and preservation of quality of life while striving to extend the life.
General Presenting complaints of cancer patient
1. Pain :- Pain occurs with variable frequency in the cancer patient 25-50 % of patients present with pain at diagnosis, 33% have pain associated with treatment, approx. 70% of cases in which pain is caused by tumour itself and 75% have pain with progressive disease , In 10 % of cases pain is unrelated to cancer or its treatment.
2. Nausea: – Vomiting in the cancer patients is usually cause by chemotherapy.
3. Effusions: – Fluid may accumulate abnormally in the cavities present in body, may be pleural, pericardial or peritoneum.
4. Nutrition: – Cancer and its treatment may lead to decrease in nutrient intake of sufficient quantity to cause weight loss leading to cachexia and decreased appetite.
Psychosocial Support
The Psychosocial needs of patients alter with their situations. Patients undergoing treatment experience fear, depression, Anxiety and sexual dysfunction.
The Six Early Detectable and Treatable Cancers
Cancer is not a single disease: there are more than 200 types of cancer, according to which part of the body or specific tissue it originated from.
The good news is that there are a number of cancers that when detected early, respond well to treatment and often with a 100% cure rate. Specifically, the following six types of cancer fall into this category:
Breast cancer:
One of the most common cancers in women, accounting for 17.5% of all cancer cases in the UAE, this is also one of the most treatable, especially if diagnosed early. With a cure rate of 98% in these circumstances, the goal is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. Most doctors believe that tests for finding breast cancer early save many thousands of lives each year. The following detection methods are recommended:
1. Clinical Breast Examination – is an examination of your breasts by a health expert such as a doctor, nurse or physician assistant. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast examination as part of a regular checkup at least every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam every year.
2. Mammogram – this is a targeted x-ray of the breast, with the whole procedure taking no more than 20 minutes in total. Women aged 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should keep doing so for as long as they are in good health.
3. Breast self-examination – being aware of how your own breasts look and feel, means you are likely to notice any changes that might take place, so regular self-examination is an excellent option for women starting in their 20s. Your doctor or nurse can help check your method to make sure you are doing it correctly.
Cervical cancer:
Also one of the most common cancers affecting women and accounts for 4.4% of cancers among Emirati women. This cancer generally grows slowly and when detected early and treated properly, has a 100% cure rate. The most effective detection method for cervical cancer is a pap screening which can identify more than 90% of cervical cancers. Up to the age of 30, women should have a pap smear every three years. After the age of 30, an interval of 2 years between pap smears is recommended.
The most effective prevention against cervical cancer is the anti-HPV vaccine, which has rendered this particular cancer 100% avoidable if received earlier enough.
Skin cancer:
This is the most common of all human cancers (in UAE it accounts for 4.4% of all cancers) with three major types: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. Skin cancer is also usually 100% treatable. The vast majority of skin cancers are BCCs or SCCs. While malignant, these are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body, but if not treated early, may be locally disfiguring. A small but significant number of skin cancers are malignant melanomas, a highly aggressive cancer that tends to spread to other parts of the body. These cancers may be fatal if not treated early.
It is important to get to know your skin and to look out for any changes. In particular, take notice of moles and any dark patches on skin that change in size, shape or colour over weeks or months in adult life. The ABCD rule is particularly helpful:
Asymmetry – the two halves of a mole do not look the same
Border – the edges of a mole are irregular, blurred or jagged
Colour – the colour of a mole is uneven, with more than one shade
Diameter – your mole is wider than 6mm in diameter (the size of a pencil eraser)
Other possible signs of skin cancers include a new growth or sore that won’t heal; a spot, mole or sore that itches or hurts; or a mole that bleeds, crusts or scabs. If you are concerned about any skin changes, visit your doctor without delay.
Prostate cancer:
This is one of the most common male cancers, representing 3.6% of all cancers in the UAE, and rising to 4.6% of cancer cases among UAE Nationals. If found early while still confined to the prostate gland itself, has an excellent 95% cure rate. Often prostate cancer doesn’t have any symptoms, but when they do occur they may include:
• Urinating frequently
• Difficult or painful urination or ejaculation
• A feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied
• Blood in urine or semen
• Disturbed sleep because of the need to urinate
It’s important to be aware that a number of non-cancerous medical conditions may also cause these symptoms, for example, infection or benign prostate enlargement, but they should always be investigated.
There are several methods to check for the presence of prostate cancer. The simplest is the digital rectal examination which is done by a doctor, in which a gloved finger is inserted into the rectum, through which an enlarged prostate can be felt. Blood tests are the next step – prostate cancers cause the levels of certain chemicals and tumor markers in the blood to rise. More sophisticated tests include the use of ultrasound scans, and x-rays.
Testicular cancer:
This cancer is the one most common in young men between the ages of 15 and 45. A highly treatable condition affecting either one or both testicles, men are urged to check for the warning signs of cancer so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. Testicular lumps, heavy discomfort in the groin area or pain in the scrotum are the most common symptoms.
Regular testicular self-examinations have been shown to lead to early cancer diagnoses and FOCP advocates these practices be taught at school age.
Diagnosis is generally conducted through ultrasound, and blood tests to measure higher than normal levels of certain chemicals and tumor markers. If a tumour is found, cancer is presumed as most tumours in the testicle are malignant. However, the only certain way to correctly diagnose is to remove the testicle surgically and send samples for analysis. If the cancer hasn’t spread, further treatment may not be necessary after surgery.
Colo-rectal cancer:
Also known as bowel cancer, this is one of the most common cancers in the world and with early diagnosis, it’s one of the most treatable. In UAE it accounts for 11% of all cancers. Affecting the lower part of the digestive system – the large bowel and the rectum – this cancer is rare in people under 40. Affecting men and women equally, almost 85% of cases are diagnosed in over 65-year olds. Colo-rectal cancer isn’t easy to treat, mainly because its detection is often after it has spread beyond the bowel, but estimates suggest that nine out of 10 cases can be successfully treated if detected early. Survival has doubled over the past 30 years because of early diagnosis. It is important to be aware of the following symptoms, and to seek medical attention, particularly if they persist for longer than a couple of weeks:
• Blood flecks in stools, particularly if the blood is dark or plum-coloured
• A change in regular bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea, that lasts for a fortnight or more
• A feeling that you need to empty your bowels even if you’ve just been to the toilet
• Abdominal pain or discomfort that lasts for two weeks or more
• Unexplained weight loss
• Tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness, caused by anaemia from microscopic bleeding from the bowel
The most common screening procedures for colo-rectal cancer are:
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) – used to detect hidden blood in stools, and recommended as an annual test for men and women over the age of 50.
• Colonoscopy – a test that checks the upper and lower parts of the colon with a thin, illuminated tube, and recommended for men and women 50 years and older, every 10 years.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine. It tries to maintain or reestablish harmony between the mind, body, and forces of nature. This balancing is used for both prevention and treatment of illness. Ayurveda combines a number of approaches, such as changes in lifestyle, Ayurvedic medicines, cleansing or detoxifying, massage, exercise, and meditation. Overall, it aims to strengthen and purify the body and mind and increase spiritual awareness.
Overview
Ayurveda is one of several ancient Asian healing systems that have become more popular in the West. The effectiveness of Ayurveda has not been proven in scientific studies, but early research suggests that certain herbs may offer potential therapeutic value. Ayurvedic medicines are mainly composed of herbs, minerals, metals, and/or animal products. Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury have been found in excess quantities in up to 1 in 5 Ayurvedic medicines, and a number of lead poisoning cases have been reported. Certain Ayurvedic cleansing methods such as enemas, vomiting, bloodletting, or laxatives might cause serious problems for some people.
How is it promoted for use?
A central idea in Ayurveda is that illness results when a person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual forces are out of balance with each other and with the natural environment. Those who practice Ayurveda claim that certain combinations of methods, matched to a patient’s unique physical and emotional needs and personal medical history, increase physical vitality, foster spiritual well-being, bring people into harmony with the world, and even prevent and cure disease.
One of the primary goals of Ayurveda is to restore this balance and invigorate the body’s biological and spiritual forces. Practitioners of Ayurveda promote a combination of therapies to try and restore physical and spiritual harmony by balancing energy forces.
What does it involve?
Practitioners of Ayurveda may combine special diets, Ayurvedic medicines, cleansing, yoga, meditation, massage, breathing exercises, and visual imagery to treat their patients. Ayurvedic medicines often consist of complex mixtures of herbs, minerals, metals, and/or animal products. Ayurvedic cleansing can include special diets, internally and externally applied oils and herbs, massage, nasal washing, sweating, vomiting, laxatives, enemas, and even bloodletting. Gentler cleansing methods may be used for the frail or ill.
To diagnose illness, Ayurveda practitioners closely observe a patient’s tongue, nails, lips, and the body’s 9 “doors”: the eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, genitalia, and anus. They also listen to the lungs and observe the pulse, then take a detailed history of the patient’s life and health. Through these observations, practitioners claim to evaluate a patient’s doshas, or primary life forces. Practitioners say that each person is dominated by one of three doshas, but is influenced to some extent by all three. The dominant dosha describes a person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual characteristics as well as his or her daily habits and lifestyle.
According to Ayurveda practitioners, balancing a person’s doshas not only enables the various organs of the body to work together, it also establishes a person’s connection to the environment and the cosmos.
When planning a course of treatment, Ayurveda practitioners take into account the state of a patient’s doshas and the relationship between the doshas and other factors such as emotions, illness, physical activity, lifestyle, diet, relationships with other people, and even the four seasons, colors, and the time of day. Practitioners strive to harmonize all of these factors so that their patients can attain health and well-being.
What is the history behind it?
Ayurveda is thought to have appeared in India more than 5,000 years ago. It emerged from an ancient body of knowledge called the Vedas. In fact, veda is the Sanskrit word for knowledge. From these Vedas, India developed its moral, religious, cultural, and medical codes. Many of the beliefs and practices of Ayurveda are similar to those of ancient Chinese medicine.
Ayurveda practitioners in India are trained in state-recognized programs. Today, modern medicine is also available to most people in India, especially in urban areas. One study found that 15-20% of people with common ailments preferred Ayurvedic treatment for them. But more than 80% of Indian people said they preferred modern medicine for serious illnesses.
With the interest in Ayurveda from developed countries, practitioners began practicing and teaching Ayurveda in the United States. Today, there are Ayurvedic clinics and a growing number of training programs in North America. The National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) web site lists more than a dozen US training programs for those who want to learn Ayurveda. NAMA started by recommending a minimum of 500 hours of training before starting to practice. As of 2011, NAMA is working to standardize levels of Ayurvedic practice in the US based on the practitioner’s areas of competence.
What is the evidence?
Although Ayurveda has been largely untested by Western researchers, there is a growing interest in integrating some parts of the system into modern medical practice. In fact, a few of the herbs and substances have been purified into drugs that are used (along with other medicines) to treat cancer. Early studies suggest that other parts of Ayurveda may have potential therapeutic value.
Laboratory and clinical studies have suggested that some Ayurvedic herbal preparations may contain substances that have the potential to prevent and treat certain types of cancer. Randomized clinical trials in humans are needed to learn about the possible role of Ayurveda in cancer prevention and treatment. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded a series of laboratory studies to evaluate 2 Ayurvedic herbal remedies (called MAK-4 and MAK-5). The studies so far have shown some promise against tumors in rats and cancer cells in lab dishes. To date, there are no reports of tests of these 2 herbal remedies in humans.
