CANCER IN AYURVEDA

One of the major reasons for redefining ayurvedic practices is the emergence of new diseases, which
are less amenable to conventional standard treatments. We may openly admit that, cancer, as we know
today, is not described in classic ayurvedic works such as Brhatrayi. In ancient times cancer had the
status of an orphan illness. Orphan illness refers to a disease entity which was not taken up for elaborate
studies in terms of its etio-pathology, therapeutics and prognosis. It may be presumed that the neglect
was for want of large patient population. In the case of cancer the situation has thoroughly changed and
it is now the major cause of fatality, second only to cardiac ailments. It is no more considered as an
orphan illness as in the past. Naturally ayurveda too has to develop an oncology – both theoretical and
applied.
No one can honestly claim to know the cure for cancer. Many of the questions related to etiopathology
of cancer remain unanswered.
The therapeutic choices offered to a cancer patient are rather grim. The treatment strategies of cancer
are mainly three. - Cut it out (surgery), Burn it out (radiation) and Destroy it (chemotherapy).
There is a strong anti-surgery feeling among patients. Cancer patients want to move away from radiation
and chemotherapy fearing of physical disfigurations that may result from the therapies. To many, trauma
of the treatment is worse than that of the disease. They are therefore, put in a climate of opinion ruled by
fear and uncertainty. As a safer option they turn to other systems of medicine. Unfortunately, we have
not so far succeeded in developing an effective ayurvedic methodology to deal with cancer cases.
Because of this reason the patients often face agonizing dilemma. In this situation we are bound to take
stock of the situation and improve ourselves to come up to the expectations of the ailing fraternity. We
just can’t afford to wait to treat cancer patients until we evolve a definite system in oncology.
Case Studies
Keeping this in view, our institution has started an exclusive clinic for cancer patients, where primarily
we act as service providers. Meanwhile, we are trying to document the case histories of cancer patients
in a systematic manner so that the data generated thereof can be retrieved for further studies. Our 6
years old cancer clinic now has documented clinical case histories of about 2000 cancer patients
belonging to different categories. The primary analysis of the clinical patient population reveals that four
groups of patients are seeking ayurvedic treatment.
There are patients who want to try ayurvedic treatment along with conventional anti-cancer treatments.
They hope that combined therapy will be helpful to nullify the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
They also hope that ayurvedic therapy would help prevent recurrence in a safer way. Terminally cancer
patients take recourse to ayurvedic treatment for supportive and palliative care. A third group of patients
are those who decide to try ayurvedic treatment on a regular basis for total and permanent cure though
they are temporarily released from the clutches of cancer with the help of surgery, radiation or
chemotherapy. There is yet another group of patients on whom we are concentrating just because they
are fully dependent on ayurvedic treatment. Admittedly, this category of patients constitute only a minor
percentage of the patient population. Their decision to opt exclusively for ayurvedic treatment is essentially
based on their understanding of limitations and risk of other treatment options. Our commitment towards
this group of patients is relatively more because of the faith they have deposited in ayurveda.
As of now we do not have statistically significant number of cancer cases, to establish the efficacy of
ayurvedic treatment. But there are medical case histories of cancer patients suggestive of the scope and
relevance of ayurvedic treatment for management of malignant disorders. The guidelines for research
methodologies designed by WHO include a specific clause which is very pertinent in this context. It
says single case studies for evaluation of efficacy of herbal medicine should not be ignored because of
its potential contribution to traditional medicine.
I vividly remember the case of a patient who had adenocarcinoma of stomach. His brother who was
undergoing treatment in our hospital had a discussion with us about the possibilities of ayurvedic treatment
for stomach cancer in which the western system had nothing much to offer in terms of a medical
treatment. Based on the reports made available to us we suggested a course of treatment to be tried at
his residence. In fact we did not get an occasion to see the patient personally even once before chalking
out the treatment profile. The medicines included Nimbamrithadi Panchathiktham Kashayam, Sahadevyadi
Leham and a few adjuvants. We too were not very hopeful in the initial stages of treatment. To our
surprise we were getting reports from the patient indicating the progress that he was making towards
recovery. He made his own arrangement to continue the treatment at Gulf collecting medicines from
Kottakkal. He continued the medication without any interruption for a period of more than five years.
To him at least ayurveda has a cure for Cancer. Similarly I would now like to refer to another example.
In this case the patient is a fifty year-old Keralite lady who was diagnosed as Ca. Lung. She approached
us for medical advice forwarding her full medical case history. In addition to Nimbamrithadi
Panchathiktham Kashayam, Sahadevyadi Leham, we prescribed Parthadyarishtam and
Agasthyarsayanam in view of the specific site of cancerous lesion. One cannot expect a tangible
improvement in lung cancer cases. But this lady improved rapidly and she attained a near normal
condition. The improvement was not merely symptomatic. Radiological examination revealed the
remarkable changes suggestive of the regression of the disease. (I have with me the X-ray films of this
patient).
I may now refer to the treatment of one more case. It is about a sixteen year-old patient, diagnosed as
Acute Myloid Leukemia M-1. The diagnosis was done at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences,
Hyderabad. The presenting symptoms were abdomen pain, low grade fever, dry cough, and generalized
body ache. On examination there was detectable splenomegaly. Patient was advised to try Nimbamrithadi
Panchathiktham Kashayam, Chandraprabha vatika, Ayolipta thippali, Rasasindooram and combination
of Nityakalyani extract, Thippali choornam, Rajathabhasmam and Thalakabhasmam. Patient continued
the treatment on a regular basis and intimated the progress at regular intervals. She was registering
improvement gradually. Case was personally reviewed after three months. Patient was totally free from
all symptoms recorded initially and there was no splenomegaly. Her blood picture showed tremendous
improvement in every aspect. The patient has now resumed her studies as if she has totally recovered
from the ailment. She has been advised to continue the medication and send us the reports without fail
at regular intervals.
These instances cannot be set aside as odd events or miracles. Any way the time is not ripe to make tall
claims about the curative effects of Ayurvedic treatment in cancer cases. I am sure many of you might
have come across similar incidences. My request is that all of you should as far as possible try to
preserve your findings for the future because ‘miracles are also extensions of normal capabilities’.

