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Possibilities and limits of Ayurvedic oncology

Article by Vaidya Tapankumar MD (Ayu)

Alternative medicine, especially some Ayurvedic therapies and Chinese techniques, are becoming increasingly popular in their country of origin and also in Western society. As in other fields of applied sciences, modern medicine has failed to resist the onslaught of corruption, consumerism and utilitarianism. The disintegration of medical ethics as well as the limitations that modern medicine experiences in curing many forms of disease has inspired many Westerners to seek alternatives in Eastern traditional therapies in particular. While economic globalization, the easy exchange of scientific knowledge as well as the great leap of information technology helped in the spread of scientific medicine, equally Eastern thought and culture exerted its influence on certain sectors of Western society. In one of these categories, for which today the western population developed an interest in Ayurveda, also cancer and its forms of treatment fall.

In addition to this fact, I would now like to give a brief insight into our work at the Divyajyot Ayurvedic Research Foundation (DARF) in the field of cancer treatment, especially with regard to its possibilities and limitations.

Based on the Ayurvedic assessment of the patient, accompanied by modern research, two different medical therapies are offered to the patient at DARF - Brumhan Therapy and DARF's Anti-Cancer Therapy. This combination provides a positive and holistic cure to the cancer patient. In addition, the patient also gets psychospiritual counseling, personalized mantra and training in specially designed Laya Yoga and Yagna therapy for positive and speedy recovery. This forms the basis of DARF's approach to the sufferer and the disease.

Now the possibilities:

In general, we noticed the following in relation to patients as far as Ayurvedic therapy is concerned:

  1. high approval factor by patients

  2. very well tolerated (98%)

  3. affordable, less painful and patient-friendly

  4. very few side effects or reactions compared to chemotherapy and radiotherapy (0.2 %)

  5. a therapy that, if not curative, maintains the status quo and does not allow the disease state to worsen.

  6. the only therapy that takes care of the psychospiritual aspect of the patients - not only through counselling, but also through the administration of medication.

  7. the well-known Panchakarma treatment offers relief by detoxifying the body, instead of using cell-damaging agents that only add to the agony.

  8. Very mild and spiritual approach to mitigate and heal the tortured souls of the patients who are not only trapped in the disease but also in the treatments!

To back up these facts, we periodically prepare written documentation on our patients and their feelings and reaction to Ayurvedic treatment. These are self-explanatory to our satisfaction and are published in our monthly magazine.

Now I would like to give an overview of the results that have been observed with our Ayurvedic therapy in different types of cancer (high data volume with 19,000 patients). Scientifically specific statistics have not been compiled, but can be reproduced on request.

- Excellent results (i.e. 40-45%) have been observed in cancers of the breast, brain, lung, cervix, prostate, colon, rectum, U/3 oesophagus and urinary bladder, as well as in N.H.L. and acute leukaemia. - Good results (i.e. 30-40%) were obtained in cancers of the liver, heart, kidney, oral mucosa, tongue, bone and chronic leukemia. - No good results (i.e. less than 30 %): all cancers of the skin, male genitalia, ovaries and eyes, as well as aggressive sarcomas, adenocarcinomas and all cancers with more than two metastatic sites.

To ensure these facts, we publish annual research reports with relevant statistics (available on request).

Limitations:

During our research work (since 1978 till 2007...) on curing cancer through Ayurveda, we also faced some difficulties. The following factors limited our capacities (but not our drive):

  1. Lack of political support

  2. Lack of preference for Ayurveda among patients (although the results are almost similar to those of modern medicine) due to possible insufficient awareness of Ayurveda.

  3. Gentle and relatively slow onset of relief from the therapy.

  4. Lack of research institutes conducting research exclusively in the field of cancer. This increases our workload - attention is given to treating patients rather than working on research projects.

  5. Lack of genuine raw materials, only a few formulations are available in the classical texts of Ayurveda. We have to rely on modified classical formulas or in-house developed formulas

  6. Relatively few clear guidelines on treatment in the texts of Ayurveda.

  7. The centres have not yet conducted joint trials to raise awareness, share views, counter research, etc. to increase the level of knowledge.

  8. Apart from curing the actual disease, Ayurveda also has to deal with curing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This further adds to the day to day workload of the doctor.

Vaidya Tapankumar

Vaidya Tapankumar MD (Ayu)

is one of the most experienced Ayurvedic oncologists in India. Over 2,000 cancer patients have been supported by him with Ayurvedic medicine and accompanying therapies in the physical and psychological healing process.