In a controlled clinical trial of cancer patients in India, researchers found an Ayurvedic herb mixture worked as well as a standard laxative for relieving constipation caused by pain relieving drugs. In 2 small controlled clinical trials, an herb used in Ayurveda (mucuna pruriens) was found to reduce symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Many other individual herbs and spices used in Ayurveda are being studied in the laboratory or in animals. Some are already being tested in human clinical trials to find out if they can be used to treat or prevent cancer. These studies use methods of conventional laboratory and clinical research and are intended to find out whether substances used in Ayurveda can be used with conventional cancer treatment. We are not aware of any scientific research addressing the relevance of Ayurvedic concepts, such as cleansing, to cancer treatment. There is no convincing clinical evidence so far to suggest that traditional Ayurvedic treatments can have a substantial impact on the growth and spread of cancer. (For more information, see documents on individual herbs, such as Turmeric, Garlic, Gotu Kola).
Are there any possible problems or complications?
These substances may have not been thoroughly tested to find out how they interact with medicines, foods, or dietary supplements. Even though some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions below should be considered incomplete.
Some aspects of Ayurveda, such as enemas, laxatives, bloodletting, and inducing vomiting, can be harmful and potentially cause serious complications. Many people with cancer already have low blood cell counts as a result of the disease itself, and removing additional blood can worsen fatigue and other symptoms. Inducing vomiting or diarrhea can cause imbalances of electrolytes (salt and minerals) in the blood.
The potential interactions between Ayurvedic herbal preparations and conventional drugs and other herbs should be taken into consideration. Some of these combinations may be dangerous.
There have been reports of lead, mercury, and arsenic in some Ayurvedic herbal preparations sold in US and international markets. Between 1978 and 2009, more than 80 cases of lead poisoning were reported in the medical literature in people using Ayurvedic mixtures. Patients with lead poisoning can suffer nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, miscarriage, and/or anemia. Because these symptoms occur with many other illnesses, it is likely that many people who have lead poisoning are never suspected of having it. Even when cases are found, very few are actually reported in medical journals, so this is but a fraction of the actual number of people affected.
Some people have allergies to certain plants and may react to combinations of Ayurvedic mixtures that contain them. Some people taking Ayurvedic herbal medicines have had serious heart rhythm problems and low blood pressure from taking too much of the herb aconitum or aconite.
Enemas also have some dangers. Illness and even deaths have resulted from contaminated equipment, electrolyte imbalance, or perforation of intestinal walls. People with certain diseases of the colon may be at higher risk of bowel injury. In addition, fluids, herbs, and other substances that are added to the enema can be absorbed into the body through the colon walls. In some cases, this can result in fluid overload, toxicity, or allergic reactions. For more on this, see our document called Colon Therapy.
Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you are taking. If you use Ayurveda, it should be delivered by a trained therapist who knows all of your medical history and allergies.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and delaying or avoiding conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.
January 9, 2013 at 5:56 am
No comments
admin
What is Cancer ?
Approach to the patient with Cancer
In general, the cells of a multicellular organism are programmed for collaboration. Many diseases occur because the specialized cells fail to perform their assigned task. Cancer takes this malfunction one step further. Not only is there a failure of the cancer cell to maintain its specialized function, but it also strikes out on its own.
Cancer Screening
Screening is a means of detecting disease early in asymptomatic Individuals, with the goal of decreasing morbidity and mortality. While screening can potentially save lives and has been shown to do so in cervical, colon and probably breast cancer. Early detection does not in itself confer benefits.To be of value, screening must detect disease earlier, and treatment of earlier disease must yield a better outcome than treatment at the onset of symptoms.
Principles of Cancer Treatment
The goal of cancer treatment is first to eradicate the cancer. If this primary goal cannot be accomplished. The goal of cancer treatment shifts to palliation, the amelioration of symptoms, and preservation of quality of life while striving to extend the life.
General Presenting complaints of cancer patient
1. Pain :- Pain occurs with variable frequency in the cancer patient 25-50 % of patients present with pain at diagnosis, 33% have pain associated with treatment, approx. 70% of cases in which pain is caused by tumour itself and 75% have pain with progressive disease , In 10 % of cases pain is unrelated to cancer or its treatment.
2. Nausea: – Vomiting in the cancer patients is usually cause by chemotherapy.
3. Effusions: – Fluid may accumulate abnormally in the cavities present in body, may be pleural, pericardial or peritoneum.
4. Nutrition: – Cancer and its treatment may lead to decrease in nutrient intake of sufficient quantity to cause weight loss leading to cachexia and decreased appetite.
Psychosocial Support
The Psychosocial needs of patients alter with their situations. Patients undergoing treatment experience fear, depression, Anxiety and sexual dysfunction.
The Six Early Detectable and Treatable Cancers
Cancer is not a single disease: there are more than 200 types of cancer, according to which part of the body or specific tissue it originated from.
The good news is that there are a number of cancers that when detected early, respond well to treatment and often with a 100% cure rate. Specifically, the following six types of cancer fall into this category:
Breast cancer:
One of the most common cancers in women, accounting for 17.5% of all cancer cases in the UAE, this is also one of the most treatable, especially if diagnosed early. With a cure rate of 98% in these circumstances, the goal is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. Most doctors believe that tests for finding breast cancer early save many thousands of lives each year. The following detection methods are recommended:
1. Clinical Breast Examination – is an examination of your breasts by a health expert such as a doctor, nurse or physician assistant. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast examination as part of a regular checkup at least every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam every year.
2. Mammogram – this is a targeted x-ray of the breast, with the whole procedure taking no more than 20 minutes in total. Women aged 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should keep doing so for as long as they are in good health.
3. Breast self-examination – being aware of how your own breasts look and feel, means you are likely to notice any changes that might take place, so regular self-examination is an excellent option for women starting in their 20s. Your doctor or nurse can help check your method to make sure you are doing it correctly.
Cervical cancer:
Also one of the most common cancers affecting women and accounts for 4.4% of cancers among Emirati women. This cancer generally grows slowly and when detected early and treated properly, has a 100% cure rate. The most effective detection method for cervical cancer is a pap screening which can identify more than 90% of cervical cancers. Up to the age of 30, women should have a pap smear every three years. After the age of 30, an interval of 2 years between pap smears is recommended.
The most effective prevention against cervical cancer is the anti-HPV vaccine, which has rendered this particular cancer 100% avoidable if received earlier enough.
Skin cancer:
This is the most common of all human cancers (in UAE it accounts for 4.4% of all cancers) with three major types: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. Skin cancer is also usually 100% treatable. The vast majority of skin cancers are BCCs or SCCs. While malignant, these are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body, but if not treated early, may be locally disfiguring. A small but significant number of skin cancers are malignant melanomas, a highly aggressive cancer that tends to spread to other parts of the body. These cancers may be fatal if not treated early.
It is important to get to know your skin and to look out for any changes. In particular, take notice of moles and any dark patches on skin that change in size, shape or colour over weeks or months in adult life. The ABCD rule is particularly helpful:
Asymmetry – the two halves of a mole do not look the same
Border – the edges of a mole are irregular, blurred or jagged
Colour – the colour of a mole is uneven, with more than one shade
Diameter – your mole is wider than 6mm in diameter (the size of a pencil eraser)
Other possible signs of skin cancers include a new growth or sore that won’t heal; a spot, mole or sore that itches or hurts; or a mole that bleeds, crusts or scabs. If you are concerned about any skin changes, visit your doctor without delay.
Prostate cancer:
This is one of the most common male cancers, representing 3.6% of all cancers in the UAE, and rising to 4.6% of cancer cases among UAE Nationals. If found early while still confined to the prostate gland itself, has an excellent 95% cure rate. Often prostate cancer doesn’t have any symptoms, but when they do occur they may include:
• Urinating frequently
• Difficult or painful urination or ejaculation
• A feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied
• Blood in urine or semen
• Disturbed sleep because of the need to urinate
It’s important to be aware that a number of non-cancerous medical conditions may also cause these symptoms, for example, infection or benign prostate enlargement, but they should always be investigated.
There are several methods to check for the presence of prostate cancer. The simplest is the digital rectal examination which is done by a doctor, in which a gloved finger is inserted into the rectum, through which an enlarged prostate can be felt. Blood tests are the next step – prostate cancers cause the levels of certain chemicals and tumor markers in the blood to rise. More sophisticated tests include the use of ultrasound scans, and x-rays.
Testicular cancer:
This cancer is the one most common in young men between the ages of 15 and 45. A highly treatable condition affecting either one or both testicles, men are urged to check for the warning signs of cancer so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. Testicular lumps, heavy discomfort in the groin area or pain in the scrotum are the most common symptoms.
Regular testicular self-examinations have been shown to lead to early cancer diagnoses and FOCP advocates these practices be taught at school age.
Diagnosis is generally conducted through ultrasound, and blood tests to measure higher than normal levels of certain chemicals and tumor markers. If a tumour is found, cancer is presumed as most tumours in the testicle are malignant. However, the only certain way to correctly diagnose is to remove the testicle surgically and send samples for analysis. If the cancer hasn’t spread, further treatment may not be necessary after surgery.
Colo-rectal cancer:
Also known as bowel cancer, this is one of the most common cancers in the world and with early diagnosis, it’s one of the most treatable. In UAE it accounts for 11% of all cancers. Affecting the lower part of the digestive system – the large bowel and the rectum – this cancer is rare in people under 40. Affecting men and women equally, almost 85% of cases are diagnosed in over 65-year olds. Colo-rectal cancer isn’t easy to treat, mainly because its detection is often after it has spread beyond the bowel, but estimates suggest that nine out of 10 cases can be successfully treated if detected early. Survival has doubled over the past 30 years because of early diagnosis. It is important to be aware of the following symptoms, and to seek medical attention, particularly if they persist for longer than a couple of weeks:
• Blood flecks in stools, particularly if the blood is dark or plum-coloured
• A change in regular bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea, that lasts for a fortnight or more
• A feeling that you need to empty your bowels even if you’ve just been to the toilet
• Abdominal pain or discomfort that lasts for two weeks or more
• Unexplained weight loss
• Tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness, caused by anaemia from microscopic bleeding from the bowel
The most common screening procedures for colo-rectal cancer are:
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) – used to detect hidden blood in stools, and recommended as an annual test for men and women over the age of 50.
• Colonoscopy – a test that checks the upper and lower parts of the colon with a thin, illuminated tube, and recommended for men and women 50 years and older, every 10 years.