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Collaborative research activities also bring forth valuable data. I may now refer to a few of such activities
undertaken by our institution joining hands with Calicut Medical College. Here the attempt was directed
to provide terminally ill cancer patients with supportive palliative care. Primarily it was decided to split
the goals and aim at achievable bits. To cite an example, Opioid induced constipation is a big menace
to the cancer patients who are receiving morphine therapy for pain relief. They cannot do away with
opioid preparation because no therapeutically equivalent drug is available to replace it. The standard
treatment adopted to relieve constipation has many inadequacies. It was why doctors were willing to
try some herbal preparation. A team of doctors studied the efficacy of well known ayurvedic preparation
Misrakasneham to relieve constipation. The study brought out highly encouraging results including better
acceptance by patients. I am happy to say here that an international journal on pain management
published an article about this study. Similarly Viswamritham was tried for anorexia, Sathadhouta gritham
for oral mucositis. For various reasons the study could not yield statistically significant data but we
could prove that it is well worth considering ayurvedic medicaments in the treatment profile of cancer.
Theoretical Oncology
I would now like to touch upon a few hints that could be considered while developing an Ayurvedic
theoretical oncology. What should be the starting point? We should have a clear-cut understanding
about contemporary knowledge on cancer. We may look at this information from an ayurvedic perspective
to form an ayurvedic oncology with theoretical soundness. I have tried to pick up a few points from
classical ayurvedic works which have relevance in forming an ayurvedic oncology. The booklet among
you contains a brief account of this information. Kindly subject it for a critical analysis
Systematic function of any biological entity requires three fundamental regulatory processes - input/
output (transport), transformation and storage. In other words, we may say - SɱÉxÉÆ, {ÉÉEÆò and ={ÉSɪÉÆ.
Tridosha concept of ayurveda also has a sound basis of this systems theory.
Table I
Physiological functions assigned to Tridosha