Ayurveda & Traditional Chinese Medicine: Alternative Therapies for Treatment of Leukemia
Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases plaguing contemporary society. A 2008 World Cancer Research Fund international survey recorded an estimated 12.7 million cases of cancer throughout the world. Out of the 12.7 million, 350,000 of those cases were leukemia, making up 2.8% of those newly diagnosed in 2008 (WHO). Although there are countless perspectives as to what causes cancer, Western biological structures seem to have the most influence, for they claim “scientific evidence” as their crutch. Yet, the unearthing of quantum physics brought with it concepts that were the very opposite of the previously cemented Newtonian principles of solid matter, reductionism, locality, and strict causality that modern medicine was based on. These new quantum principles that replaced Newtonian physics bore a striking resemblance to the energy systems of healing that had been in place for thousands of years in Eastern Asia. In light of the interconnected relationship discovered between subatomic particles and metaphysical reality, traditional eastern medicines, previously disregarded for lack of scientific evidence, were suddenly of great interest to the scientific community. The traditional medicines, Ayurveda (Traditional Indian Medicine, or TIM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are based on balance and harmony on all levels of existence; whereas Western medicine views the patient as a distinctly physical entity, traditional healing methods see the patient as existing in multiple planes. By viewing the patient as a whole entity, rather than attempting to objectify his/her subjective experience of life, TIM and TCM have major implications in the treatment of cancers. This article seeks to highlight the important concepts of these two alternative healing therapies in the treatment of cancer, while simultaneously providing evidence for their success in treating leukemia and the necessary induction of these methods into contemporary Western medicine.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines cancer as “malignant neoplastic disease, in which there is an uncontrolled proliferation of cells, typically with invasion and destruction of adjacent normal tissue, and often with metastatic spread to distant parts of the body via lymphatics or blood vessels; an instance of this, a malignant tumor,” (OED). Leukemia, then, is seen as an unmanageable growth of cells in the bone marrow. Western medicine, also termed “allopathic” medicine, relies on the Newtonian principles of physical matter, in which the world is made of up of solid matter, there is strict causality of effect, locality of cells deems interactions possible only through direct contact, and systems can be understood by reducing them to their simplest forms. In addition, this physical reality results in the division of body and soul, for a metaphysical component cannot be present within something physical. Rather, our soul exists outside of us, allowing us to separate from our subjective experience of life. This, in turn, became the basis for Western belief in the infallibility of “objective” science (Sharma, 496). The scientific community’s impact on healthcare is a diminishment of interpersonal connection between physician and patient. Patients were, and still are, viewed as objects, as potential paychecks. Herein lies the issue: if patients aren’t seen as individuals, then their personal ailments cannot be treated as such. Causes of cancer are seen just as the soul is, outside of the human body, and a result of environmental factors. The main worldwide risk factor for leukemia is presently smoking, making up 9% (23,000) of deaths (Danaei et al, 1787). Rather than prescribing treatments specific to the patient, allopathic practitioners rely on dangerous procedures, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. In fact, these procedures can even reduce the patient’s lifespan, rather than expanding it. For example, chemotherapy acts as a carcinogenic immunosuppressor, where it can actually kill the patient before they actually die from the cancer itself, while surgery removes the cancer, but doesn’t treat the primary source of it (Trivieri & Anderson, 592-593). The vagueness in which cancer is described in western science is a commentary on how the west views sickness as objective. Each type of cancer is mostly treated with these same three options, yet there are dozens of types of cancers in existence, and all affect the person in unique ways; allopathic medicine treats the symptoms, without bothering to delve into the patient’s subjective experience and understand the underlying causes of the disease.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been in existence for about 5000 years, and is one of the most widely accepted forms of medicine. TCM is based on the idea of qi, life force energy, flowing through our bodies. Yin and yang are the central focuses for maintaining balance of qi energy and they represent the opposing forces that are separate entities, yet intimately connected and impacted by the other. The yin represents the organ tissue, while the yang is its activity; when the two are imbalanced, either the yin doesn’t have the raw materials it needs to function, or the yang doesn’t react accordingly. According to TCM, there are meridians of energy internally and externally flowing around us, and each of these meridians corresponds with a specific organ. TCM’s Five Phase Theory breaks up ten organs into one of five elemental categories: earth, metal, fire, wood, or water. Each of these elements is comprised of a yin and a yang organ. The yin organs consist of the heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver, for they are more substantial, solid organs, whereas the yang organs include the small intestine, stomach, large intestine, bladder, and gallbladder, which are hollow organs, functional organs (Trivieri & Anderson, 456-58). TCM also takes into account the body-mind network that functions as communication, and seeks to analyze the process so as to integrate it into healing. The body-mind network “may be partly regulated by the relative contributions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the nervous system;” this also relates to the TCM concept of informational transfer and balance between ying & yang (Wong, Sagar, & Sagar, 235).
Leukemia, in terms of TCM, can be viewed as a disruption of this information flow between yin & yang, and “is represented in TCM terms by patterns of disharmonies in the main organ systems, as well as abnormalities of qi (energy flow), essence (energy reserves), blood, heat, and moisture,” (Wong et al, 236). Treatment, then, reaches the patient on a deeper level than allopathic symptom reducers. Rather, TCM uses herbal remedies and acupuncture to realign the out-of-balance life force. The body-mind network model of TCM combines emotions and feelings with symptoms to create a personalized diagnosis and treatment regiment based on the root causes of the symptoms, as well as the symptoms themselves. This is evident in the correlation between increasing qi, manifested as anger (liver fire), and the finding that anger can suppress the immune system (Wong et al, 236).
Because we each exist on numerous levels, TCM treatment uses four major approaches to treating cancer. The first is called Fu Zheng Xie, which supports normal qi function while clearing away the evil. This method is an immunomodulating technique, in which the patient’s own immune system is strengthened by using Fu Zheng herbs, biological response modifiers, so that it can defend itself from pathogens (Wong et al, 238). In addition, cancer is seen as due to a deficiency that must be resolved so that the qi isn’t weakened as much during the healing process Fu Zheng herbs “contain high levels of polysaccharides with strong immunopotentiating activity,” (Lahans 53-4). In other words, the herbal remedies prescribed boost the body’s immune system responses. Ginseng root has been found to have anti-tumor activity, to inhibit platelet aggregation, and inhibit immunosuppression that is the result of chemotherapy (Wong et al, 237). Within this biological response modification again we see the underlying intention of TCM to increase the body’s own immunological responses. The second method of TCM cancer treatment is named Huo Xue Qu Yu, in which blood stasis is considered to be either the cause or the result of cancer. Blood stasis syndrome, a form of Chinese diagnostics, indicates the points on the body which have poor circulation. Certain herbs break down the fibrin coating that prevents chemotherapy and immune cells from entering the tumor by changing the viscosity of the blood, helping to maintain regular circulation, and regulates blood flow, among others, (Lahans, 54). Blood stagnation is associated with tumors, for the poor circulation leads to the survival of cancer cells in low oxygen environments. The herbs used here are meant to detoxify the blood, so that it and the qi move smoothly (Wong et al, 237). The next treatment method is called Qing Re Jie Du, in which heat and toxins are cleared. Effects of these herbs are similar to chemotherapy drugs, in that they “reduce inflammation, neutralize toxins, reduce fevers of many kinds and often treat pain,” as well as containing cancer growth suppressors (Lahans, 54). Ruan Jian San Jie, in which one “soften[s] the hard and dissolve[s] the knotted,” is the next herbal treatment option (Lahans, 54). These herbs are salty, and help to break down tumors that are hard and filled with phlegm. They enter the phlegm mass and pry it open, allowing other herbs and chemicals in to break it up. The final herbal option is Yi Du Gong Du, in which one uses a toxin to attack another toxin, seen most often in chemotherapy. Each of these herbal paths are considered and then combined by the TCM practitioner to suit the specific disease of the patient (Lahans, 54-55). Acupuncture is also used to diminish the effects of chemotherapy, as well as to reduce pain and allow the patient to preserve his/her qi.
Certain herbs have been found to be especially beneficial to cancer prevention and treatment. Medicinal mushrooms have been a topic of research lately, for there are at least 270 species of mushrooms thought to have healing properties. One promising species known as Lentinan, “has been shown to possess anti-tumor activity, to prevent metastasis, and to inhibit chemical- and viral-induced oncogenesis,” (Sullivan, Smith, & Rowan, 164). As a result, Lentanin plays a part in improving the overall quality of life of patients suffering from side-effects of conventional treatment by reducing nausea, hair loss, and pain. The effectiveness of many of these herbal compounds lies in the state of compound itself; rather, “the purported medicinal and chemo-preventive role of crude mushroom extracts may lie in the synergistic interactions of the many constituents,” (Sullivan, Smith, & Rowan, 167). Other methods of healing that don’t include herbs or acupuncture are qigong, transcendental meditation, and Tai Chi. These methods enable the person to get to know themselves on a deeper level and then, in turn, come to know the root of their disease better. From this, full recovery is possible through determination and surrender.
Ayurveda comes from Sanskrit, where “ayus” means life, and “veda,” represents knowledge, and was the first form of healing that emphasized the importance of health on the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual levels (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 3). This form of healing is a five thousand year old Indian medicinal system that is based on the concept of a universe made up of 5 elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth, with each of these elements present at all levels of life, in one way or another (Patwardhan et al, 466). Ayurveda characterizes the body into one of three dosha (body) types, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, while attempting to reach a “balanced coordination of body, mind, and consciousness,” which is the ayurvedic signal of health (Garodia et al, 1-2). Each body type has its own dietary restrictions, optimal functioning time of the day, and corresponding season. Ayurveda is designed, just as TCM is, to promote good health and prevention, rather than attacking the symptoms of the disease once it comes. The two textbooks of Ayurveda are called Charaka Samhita, which “deals with the etiology, symptomology, pathology, prognosis, and medical management of the disease, and Sushruta Samhita, which contains information on surgical instruments and procedures (Garodia et al, 1-2). In addition, TIM uses the mind and the spirit to get to know the body so that it can reach a balance between the three body types.
The Vata dosha is in charge of movement and flow of the body’s locomotor functions, such as blood circulation, expansion and contraction of heart and lungs, and nervous system actitivies, among others (Sharma, 500). Vata governs the most important mechanisms and t herefore controls the other two doshas. A vata is usually of light, thin build, performs activity quickly, have a tendency for dry skin, an aversion to cold weather, irregular hunger and digestion, quick to understand new information, but also quick to forget it, tendency to worry, tendency towards constipation, and a tendency towards light, interrupted sleep. An imbalance of this dosha is usually characterized by rough skin, weight loss, anxiety, restlessness, constipation, decreased strength, arthritis, hypertension, rheumatic disorder, cardiac arrhythmia, insomnia, and irritable bowel syndrome (Sharma, 500-502).
Pitta dosh governs the bodily functions that are associated with metabolism and heat, and also directs all biochemical reactions and the process of energy exchange. This dosha regulates hunger/ metabolism, secretion of hormones, the respiratory system, and others (Sharma, 500). Characteristics of a pitta include moderate build with medium speed, aversion to hot weather, sharp hunger and digestion, medium time to grasp incoming information, regular memory, tendency towards irritability and anger, sharp and clever mind, prefers cold foods and drinks, cannot skip meals, is a good speaker, and has a tendency towards reddish hair and complexion, along with moles and freckles (Sharma, 502). An imbalanced pitta could lead to yellowish complexion, excessive body heat, insufficient sleep, weak digestion, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, heartburn, peptic ulcers, and anger (Sharma, 501).
Finally, the kapha dosha is in charge of the structure and coherency of the organism, for it governs biological strength, natural tissue resistance, and proper bodily structure in terms of bodily systems, including neurological (Sharma, 500). When imbalanced, kapha can have a pale complexion, coldness, laziness and dullness, excessive sleep, sinusitis, respiratory diseases/asthma, excessive weight gain, loose joints, and depression (Sharma, 501). The Kapha traits usually include solid, heavier build, greater strength and endurance, slow, methodical activity, smooth but oily skin, tranquil, steady personality, slow to grasp new information, but slow to forget, slow to become excited or irritated, sleeps heavily and for long periods of time, hair tends to be thick and dark, and there is usually evidence of slow digestion and mild hunger (Sharma, 502). When these doshas are out of balance, they create a disharmony that causes the physical manifestation of disease. These pathogens are throughout the whole body, and are the result of bad hygiene, bad diet, poor lifestyle choices, and bad habits. When there is excessive water or fat in a tumor, as well as balanced doshas, the tumor seems to be benign. If one isn’t careful to rebalance one’s doshas, tumors may form as a result of bodily negligence. Factors that cause Vata aggravation are “excessive intake of bitter, pungent, astringent, dry foods and stressful conditions,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 2). Pitta aggravations are the result of the “excessive intake of sour, salty, fried foods and excessive anger,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 2). Aggravating factors of Kapha include “excessive intake of sweet, oily food and sedentary nature,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 2).
Ayurveda defines the “ultimate basis of disease” as “losing one’s connection to (or memory of) the unified field, which is the innermost core of one’s own being and experience,” (Sharma, 498). A main technique of ayurvedic practitioners to retrieve information is through nadi vigyan, or pulse diagnosis. Here, the practitioner can access internal functioning information through reading subtle signs in the radial pulse, which encodes information regarding the cardiovascular system and other (Sharma, 501). Again we see, just as we did in TCM, an emphasis on the synergistic effects of chemicals within the plants. It is believed that these compounds are naturally occurring for a reason, and that their natural synergy is just as strong, if not stronger, than an isolated chemical. In turn, these herbal mixtures are seen as part of the consciousness model, a quantum theory that all nature is made up of probability waves that are a function of intelligence, and that we live within a field of energy information similar to the Zero Point Field (Sharma, 497), (McTaggart, 24). Therefore, according to this energy model, ayurvedic tinctures and plant remedies are a reintroduction of information into a disrupted system. In essence, the natural intelligence of the plants increases the overall expression of intelligence within our bodies (Sharma, 502).
Ayurveda views the illness within each patient as unique, so instead of naming the disease, it is related to the levels of pitta or agni (fire) that lives in all cells and is responsible for digestion and metabolism in the body. The lack of pitta results in an inverse reaction in tumor growth. In addition, vata represents the anabolic (built-up) growth phase, while kapha represents a catabolic (break-down) phase. Cancer is a result of the aggravation of vata, and the suppression of kapha, resulting in a buildup of tissue, which eventually becomes a tumor. The six stages of tumor growth mentioned in the Sushruta are “sanchaya: early stages of localized neoplastic changes,” “prakopa: transformation of primary growths into metastatic tumors,” “prasara: metastasis,” “sthana samsraya: complete metastasis and secondary growth,” “vyakti: clinical signs and symptoms are expressed,” and “bheda: the stage where differentiation of growth occurs on the basis of histopathology,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 3).
Cancer, according to ayurvedic principles, develops in three stages. First, the patient suffers from the initial stage of glandular swelling, also known as granthi. This, then, develops into the second stage of cancer, arbuda, in which we confirm and define the specific malignancy. Cancer is viewed as a result of “lifestyle errors,” including “unhealthy foods, poor hygiene, or poor behavior, or from physical trauma, all leading to imbalances of [the doshas], resulting in injury to the inner layer of the dermis (rohini, the sixth later of skin) and the formation of abnormal branches of blood vessels,” (Garodia et al, 2). This leads to the formation of either granthi or arbuda, which arrive in the form of bubbled glandular growths. Granthi tends to be hard, round, and bulging, while arbuda has been described as large, round, immovable, muscular, deeply rooted, and slow growth of swelling as a result of aggravated doshas, which vitiate the muscle, blood, and fatty tissues (Garodia et al, 2-3). This explains why tumors that are tridoshic, or a result of the imbalance of all doshas, are usually malignant, for the homeostasis created by the harmonic doshas is lost.
Ayurvedic therapy is divided into four distinct categories: Prakriti Sthapani chikitsa, or health maintenance, roganashani chikitsa, or disease cure, rasayana chikitsa, or restoration of normal function, and naishthiki chikitsa, or the spiritual approach. Rather than treating the symptoms as allopathic medicine tends to do, ayurvedic principles are designed to search for the root cause of the illness, whose development is classified in six stages: “aggravation, accumulation, overflow, relocation, build-up in a new location, and manifestation into a recognizable disease,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 3). In addition, because Ayurveda considers the illness to be non-localized, the herbal tinctures used to treat cancer impact the entire body by treating multiple organ systems at once (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 5). Shodhana chikitsa, or strong purifying techniques, is used in Ayurvedic cancer care to flush the system of toxins and restore the natural rhythm to the body by balancing out imbalanced doshas. After, rejuvenitive therapies are used to cleanse the body of blockages that may result from the purification. Before treating the imbalanced doshas directly, “emotional support and psychotherapy are provided with yoga, meditation, prayers, and chanting, along with individualized nutrition plans and dietary interventions,” (Garodia et al, 4). By treating the patient on all levels of being, the practitioner can heal the complex, multi-layered individual by being attentive to their spiritual and environmental health, which can often be overlooked in contemporary western medicine.
Most research into traditional healing modalities has been biased in an attempt to discredit it, poorly funded and therefore poorly designed, or used in an attempt to relate it to standing biological structures in the west. TIM and TCM have been found to be extremely successful in conjunction with contemporary, allopathic measures for treating cancer, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and invasive surgical techniques. While there is little research available on the effectiveness of traditional medicine’s impact on leukemia, there is an abundance of research on the isolated chemicals that western science believes to be the true source of healing. Yet, little research gives credit to the overall effect of the therapies themselves; by isolating compounds we are in danger of doing to traditional medicine what allopathic medicine has done for healing in the west, increased specialization and a decreased holistic view of the body.
Traditional Chinese medicine has undergone an intense revival in the past fifteen years. Hong Kong’s realization of the potential for increased business and public interest in TCM has lead them to create a “10-year plan for making the city an ‘international center for Chinese medicine,” (Normile, 2). As a result, increasing amounts of research are being conducted in the east on Chinese medicinal herbal compounds and their biochemical effects on patients suffering from leukemia.
In a study by Efferth et al, Chinese herbs were tested for their effects on multi-drug resistant leukemia cells. Numerous herbs were administered to three types of leukemic cells by two different blind laboratories, one in Australia and one in Germany. The results of the experiment were based on a growth curve gathered over a period of ten days. Researchers found that homoharringtonine, bufalin, and artesunate were the most effective compounds reducing the size of leukemic cells. Bufalin seems the most promising in this experiment, for not only did the three types of leukemic cells not show any resistance to the herb, but some even showed increased sensitivity. This experiment shows the importance of herbal medicine in decreasing resistance to anti-cancer treatments (Efferth et al, 161-168)
Interestingly, researchers have also found anti-leukemic properties in the herb Indigofera tinctoria, which is commonly known as the dye for blue jean manufacturers. A compound called Indorubin was isolated from this, and was found to stop cell growth through the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) in leukemia cells by binding to the ATP-binding sites of cell-cycle controllers. However, the use of this compound ceased in the 1970’s, due to evidence that it causes gastrointestinal tract problems, as well as being “poorly water soluble,” (Bradbury, 1131). Scientists have eliminated this issue by isolating derivatives, such as meisoindigo, which is widely used in China for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Meisoindigo was also found to shorten the path to remission when paired with an all-trans retinoic acid (Bradbury, 1131-1132).
A study done by Ruan, Lai, & Zhou showed the positive effects of certain herbal derivatives on leukemic cells. Artesunate, a derived compound of artemisinin, was found to be extremely effective on leukemia specifically (along with colon cancer). In addition, butanol and PC-SPES were found to inhibit cell growth and tumor generation in patients suffering from leukemia (Ruan, Lai, & Zhou, 4-6) Takrisodokyeum (TRSDY), a compound of 12 herbs in various proportions, was also found to have an effect on destabilizing cancer cells. In fact, “promyelocytic leukeamic cells (HL-60) cells pre-treated with TRSDY revealed that apoptotic cell death was indeed caspase-3 induced,” with “Its activation resulting in classical apoptotic signs including DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and plasma membrane blebbing, (Parekh, Lui, & Wei, 4). Here, apoptosis represents cell death, while caspase-3 is a pro-apoptotic enzyme that causes cleavage and destruction of cancer cells.
Ayurveda too lacks sufficient research into the positive effects of TIM on cancer, and leukemia specifically. Instead, just as with TCM, studies tend to focus on isolation of compounds found in Ayurvedic treatments and diets in order to satisfy the western appetite for empirical findings. Once again we see the lack of awareness of the holistic view of health, and western science, by isolating derivatives, is ignoring the interaction of the naturally occurring chemicals within the body. Rather, empirical science is intent on separating out the specific chemical it deems responsible for the anti-cancer properties, instead of testing whether it may be the interactions of each chemical within the plant or food itself.
A 1997 case study of a 16-year old boy in New Delhi, India with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) revealed that the teen had gone through two cycles of chemotherapy, reached remission, but then relapsed. However, he refused another round of chemotherapy and/or a bone marrow transplant, and instead opted to try Ayurvedic Therapy (AYT). Proper diet, yoga, and supportive therapy were given, along with Navjeevan, Valapani, Kamdhuda, and Prak-20, which are Ayurvedic herbal compounds. Six months after the patient began AYT scans showed that only 1% of cancerous cells were present in the bone marrow, while none were detected in the bloodstream. The patient continued steady treatment for the next 5 years, after which he “received intermittent maintenance AYT, same as mentioned before, in the same doses for three months in the next two years,” (Prakash, 2).
Another case study reported of a 47 year old male in Mumbai who was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in 1997. The patient was given a cocktail of medications, Navjeevan, Valapani, Kamdhuda, and Prak-20 antibiotics, blood components, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy after multiple remissions and relapses. However, after his last relapse he refused anymore chemotherapy and instead opted to sign up for an experimental study conducted by the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha. When the man began therapy he was anemic, anorexic, weak, and had a lung infection, which was the main reason for the use of light antibiotics and blood transfusions with the AYT. His Ayurvedic therapy consisted of a strict Pittavardhak aahar, an herbo-mineral compound, and salt diet, as well as isolation. The patient’s symptoms and condition seemed to get better after fifteen days of AYT, and after a month his tests began to come back normal, along with an increase in energy and strength. After about a year, the therapy was stopped, while he continued to receive treatment for three months once a year for the next five years, until 2003. The patient has had no reports of relapse in the seven years since his completion of AYT (Prakash, Parikh, & Pal, 3-4).
Specific plants have been found to be extremely effective when treating different types of leukemia. Compounds derived from the Vinca rosea plant have been found to be particularly effective in treatment of Lymphatic leukemia, while K40, which is found in Semecarpus anacardium (SCAS) shows potential in treating chronic myeloid leukemia (Marmont & Damasio, 15). In addition, aqueous, alcoholic, acidic, and olive oil solutions of Plumbago zeylanica were reported to work against lymphocytic leukemia, and Withania somnifera (Aswagandha), a common Indian medicinal plant also known as the Indian ginseng, was also reported to have effects on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Teja & Nayak, 2). Gold nanoparticles are also being researched for their anti-cancerous properties. Still used in India “under the name Swarna Bhasma (‘Swarna’ meaning gold, ‘Bhasma’ meaning ash),” and is referred to as the “drug of longevity” because of its use in rejuvenation and revitalization for the elderly (Mukherjee et al, 9). These gold particles were found to be particularly detrimental to B- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) by combining with another compound called VEGF to increase apoptosis through the use of UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) (Mukherjee et al, 4-9).