Vata Pitta Kaptha

Communication Digestion Connecting structures
Transport Transformation Cohesion
Movement Metabolism Lubrication

To obtain a fair idea about the basic structural and functional concepts of human body we may look into
the derivations of a few words commonly used to denote the human body in Ayurvedic classics.
1) ¶ÉÒªÉÇiÉä +xÉäxÉ <ÊiÉ ¶É®úÒ®ú¨ÉÂ
2) Ênù½Âþ ´ÉvÉÇxÉä näù½þ:
3) SÉÒªÉiÉä +zÉÉÊnùʦÉ: EòɪÉ:
As far as our knowledge goes, cell is the basic structural unit of the human body. It may be rationally
presumed that there was some knowledge of the cell boundary and molecular traffic between the extra
cellular and intracellular fluids even before the advent of electron microscope. Human body is composed
of between 50-100 trillion cells. Charaka says -
¶É®úÒ®úɴɪɴÉɺiÉÖ {É®ú¨ÉÉhÉÖ¦ÉänäùxÉÉ{ÉÊ®úºÉÆJªÉäªÉÉ ¦É´ÉÊxiÉ +ÊiɤɽÖþ i´ÉÉnùÊiɺÉÉèI¨ªÉÉnùiÉÒÎxpùªÉi´ÉÉSSÉ *
It essentially means that the basic body components are structurally atomic, innumerable and microscopic.

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 iÉä¹ÉÉÆ ºÉƪÉÉäMÉʴɦÉÉMÉä {É®ú¨ÉÉhÉÚxÉÉÆ EòÉ®úhÉÆ Eò¨ÉǺ´É¦ÉɴɶSÉ *
An individual cell is on one of the two largely exclusive paths: division or differentiation. Cells capable
of dividing are undifferentiated (stem cells) whereas terminally differentiated cells are unable to divide.
Stem cells produce daughter cells that can either become new stem cells or undergo terminal differentiation
depending on tissue specific programming interacting with environmental signals. Both types of cells
have different patterns of gene expression.
Each cell has unique characteristics (either inherited or acquired) to perform certain subset of functions.
Integrity of human system is maintained by the synchronization of functions of sub-systems, which are
organically interconnected and biologically regulated by the tridoshas, biophysico chemical energies of
the body. Of the three forms of energies, vayu acts as the master force.
We may now have a brief overview of how cellular metabolism is governed by the three doshas. Vata
governing input/output is responsible for regulating transport across all membranes including entry of
food and other molecules into the cell and elimination of waste materials. Governing motion (kinetics) it
would also be responsible for cell division and differentiation (samyogavibhage karanam vayu).
Pitta being responsible for metabolism (biochemical energy production and regulation) governs the
krebs cycle wherein assimilated food is used to create high energy molecules required for cell growth
and sustenance. Pitta is also responsible for all processess involving enzyme synthesis needed to bring
about transformation.
Kapha, being responsible for storage can be identified with the cell membrane and cell wall, basic
reserves for the cell to call upon in hard times. On a molecular level kahpa can be identified with lipids
and polysaccharides the molecular basis for membrane and cell walls respectively. Mucus is
polysaccharide while other lubrication may use lipids.
It may be of interest to note that the strategies, which maintain process of control in single cells possess
an underlying continuity throughout their biologic development, starting from the microscopic level of
regulation of biochemical processes in single cells, and proceeding to the macroscopic level of control
processes regulating whole body and its subsystems. It can be seen that the processes of biologic
development have maintained similar strategies of control to those used in the original cells, adding to
and building on them as appropriate, but without fundamental alteration.
Cancer is a disorder of cellular behaviour, in which the structural/functional integrity is distorted.