The use of TCM and TIM as medical treatment for leukemia is still a long way from being a scientifically or culturally accepted practice in western allopathic medicine. Regardless of thousands of years of practice, western science has the arrogance to call into question the validity of these techniques, when allopathic medicine itself is still in its infancy. More research is needed on the effectiveness of the overall traditional therapies, rather than the impact of an isolated derivative from a specific herb used in treatment. These traditional treatments are holistic practices of medicine, and therefore the research into them should allot them the courtesy of at least considering each therapy as a whole first. Although empirical evidence is needed to truly gage the effectiveness of a treatment, this does not necessarily mean that each chemical considered to be potentially helpful should be isolated. Before delving in and picking out the specific active components in each individual herb, western science must realize that these herbs are prescribed in conjunction with one another, and while each specific chemical within the plant may not have an effect on leukemia itself, the interaction of the chemicals within the plant is where the secret in their success lies.
For Citations and Further Research
1) Balachandran, P., & Govindarajan, R. (2005). cancer—an ayurvedic perspective. Pharmacological Research, 51(1), 19-30. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661804001094
2) Bradbury, Jane. “From Chinese medicine to anticancer drugs.” Drug Discovery Today. 10.17 (2005): 1131-1132. Print. <http://zp3xh7ca4f.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2011-11-10T21:20:00IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ct&xrfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-sciversesciencedirect_elsevier&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=From Chinese medicine to anticancer drugs&rft.jtitle=Drug Discovery Today&rft.btitle=&rft.aulast=Bradbury&rft.auinit=&rft.auinit1=&rft.auinitm=&rft.ausuffix=&rft.au=Bradbury, Jane&rft.aucorp=&rft.date=2005&rft.volume=10&rft.issue=17&rft.part=&rft.quarter=&rft.ssn=&rft.spage=1131&rft.epage=1132&rft.pages=1131-1132&rft.artnum=&rft.issn=1359-6446&rft.eissn=&rft.isbn=&rft.sici=&rft.coden=&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/S1359-6446(05)03587-7&rft.object_id=&svc_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:sch_svc&svc.fulltext=yes&rft.eisbn=&rft_dat=S1359-6446(05)03587-7&rft_id=info:oai/>.
3) Danaei, G., Vander Hoorn, S., Lopez, A. D., Murray, C. L. J., & Ezzati, M. (2005). Causes of cancer in the world: comparative risk assessment of nine behaviioural and environmental risk factors. Lancet, 366, 1784-93. Retrieved from http://medres.med.ucla.edu/Education/syllabus/solid/pdf/4. Modifieable Risk Factors for Cancer.pdf
4) Garodia, P., Ichikawa, H., Malani, N., Sethi, G., & Aggarwal, B. (2007). From ancient medicine to modern medicine: ayurvedic concepts of health and their role in inflammation and cancer. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 5(1), Retrieved from http://www.jivaresearch.org/research/curcumin/From_ancient_medicine_to_modern_medicine-_Ayurvedic_concepts_of_health_and_their_role_in_inflamma.pdf
5) Lahans, T. (2007). Treatment principles in chinese medicine for modern integrated cancer care. The Journal of Chinese Medicine, (85), 53-56. Retrieved from http://bingprimo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com:1701/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?tabs=detailsTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=TN_gale_hrca170019716&indx=1&recIds=TN_gale_hrca170019716&recIdxs=0&elementId=0&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=&dscnt=1&scp.scps=scope:(bing_aleph),scope:(bing_eternity),primo_central_multiple_fe&frbg=&tab=default_tab&dstmp=1319040921679&srt=rank&mode=Basic&dum=true&tb=t&vl(freeText0)=Treatment principles in Chinese medicine for modern integrated cancer care&vid=BING
6) Marmont, Alberto, and Eugenio Damasio. “The Effects of Two Alkaloids Derived from Vinca Rosea on the Malignant Cells of Hodgkin’s Disease, Lymphosarcoma and Acute Leukemia in Vivo .” Blood. 29.1 (1967): 1-21. Print. <http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/29/1/1>.
7) McTaggart , Lynne. The Field. 3rd. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. Print.
8) Mukherjee, Priyabrata, Resham Bhattacharya, Nancy Bone, Yean Lee, Chitta Patra, Shanfeng Wang, Lichun Lu, and Charla Secreto. “Potential therapeutic application of gold nanoparticles in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL): enhancing apoptosis.” Journal of Nanobiotechnology. 5.4 (2007): 1-13. Print. <http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1477-3155-5-4.pdf>.
9) Parekh, Harendra, Gang Lui, and Ming Wei. “A new dawn for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer therapy.” Molecular Cancer. 8.21 (2009): n. page. Print. <http://www.molecular-cancer.com/content/8/1/21>.
10) Patwardhan, B., Warude, D., Pushpangadan, P., & Bhatt, N. (2005). Ayurveda and traditional chinese medicine: a comparative overview. Alternative Medicine, 2(4), 465-473. Retrieved from http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:yRa60xCpejQJ:scholar.google.com/ Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Comparative Overview&hl=en&as_sdt=0,33
11) Prakash, Balendu. “Treatment of relapsed undifferentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0) with Ayurvedic therapy.” International Journal of Ayurvedic Research. 2.1 (2011): 56-59. Print. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3157111/>.
12) Prakash, Balendu, Purvish Parikh, and Sanjoy Pal. “Herbo-mineral ayurvedic treatment in a high risk acute promyelocytic leukemia patient with second relapse: 12 years follow up.” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 1.3 (2010): 215-218. Print. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3087364/>.
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Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases plaguing contemporary society. A 2008 World Cancer Research Fund international survey recorded an estimated 12.7 million cases of cancer throughout the world. Out of the 12.7 million, 350,000 of those cases were leukemia, making up 2.8% of those newly diagnosed in 2008 (WHO). Although there are countless perspectives as to what causes cancer, Western biological structures seem to have the most influence, for they claim “scientific evidence” as their crutch. Yet, the unearthing of quantum physics brought with it concepts that were the very opposite of the previously cemented Newtonian principles of solid matter, reductionism, locality, and strict causality that modern medicine was based on. These new quantum principles that replaced Newtonian physics bore a striking resemblance to the energy systems of healing that had been in place for thousands of years in Eastern Asia. In light of the interconnected relationship discovered between subatomic particles and metaphysical reality, traditional eastern medicines, previously disregarded for lack of scientific evidence, were suddenly of great interest to the scientific community. The traditional medicines, Ayurveda (Traditional Indian Medicine, or TIM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are based on balance and harmony on all levels of existence; whereas Western medicine views the patient as a distinctly physical entity, traditional healing methods see the patient as existing in multiple planes. By viewing the patient as a whole entity, rather than attempting to objectify his/her subjective experience of life, TIM and TCM have major implications in the treatment of cancers. This article seeks to highlight the important concepts of these two alternative healing therapies in the treatment of cancer, while simultaneously providing evidence for their success in treating leukemia and the necessary induction of these methods into contemporary Western medicine.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines cancer as “malignant neoplastic disease, in which there is an uncontrolled proliferation of cells, typically with invasion and destruction of adjacent normal tissue, and often with metastatic spread to distant parts of the body via lymphatics or blood vessels; an instance of this, a malignant tumor,” (OED). Leukemia, then, is seen as an unmanageable growth of cells in the bone marrow. Western medicine, also termed “allopathic” medicine, relies on the Newtonian principles of physical matter, in which the world is made of up of solid matter, there is strict causality of effect, locality of cells deems interactions possible only through direct contact, and systems can be understood by reducing them to their simplest forms. In addition, this physical reality results in the division of body and soul, for a metaphysical component cannot be present within something physical. Rather, our soul exists outside of us, allowing us to separate from our subjective experience of life. This, in turn, became the basis for Western belief in the infallibility of “objective” science (Sharma, 496). The scientific community’s impact on healthcare is a diminishment of interpersonal connection between physician and patient. Patients were, and still are, viewed as objects, as potential paychecks. Herein lies the issue: if patients aren’t seen as individuals, then their personal ailments cannot be treated as such. Causes of cancer are seen just as the soul is, outside of the human body, and a result of environmental factors. The main worldwide risk factor for leukemia is presently smoking, making up 9% (23,000) of deaths (Danaei et al, 1787). Rather than prescribing treatments specific to the patient, allopathic practitioners rely on dangerous procedures, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. In fact, these procedures can even reduce the patient’s lifespan, rather than expanding it. For example, chemotherapy acts as a carcinogenic immunosuppressor, where it can actually kill the patient before they actually die from the cancer itself, while surgery removes the cancer, but doesn’t treat the primary source of it (Trivieri & Anderson, 592-593). The vagueness in which cancer is described in western science is a commentary on how the west views sickness as objective. Each type of cancer is mostly treated with these same three options, yet there are dozens of types of cancers in existence, and all affect the person in unique ways; allopathic medicine treats the symptoms, without bothering to delve into the patient’s subjective experience and understand the underlying causes of the disease.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been in existence for about 5000 years, and is one of the most widely accepted forms of medicine. TCM is based on the idea of qi, life force energy, flowing through our bodies. Yin and yang are the central focuses for maintaining balance of qi energy and they represent the opposing forces that are separate entities, yet intimately connected and impacted by the other. The yin represents the organ tissue, while the yang is its activity; when the two are imbalanced, either the yin doesn’t have the raw materials it needs to function, or the yang doesn’t react accordingly. According to TCM, there are meridians of energy internally and externally flowing around us, and each of these meridians corresponds with a specific organ. TCM’s Five Phase Theory breaks up ten organs into one of five elemental categories: earth, metal, fire, wood, or water. Each of these elements is comprised of a yin and a yang organ. The yin organs consist of the heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver, for they are more substantial, solid organs, whereas the yang organs include the small intestine, stomach, large intestine, bladder, and gallbladder, which are hollow organs, functional organs (Trivieri & Anderson, 456-58). TCM also takes into account the body-mind network that functions as communication, and seeks to analyze the process so as to integrate it into healing. The body-mind network “may be partly regulated by the relative contributions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the nervous system;” this also relates to the TCM concept of informational transfer and balance between ying & yang (Wong, Sagar, & Sagar, 235).
Leukemia, in terms of TCM, can be viewed as a disruption of this information flow between yin & yang, and “is represented in TCM terms by patterns of disharmonies in the main organ systems, as well as abnormalities of qi (energy flow), essence (energy reserves), blood, heat, and moisture,” (Wong et al, 236). Treatment, then, reaches the patient on a deeper level than allopathic symptom reducers. Rather, TCM uses herbal remedies and acupuncture to realign the out-of-balance life force. The body-mind network model of TCM combines emotions and feelings with symptoms to create a personalized diagnosis and treatment regiment based on the root causes of the symptoms, as well as the symptoms themselves. This is evident in the correlation between increasing qi, manifested as anger (liver fire), and the finding that anger can suppress the immune system (Wong et al, 236).
Because we each exist on numerous levels, TCM treatment uses four major approaches to treating cancer. The first is called Fu Zheng Xie, which supports normal qi function while clearing away the evil. This method is an immunomodulating technique, in which the patient’s own immune system is strengthened by using Fu Zheng herbs, biological response modifiers, so that it can defend itself from pathogens (Wong et al, 238). In addition, cancer is seen as due to a deficiency that must be resolved so that the qi isn’t weakened as much during the healing process Fu Zheng herbs “contain high levels of polysaccharides with strong immunopotentiating activity,” (Lahans 53-4). In other words, the herbal remedies prescribed boost the body’s immune system responses. Ginseng root has been found to have anti-tumor activity, to inhibit platelet aggregation, and inhibit immunosuppression that is the result of chemotherapy (Wong et al, 237). Within this biological response modification again we see the underlying intention of TCM to increase the body’s own immunological responses. The second method of TCM cancer treatment is named Huo Xue Qu Yu, in which blood stasis is considered to be either the cause or the result of cancer. Blood stasis syndrome, a form of Chinese diagnostics, indicates the points on the body which have poor circulation. Certain herbs break down the fibrin coating that prevents chemotherapy and immune cells from entering the tumor by changing the viscosity of the blood, helping to maintain regular circulation, and regulates blood flow, among others, (Lahans, 54). Blood stagnation is associated with tumors, for the poor circulation leads to the survival of cancer cells in low oxygen environments. The herbs used here are meant to detoxify the blood, so that it and the qi move smoothly (Wong et al, 237). The next treatment method is called Qing Re Jie Du, in which heat and toxins are cleared. Effects of these herbs are similar to chemotherapy drugs, in that they “reduce inflammation, neutralize toxins, reduce fevers of many kinds and often treat pain,” as well as containing cancer growth suppressors (Lahans, 54). Ruan Jian San Jie, in which one “soften[s] the hard and dissolve[s] the knotted,” is the next herbal treatment option (Lahans, 54). These herbs are salty, and help to break down tumors that are hard and filled with phlegm. They enter the phlegm mass and pry it open, allowing other herbs and chemicals in to break it up. The final herbal option is Yi Du Gong Du, in which one uses a toxin to attack another toxin, seen most often in chemotherapy. Each of these herbal paths are considered and then combined by the TCM practitioner to suit the specific disease of the patient (Lahans, 54-55). Acupuncture is also used to diminish the effects of chemotherapy, as well as to reduce pain and allow the patient to preserve his/her qi.
Certain herbs have been found to be especially beneficial to cancer prevention and treatment. Medicinal mushrooms have been a topic of research lately, for there are at least 270 species of mushrooms thought to have healing properties. One promising species known as Lentinan, “has been shown to possess anti-tumor activity, to prevent metastasis, and to inhibit chemical- and viral-induced oncogenesis,” (Sullivan, Smith, & Rowan, 164). As a result, Lentanin plays a part in improving the overall quality of life of patients suffering from side-effects of conventional treatment by reducing nausea, hair loss, and pain. The effectiveness of many of these herbal compounds lies in the state of compound itself; rather, “the purported medicinal and chemo-preventive role of crude mushroom extracts may lie in the synergistic interactions of the many constituents,” (Sullivan, Smith, & Rowan, 167). Other methods of healing that don’t include herbs or acupuncture are qigong, transcendental meditation, and Tai Chi. These methods enable the person to get to know themselves on a deeper level and then, in turn, come to know the root of their disease better. From this, full recovery is possible through determination and surrender.
Ayurveda comes from Sanskrit, where “ayus” means life, and “veda,” represents knowledge, and was the first form of healing that emphasized the importance of health on the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual levels (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 3). This form of healing is a five thousand year old Indian medicinal system that is based on the concept of a universe made up of 5 elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth, with each of these elements present at all levels of life, in one way or another (Patwardhan et al, 466). Ayurveda characterizes the body into one of three dosha (body) types, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, while attempting to reach a “balanced coordination of body, mind, and consciousness,” which is the ayurvedic signal of health (Garodia et al, 1-2). Each body type has its own dietary restrictions, optimal functioning time of the day, and corresponding season. Ayurveda is designed, just as TCM is, to promote good health and prevention, rather than attacking the symptoms of the disease once it comes. The two textbooks of Ayurveda are called Charaka Samhita, which “deals with the etiology, symptomology, pathology, prognosis, and medical management of the disease, and Sushruta Samhita, which contains information on surgical instruments and procedures (Garodia et al, 1-2). In addition, TIM uses the mind and the spirit to get to know the body so that it can reach a balance between the three body types.
The Vata dosha is in charge of movement and flow of the body’s locomotor functions, such as blood circulation, expansion and contraction of heart and lungs, and nervous system actitivies, among others (Sharma, 500). Vata governs the most important mechanisms and t herefore controls the other two doshas. A vata is usually of light, thin build, performs activity quickly, have a tendency for dry skin, an aversion to cold weather, irregular hunger and digestion, quick to understand new information, but also quick to forget it, tendency to worry, tendency towards constipation, and a tendency towards light, interrupted sleep. An imbalance of this dosha is usually characterized by rough skin, weight loss, anxiety, restlessness, constipation, decreased strength, arthritis, hypertension, rheumatic disorder, cardiac arrhythmia, insomnia, and irritable bowel syndrome (Sharma, 500-502).
Pitta dosh governs the bodily functions that are associated with metabolism and heat, and also directs all biochemical reactions and the process of energy exchange. This dosha regulates hunger/ metabolism, secretion of hormones, the respiratory system, and others (Sharma, 500). Characteristics of a pitta include moderate build with medium speed, aversion to hot weather, sharp hunger and digestion, medium time to grasp incoming information, regular memory, tendency towards irritability and anger, sharp and clever mind, prefers cold foods and drinks, cannot skip meals, is a good speaker, and has a tendency towards reddish hair and complexion, along with moles and freckles (Sharma, 502). An imbalanced pitta could lead to yellowish complexion, excessive body heat, insufficient sleep, weak digestion, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, heartburn, peptic ulcers, and anger (Sharma, 501).
Finally, the kapha dosha is in charge of the structure and coherency of the organism, for it governs biological strength, natural tissue resistance, and proper bodily structure in terms of bodily systems, including neurological (Sharma, 500). When imbalanced, kapha can have a pale complexion, coldness, laziness and dullness, excessive sleep, sinusitis, respiratory diseases/asthma, excessive weight gain, loose joints, and depression (Sharma, 501). The Kapha traits usually include solid, heavier build, greater strength and endurance, slow, methodical activity, smooth but oily skin, tranquil, steady personality, slow to grasp new information, but slow to forget, slow to become excited or irritated, sleeps heavily and for long periods of time, hair tends to be thick and dark, and there is usually evidence of slow digestion and mild hunger (Sharma, 502). When these doshas are out of balance, they create a disharmony that causes the physical manifestation of disease. These pathogens are throughout the whole body, and are the result of bad hygiene, bad diet, poor lifestyle choices, and bad habits. When there is excessive water or fat in a tumor, as well as balanced doshas, the tumor seems to be benign. If one isn’t careful to rebalance one’s doshas, tumors may form as a result of bodily negligence. Factors that cause Vata aggravation are “excessive intake of bitter, pungent, astringent, dry foods and stressful conditions,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 2). Pitta aggravations are the result of the “excessive intake of sour, salty, fried foods and excessive anger,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 2). Aggravating factors of Kapha include “excessive intake of sweet, oily food and sedentary nature,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 2).
Ayurveda defines the “ultimate basis of disease” as “losing one’s connection to (or memory of) the unified field, which is the innermost core of one’s own being and experience,” (Sharma, 498). A main technique of ayurvedic practitioners to retrieve information is through nadi vigyan, or pulse diagnosis. Here, the practitioner can access internal functioning information through reading subtle signs in the radial pulse, which encodes information regarding the cardiovascular system and other (Sharma, 501). Again we see, just as we did in TCM, an emphasis on the synergistic effects of chemicals within the plants. It is believed that these compounds are naturally occurring for a reason, and that their natural synergy is just as strong, if not stronger, than an isolated chemical. In turn, these herbal mixtures are seen as part of the consciousness model, a quantum theory that all nature is made up of probability waves that are a function of intelligence, and that we live within a field of energy information similar to the Zero Point Field (Sharma, 497), (McTaggart, 24). Therefore, according to this energy model, ayurvedic tinctures and plant remedies are a reintroduction of information into a disrupted system. In essence, the natural intelligence of the plants increases the overall expression of intelligence within our bodies (Sharma, 502).
Ayurveda views the illness within each patient as unique, so instead of naming the disease, it is related to the levels of pitta or agni (fire) that lives in all cells and is responsible for digestion and metabolism in the body. The lack of pitta results in an inverse reaction in tumor growth. In addition, vata represents the anabolic (built-up) growth phase, while kapha represents a catabolic (break-down) phase. Cancer is a result of the aggravation of vata, and the suppression of kapha, resulting in a buildup of tissue, which eventually becomes a tumor. The six stages of tumor growth mentioned in the Sushruta are “sanchaya: early stages of localized neoplastic changes,” “prakopa: transformation of primary growths into metastatic tumors,” “prasara: metastasis,” “sthana samsraya: complete metastasis and secondary growth,” “vyakti: clinical signs and symptoms are expressed,” and “bheda: the stage where differentiation of growth occurs on the basis of histopathology,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 3).
Cancer, according to ayurvedic principles, develops in three stages. First, the patient suffers from the initial stage of glandular swelling, also known as granthi. This, then, develops into the second stage of cancer, arbuda, in which we confirm and define the specific malignancy. Cancer is viewed as a result of “lifestyle errors,” including “unhealthy foods, poor hygiene, or poor behavior, or from physical trauma, all leading to imbalances of [the doshas], resulting in injury to the inner layer of the dermis (rohini, the sixth later of skin) and the formation of abnormal branches of blood vessels,” (Garodia et al, 2). This leads to the formation of either granthi or arbuda, which arrive in the form of bubbled glandular growths. Granthi tends to be hard, round, and bulging, while arbuda has been described as large, round, immovable, muscular, deeply rooted, and slow growth of swelling as a result of aggravated doshas, which vitiate the muscle, blood, and fatty tissues (Garodia et al, 2-3). This explains why tumors that are tridoshic, or a result of the imbalance of all doshas, are usually malignant, for the homeostasis created by the harmonic doshas is lost.
Ayurvedic therapy is divided into four distinct categories: Prakriti Sthapani chikitsa, or health maintenance, roganashani chikitsa, or disease cure, rasayana chikitsa, or restoration of normal function, and naishthiki chikitsa, or the spiritual approach. Rather than treating the symptoms as allopathic medicine tends to do, ayurvedic principles are designed to search for the root cause of the illness, whose development is classified in six stages: “aggravation, accumulation, overflow, relocation, build-up in a new location, and manifestation into a recognizable disease,” (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 3). In addition, because Ayurveda considers the illness to be non-localized, the herbal tinctures used to treat cancer impact the entire body by treating multiple organ systems at once (Balachandran & Govindarajan, 5). Shodhana chikitsa, or strong purifying techniques, is used in Ayurvedic cancer care to flush the system of toxins and restore the natural rhythm to the body by balancing out imbalanced doshas. After, rejuvenitive therapies are used to cleanse the body of blockages that may result from the purification. Before treating the imbalanced doshas directly, “emotional support and psychotherapy are provided with yoga, meditation, prayers, and chanting, along with individualized nutrition plans and dietary interventions,” (Garodia et al, 4). By treating the patient on all levels of being, the practitioner can heal the complex, multi-layered individual by being attentive to their spiritual and environmental health, which can often be overlooked in contemporary western medicine.
Most research into traditional healing modalities has been biased in an attempt to discredit it, poorly funded and therefore poorly designed, or used in an attempt to relate it to standing biological structures in the west. TIM and TCM have been found to be extremely successful in conjunction with contemporary, allopathic measures for treating cancer, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and invasive surgical techniques. While there is little research available on the effectiveness of traditional medicine’s impact on leukemia, there is an abundance of research on the isolated chemicals that western science believes to be the true source of healing. Yet, little research gives credit to the overall effect of the therapies themselves; by isolating compounds we are in danger of doing to traditional medicine what allopathic medicine has done for healing in the west, increased specialization and a decreased holistic view of the body.
Traditional Chinese medicine has undergone an intense revival in the past fifteen years. Hong Kong’s realization of the potential for increased business and public interest in TCM has lead them to create a “10-year plan for making the city an ‘international center for Chinese medicine,” (Normile, 2). As a result, increasing amounts of research are being conducted in the east on Chinese medicinal herbal compounds and their biochemical effects on patients suffering from leukemia.
In a study by Efferth et al, Chinese herbs were tested for their effects on multi-drug resistant leukemia cells. Numerous herbs were administered to three types of leukemic cells by two different blind laboratories, one in Australia and one in Germany. The results of the experiment were based on a growth curve gathered over a period of ten days. Researchers found that homoharringtonine, bufalin, and artesunate were the most effective compounds reducing the size of leukemic cells. Bufalin seems the most promising in this experiment, for not only did the three types of leukemic cells not show any resistance to the herb, but some even showed increased sensitivity. This experiment shows the importance of herbal medicine in decreasing resistance to anti-cancer treatments (Efferth et al, 161-168)
Interestingly, researchers have also found anti-leukemic properties in the herb Indigofera tinctoria, which is commonly known as the dye for blue jean manufacturers. A compound called Indorubin was isolated from this, and was found to stop cell growth through the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) in leukemia cells by binding to the ATP-binding sites of cell-cycle controllers. However, the use of this compound ceased in the 1970’s, due to evidence that it causes gastrointestinal tract problems, as well as being “poorly water soluble,” (Bradbury, 1131). Scientists have eliminated this issue by isolating derivatives, such as meisoindigo, which is widely used in China for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Meisoindigo was also found to shorten the path to remission when paired with an all-trans retinoic acid (Bradbury, 1131-1132).
A study done by Ruan, Lai, & Zhou showed the positive effects of certain herbal derivatives on leukemic cells. Artesunate, a derived compound of artemisinin, was found to be extremely effective on leukemia specifically (along with colon cancer). In addition, butanol and PC-SPES were found to inhibit cell growth and tumor generation in patients suffering from leukemia (Ruan, Lai, & Zhou, 4-6) Takrisodokyeum (TRSDY), a compound of 12 herbs in various proportions, was also found to have an effect on destabilizing cancer cells. In fact, “promyelocytic leukeamic cells (HL-60) cells pre-treated with TRSDY revealed that apoptotic cell death was indeed caspase-3 induced,” with “Its activation resulting in classical apoptotic signs including DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and plasma membrane blebbing, (Parekh, Lui, & Wei, 4). Here, apoptosis represents cell death, while caspase-3 is a pro-apoptotic enzyme that causes cleavage and destruction of cancer cells.
Ayurveda too lacks sufficient research into the positive effects of TIM on cancer, and leukemia specifically. Instead, just as with TCM, studies tend to focus on isolation of compounds found in Ayurvedic treatments and diets in order to satisfy the western appetite for empirical findings. Once again we see the lack of awareness of the holistic view of health, and western science, by isolating derivatives, is ignoring the interaction of the naturally occurring chemicals within the body. Rather, empirical science is intent on separating out the specific chemical it deems responsible for the anti-cancer properties, instead of testing whether it may be the interactions of each chemical within the plant or food itself.
A 1997 case study of a 16-year old boy in New Delhi, India with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) revealed that the teen had gone through two cycles of chemotherapy, reached remission, but then relapsed. However, he refused another round of chemotherapy and/or a bone marrow transplant, and instead opted to try Ayurvedic Therapy (AYT). Proper diet, yoga, and supportive therapy were given, along with Navjeevan, Valapani, Kamdhuda, and Prak-20, which are Ayurvedic herbal compounds. Six months after the patient began AYT scans showed that only 1% of cancerous cells were present in the bone marrow, while none were detected in the bloodstream. The patient continued steady treatment for the next 5 years, after which he “received intermittent maintenance AYT, same as mentioned before, in the same doses for three months in the next two years,” (Prakash, 2).
Another case study reported of a 47 year old male in Mumbai who was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in 1997. The patient was given a cocktail of medications, Navjeevan, Valapani, Kamdhuda, and Prak-20 antibiotics, blood components, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy after multiple remissions and relapses. However, after his last relapse he refused anymore chemotherapy and instead opted to sign up for an experimental study conducted by the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha. When the man began therapy he was anemic, anorexic, weak, and had a lung infection, which was the main reason for the use of light antibiotics and blood transfusions with the AYT. His Ayurvedic therapy consisted of a strict Pittavardhak aahar, an herbo-mineral compound, and salt diet, as well as isolation. The patient’s symptoms and condition seemed to get better after fifteen days of AYT, and after a month his tests began to come back normal, along with an increase in energy and strength. After about a year, the therapy was stopped, while he continued to receive treatment for three months once a year for the next five years, until 2003. The patient has had no reports of relapse in the seven years since his completion of AYT (Prakash, Parikh, & Pal, 3-4).
Specific plants have been found to be extremely effective when treating different types of leukemia. Compounds derived from the Vinca rosea plant have been found to be particularly effective in treatment of Lymphatic leukemia, while K40, which is found in Semecarpus anacardium (SCAS) shows potential in treating chronic myeloid leukemia (Marmont & Damasio, 15). In addition, aqueous, alcoholic, acidic, and olive oil solutions of Plumbago zeylanica were reported to work against lymphocytic leukemia, and Withania somnifera (Aswagandha), a common Indian medicinal plant also known as the Indian ginseng, was also reported to have effects on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Teja & Nayak, 2). Gold nanoparticles are also being researched for their anti-cancerous properties. Still used in India “under the name Swarna Bhasma (‘Swarna’ meaning gold, ‘Bhasma’ meaning ash),” and is referred to as the “drug of longevity” because of its use in rejuvenation and revitalization for the elderly (Mukherjee et al, 9). These gold particles were found to be particularly detrimental to B- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) by combining with another compound called VEGF to increase apoptosis through the use of UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) (Mukherjee et al, 4-9).
The use of TCM and TIM as medical treatment for leukemia is still a long way from being a scientifically or culturally accepted practice in western allopathic medicine. Regardless of thousands of years of practice, western science has the arrogance to call into question the validity of these techniques, when allopathic medicine itself is still in its infancy. More research is needed on the effectiveness of the overall traditional therapies, rather than the impact of an isolated derivative from a specific herb used in treatment. These traditional treatments are holistic practices of medicine, and therefore the research into them should allot them the courtesy of at least considering each therapy as a whole first. Although empirical evidence is needed to truly gage the effectiveness of a treatment, this does not necessarily mean that each chemical considered to be potentially helpful should be isolated. Before delving in and picking out the specific active components in each individual herb, western science must realize that these herbs are prescribed in conjunction with one another, and while each specific chemical within the plant may not have an effect on leukemia itself, the interaction of the chemicals within the plant is where the secret in their success lies.
For Citations and Further Research
1) Balachandran, P., & Govindarajan, R. (2005). cancer—an ayurvedic perspective. Pharmacological Research, 51(1), 19-30. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661804001094
2) Bradbury, Jane. “From Chinese medicine to anticancer drugs.” Drug Discovery Today. 10.17 (2005): 1131-1132. Print. <http://zp3xh7ca4f.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2011-11-10T21:20:00IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ct&xrfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-sciversesciencedirect_elsevier&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=From Chinese medicine to anticancer drugs&rft.jtitle=Drug Discovery Today&rft.btitle=&rft.aulast=Bradbury&rft.auinit=&rft.auinit1=&rft.auinitm=&rft.ausuffix=&rft.au=Bradbury, Jane&rft.aucorp=&rft.date=2005&rft.volume=10&rft.issue=17&rft.part=&rft.quarter=&rft.ssn=&rft.spage=1131&rft.epage=1132&rft.pages=1131-1132&rft.artnum=&rft.issn=1359-6446&rft.eissn=&rft.isbn=&rft.sici=&rft.coden=&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/S1359-6446(05)03587-7&rft.object_id=&svc_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:sch_svc&svc.fulltext=yes&rft.eisbn=&rft_dat=S1359-6446(05)03587-7&rft_id=info:oai/>.
3) Danaei, G., Vander Hoorn, S., Lopez, A. D., Murray, C. L. J., & Ezzati, M. (2005). Causes of cancer in the world: comparative risk assessment of nine behaviioural and environmental risk factors. Lancet, 366, 1784-93. Retrieved from http://medres.med.ucla.edu/Education/syllabus/solid/pdf/4. Modifieable Risk Factors for Cancer.pdf
4) Garodia, P., Ichikawa, H., Malani, N., Sethi, G., & Aggarwal, B. (2007). From ancient medicine to modern medicine: ayurvedic concepts of health and their role in inflammation and cancer. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 5(1), Retrieved from http://www.jivaresearch.org/research/curcumin/From_ancient_medicine_to_modern_medicine-_Ayurvedic_concepts_of_health_and_their_role_in_inflamma.pdf
5) Lahans, T. (2007). Treatment principles in chinese medicine for modern integrated cancer care. The Journal of Chinese Medicine, (85), 53-56. Retrieved from http://bingprimo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com:1701/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?tabs=detailsTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=TN_gale_hrca170019716&indx=1&recIds=TN_gale_hrca170019716&recIdxs=0&elementId=0&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=&dscnt=1&scp.scps=scope:(bing_aleph),scope:(bing_eternity),primo_central_multiple_fe&frbg=&tab=default_tab&dstmp=1319040921679&srt=rank&mode=Basic&dum=true&tb=t&vl(freeText0)=Treatment principles in Chinese medicine for modern integrated cancer care&vid=BING
6) Marmont, Alberto, and Eugenio Damasio. “The Effects of Two Alkaloids Derived from Vinca Rosea on the Malignant Cells of Hodgkin’s Disease, Lymphosarcoma and Acute Leukemia in Vivo .” Blood. 29.1 (1967): 1-21. Print. <http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/29/1/1>.
7) McTaggart , Lynne. The Field. 3rd. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. Print.
8) Mukherjee, Priyabrata, Resham Bhattacharya, Nancy Bone, Yean Lee, Chitta Patra, Shanfeng Wang, Lichun Lu, and Charla Secreto. “Potential therapeutic application of gold nanoparticles in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL): enhancing apoptosis.” Journal of Nanobiotechnology. 5.4 (2007): 1-13. Print. <http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1477-3155-5-4.pdf>.
9) Parekh, Harendra, Gang Lui, and Ming Wei. “A new dawn for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer therapy.” Molecular Cancer. 8.21 (2009): n. page. Print. <http://www.molecular-cancer.com/content/8/1/21>.
10) Patwardhan, B., Warude, D., Pushpangadan, P., & Bhatt, N. (2005). Ayurveda and traditional chinese medicine: a comparative overview. Alternative Medicine, 2(4), 465-473. Retrieved from http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:yRa60xCpejQJ:scholar.google.com/ Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Comparative Overview&hl=en&as_sdt=0,33
11) Prakash, Balendu. “Treatment of relapsed undifferentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0) with Ayurvedic therapy.” International Journal of Ayurvedic Research. 2.1 (2011): 56-59. Print. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3157111/>.
12) Prakash, Balendu, Purvish Parikh, and Sanjoy Pal. “Herbo-mineral ayurvedic treatment in a high risk acute promyelocytic leukemia patient with second relapse: 12 years follow up.” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 1.3 (2010): 215-218. Print. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3087364/>.
13) Ruan, Wen-jing, Mao-de Lai, and Jian-guang Zhou. “Anticancer effects of Chinese herbal medicine, science or myth?.” Journal of Zhejiang University Science. 7.12 (2006): 1006-1014. Print. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1661669/>.
14) Sharma, H. M. (1997). Contemporary ayurveda: medicine and research in maharishi ayur-veda (medical guides to complementary and alternative medicine). (1 ed., pp. 495-508). Churchill Livingstone.Retrieved from https://ckm.osu.edu/sitetool/sites/familymedicinepublic/documents/HariSharmaChapter.pdf
15) Sullivan, R., Smith, J. E., & Rowan, N. J. (2006). Medicinal mushrooms and cancer therapy: translating a traditional practice into western medicine. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 49(2), 159-170. Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/perspectives_in_biology_and_medicine/v049/49.2sullivan.html
16) Teja, R.S., and B.P. Nayak. “Anti Cancer Property of Plant Products.” International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy. 2.1 (2011): 111-113. Print. <http://www.ijrap.net/issue-three/111-113.pdf>.
17) Wong, R., Sagar, C. M., & Sagar, S. M. (2001). Integration of chinese medicine into supportive cancer care: a modern role for an ancient tradition. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 27(4), 235-246. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305737201902270
18) World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer: GLOBOCAN. (2008). Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide in 2008. Retrieved from http://globocan.iarc.fr/
19) Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/26933?rskey=Px2TNN&result=1&isAdvanced=false
Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera) – Cancer Treatment?
Ashwagandha is an herb well
known in the Hindu Ayurvedic system and is native to India, northern Africa,
the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. It is an evergreen and a member of the
pepper family. Also known as Withania somnifera, Indian Ginseng,
Withania, and Winter Cherry, it typically grows to a maximum height of
three feet and has yellow flowers with raisin size fruit.
It's use goes back thousands of years in the Hindu
Ayurvedic system and is sometimes referred to as "Indian Ginseng." It
is believed that Ashwaganda will increase stamina, improve sexual function,
strengthen the immune system, improve memory, soothe and calm anxiety and slow
the ageing process as well as many other conditions. Because of this, it is a
major herb in the the Ayurvedic system and is one of the most used in India.
Ashwaganada is also claimed to have anti-bacterial
properties and is used in a poultice for some skin conditions and wounds. There
may be some benefit in using Ashwaganada if undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
Active Ingredient(s):
Alkaloids, Withanoloids
How It Is Used:
Traditionally, Ashwaganda has been used in a number of
ways, including teas, combining with other herbs, and chewing the fruit. All
parts of the plant are used for healing properties.
Toxicity
None known at this time.
Modern Science
Because of the Withanoloids that this herb contains,
modern science is interested in their use for a variety of conditions.
There does appear to be some evidence that they can kill cancer cells, and it
has been suggested that withanoloids be added to any cocktails of medicine
aimed at treating cancer.
According to a study at the Indian Institute of
Science, (Vaishnavi K, Saxena N, Shah
N, Singh R, Manjunath K, Uthayakumar M, Kanaujia
SP, Kaul SC, Sekar K, Wadhwa R) and published in September of
2012,
They are known to protect plants against herbivores and
have medicinal value including anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, adaptogenic and
anti-oxidant effects. Withaferin A (Wi-A) and Withanone (Wi-N) are two
structurally similar withanolides isolated from Withania somnifera,
also known as Ashwagandha in Indian Ayurvedic
medicine. Ashwagandhaalcoholic leaf extract (i-Extract), rich in Wi-N, was
shown to kill cancer cells selectively. Furthermore, the two closely related
purified phytochemicals, Wi-A and Wi-N, showed differential activity in normal
and cancer human cells in vitro and in vivo.
As well, a study conducted by the Pittsburgh Cancer
Institute and also published in September 2012, said,
Ayurvedic medicine plants continue to draw attention for
the discovery of novel anticancer agents. Withaferin A (WA) is one such
small-molecule constituent of the ayurvedic medicine
plant Withania somnifera with efficacy against cultured and
xenografted human breast cancer cells.
There is certainly no doubt of the healing
characteristics contained in Ashwagandha and the fact that there is no toxicity
levels or known interactions, it is a very safe herb to use. Its use may also
improve the synthesis of carotenoids, making them more effective. In addition,
there is evidence that the compounds within this plant could be effective in
dealing with diabetes, and other conditions and indeed maybe an antioxidant.
An
Alternative Cancer Treatment: Ozone Generator, Oxygen Therapies & Ed McCabe
Oxygen Therapy has been used as a successful
alternative cancer treatment since the 1800‘s. Many alternative cancer
treatments have been restricted by the federal government and the medical
establishment in the United States. Most people have never heard of oxygen
therapies being used in treating cancer. Some cancer patients who are fortunate
enough to have knowledge about them travel to other countries to receive these
lifesaving treatments. A modern day advocate responsible for publicizing oxygen
therapies in treating cancer is Ed McCabe. He is called, “Mr. Oxygen”. He has
spent over two decades researching, and lecturing all over the world on the use
of oxygen therapies in treating disease. He says, “dirty blood sets the stage
for all diseases”. This is because of toxins in our food and in our
environment, and our daily lives. He believes that that’s the underlying cause
of disease and cancer. Ed McCabe’s view is that you can prevent and even cure
cancer in many cases, if you “flood your body with oxygen”. His statement is
based upon the finding of the 1931 Nobel prize winning doctor, Dr. Otto
Warburg, that cancer cells are anaerobic and they can not survive in active
oxygen.
Ed McCabe aka "Mr.
Oxygen"
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Ed McCabe has authored two books
and numerous articles on oxygen therapies. In his first book, “Oxygen Therapies
- A New Way of Approaching Disease", he explains that he began his study
on oxygen therapies after reading in a medical journal that German doctors had
eliminated the Aids virus by ozonating their patients’ blood. In the book, he
covers the pioneers of oxygen therapies and shares specific products and
resources for oxygen therapies. In his second book, “Flood Your Body With
Oxygen" he continues to share the knowledge he gained personally from
thousands of doctors abroad using oxygen therapies in treating cancer and other
serious diseases.
Important
Information:
- Cancer cells are are anaerobic, meaning they thrive in the absence of oxygen. They can not survive in a properly oxygenated environment, so “Flood Your Body With Oxygen”.
- Bad bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, are also anaerobic. They hate oxygen and can not survive in a properly oxygenated environment either.
Oxygen
therapies - How they work
Oxygen therapies have been used
successfully in alternative cancer treatment. Oxygen therapies
are methods of medical treatment wherein a form of oxygen is used to treat
ailments and disease. They work by destroying bad bacteria, viruses, fungi,
parasites, and other microbes that cause disease. These bad germs and organisms
are anaerobic, which means they thrive in the absence of oxygen, but when
oxygen is present they die. Cancer cells are also anaerobic and can not survive
in oxygen.
The two major oxygen
therapies are hydrogen peroxide and ozone. Ed McCabe also writes about
other ways of getting more oxygen into the body to treat illness and disease.
Some things mentioned in his books are Japanese oxygen bars, canned oxygen, and
practicing deep breathing. He provides a list of resources including products,
places and people specializing in oxygen therapies.
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Use regular store bought hydrogen
peroxide for external use.
Hydrogen
peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a known
killer of germs. Many of us remember our mothers getting out a brown bottle of
hydrogen peroxide when we scraped a knee or cut our hand as a child. When the
peroxide was poured on the wound it did not sting, instead it tickled and
foamed. That fizzling and foaming action is the oxygen molecules killing the
germs and cleansing the wound. Hydrogen peroxide also kills germs, viruses,
fungi, parasites and other microbes inside the body. The immune system produces
it’s own hydrogen peroxide inside the body to fight microbes.
The store bought hydrogen
peroxide in the brown bottles can also be used as a mouth rinse to kill germs.
Some people use it internally, but it is not recommended to use it internally
because it may contain chemicals used in processing it. It is recommended to
buy foodgrade hydrogen peroxideif it is going to be used internally. Food grade
hydrogen peroxide is very concentrated and powerful. It should be used with
extreme caution and stored in a safe place away from children and anyone who
may ingest it by mistake. It is a clear liquid that can easily be mistaken as
water. If taken internally in an undiluted state, food grade hydrogen peroxide
could cause serious injury. If it’s used on the skin without being diluted, it
will sting and whiten the skin on contact. A common and easy way to use food
grade hydrogen peroxide is to put a few drops in water or juice and drink it. A
dropper should be used to dispense the drops. Drinking liquids withfood grade
hydrogen peroxidedrops added to them will keep the body and blood oxygenated.
Remember, cancer cells are anaerobic and can not survive in a properly
oxygenated environment. Medical doctors in other countries use hydrogen
peroxide as an alternative cancer treatment by administering hydrogen peroxide
to the patient intravenously or by injecting it directly into the cancer tumor.
Another way some patients use hydrogen peroxide is to inhale it’s vapor into
their lungs where it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.
An ozone generator produces fresh
oxygen (ozone) rich drinking water.
Ozone
Ozone is widely misunderstood.
When most people hear the word ozone they think of it as being a bad thing.
They would say that ozone is bad for the earth. This is incorrect. Ozone is just
like anything else. It’s a good thing, but if used improperly it can be bad. It
can be dangerous if misused. Ozone is energized oxygen. It’s a natural gas
that’s created when oxygen is hit by sun (UV rays) or lightning. Ozone occurs
naturally and and is very beneficial. The fresh, clean smell you notice after a
lightning storm is ozone that was created in the atmosphere during the storm.
Ozone can also be produced by machines. These machines release ozone into the
air to clean it, or it can be bubbled into water to purify water. Some
government municipalities use ozone in their water treatment plants. Bottled
water companies use ozone to purify it’s water also. If you read the label on
your bottled water you may see that it was ozonated. When using a ozone machine
caution should be used. If concentrated ozone is inhaled directly into the
lungs it could cause serious problems. There should always be proper room
ventilation when ozone is used to purify the air. The oxygen in ozone destroys
germs, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other microbes. Ways to use ozone as an
alternative cancer treatment are by drinking freshly ozonated water, massaging
ozonated oil into the skin, using an ozone sauna. In other countries, ozone is
also injected intravenously or by injecting it directly into the cancer tumor.
Testimony:
Ozone Helped Cure Cancer -- Twice
Information
about oxygen therapies continues to spread.
It’s amazing that there’s been a
lot written about cancer being successfully treated with oxygen therapies since
the 1800‘s, but very few people have even heard of it. European countries have
been using these therapies for a long time. In the United States, the medical
establishment doesn’t like information opposed to their monopoly means of
treating cancer to be shared with the masses. Just as other advocates for
alternative cancer treatment have been harassed, Ed McCabe has been also.
Despite this, his information about oxygen therapies can not be stopped. He
continues to share knowledge about these successful alternative ways of
treating cancer. Also, others have authored books and share their research on
oxygen therapies. This information should be available to all people so they
can choose for themselves the medical treatment they think is best for them.
Ways
to get more oxygen into your body
- Eat fruits and vegetables (Many fruits & veggies are naturally packed with oxygen)
- Use an Oxygen bar (Located at business or purchase a personal unit for home use)
- Use canned oxygen (Concentrated oxygen in a can. Available online)
- Practice breathing therapy (Train yourself to breathe deeply to take in more oxygen)
- Drink more water (H2O contains oxygen or drink fresh ozone water made by an ozone generator)
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