What is cancer?
We come across descriptions of disease entities in ancient ayurvedic texts that have remarkable similarities
with modern interpretations of cancer. However, one can hardly find a single comprehensive word in
ayurveda denoting a disease entity, which is fully comparable with concept of cancer.
Etymologically the word ‘Arbuda’ represents an enormously growing mass encroaching and destroying
the normal structural and functional status of an organ and on a larger scale the entire human body.
On conducting a literature survey, we get a fairly good amount of information with regard to the
understanding and interpretations of our predecessors about cancer. In this context, appropriate reference
has to be made to a variety of diseases which have this particular feature in onset, growth spread or

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manifestation. It includes granthi, apachi, gulma, udara, vidhradi and dustavrana. Benign forms of
these diseases are likely to become malignant over a period of time where the standard treatments
prove ineffective. We may say that sannipathika stage of dosha vitiation of diseases is comparable
with malignant conditions.
One of the criteria adopted by the exponents of ayurveda in naming and grouping of diseases was their
commonalities in ethiopathogenesis, disease processes, clinical manifestations and terminal stages of
the diseases. The following descriptions with its appropriate interpretations provide a sound basis for
development of ayurvedic oncology.
1) MÉÉjÉ|Énäù¶Éä C´ÉÊSÉnäù´É * nùÉä¹ÉÉ: ºÉ¨¨ÉÚÐSSÉiÉÉ ¨ÉÉƺɨÉʦÉ|ÉnÚù¹ªÉ
´ÉÞkÉÆ ÎºlÉ®Æú ¨Éxnù¯ûVÉÆ ¨É½þÉxiɨÉxɱ{ɨÉÚ±ÉÆ ÊSÉ®ú´ÉvnÂùªÉÉEò¨ÉÂ
EÖò´ÉÇÎxiÉ ¨ÉÉƺÉÉä{ÉSɪÉÆ iÉÖ ¶ÉÉä¡òÆ iÉnù¤ÉÖÇnÆù ¶ÉɺjÉÊ´ÉnùÉä ´ÉnùÎxiÉ (ºÉÖ.ÊxÉ.11/13)
[*+ÊxɪÉiÉ|Énäù¶Éä (b÷±½þhÉ)]

2) ¹É¹`öÒ ®úÉäʽþhÉÒ xÉÉ¨É µÉÒʽþ|ɨÉÉhÉÉ OÉxlªÉ{ÉSªÉ¤ÉÖÇnù¶³ýÒ{ÉnùMɳýMÉhbÉ÷Êvɹ`öÉxÉÉ* (ºÉÖ.¶ÉÉ. 4 /4)

3) OÉxlªÉ{ÉSªÉ¤ÉÖÇnùMɳýMÉhb÷ÉxÉÉÆ ÊxÉnùÉxɨÉÂ* (ºÉÖ.ÊxÉ.11)
4) OÉxlªÉ¤ÉÖÇnù¶³ýÒ{ÉnùÉ{ÉSÉÒxÉÉb÷ÒÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉҪɨÉ (+.¾þ.=.29)
5) ¾þuùºiÉÉäxiÉ®äúä OÉÎxlÉ: ºÉ\SÉÉ®úÒ ªÉÊnù ´ÉÉ%SɱÉ:
SɪÉÉ{ÉSɪɴÉÉxÉ ´ÉÞkÉ: ºÉ MÉÖ±¨É <ÊiÉ EòÒÌkÉiÉ: (ºÉÖ.=.42/4)
6) ¨É½þkÉÖ OÉÎxlÉiÉúÉä%¤ÉÖÇnù¨É * (+.¾þ.=.19/14)
7) ......... ............ ºÉÉvªÉä¹ä ´É{ÉÒ¨ÉÉÊxÉ Ê´É´ÉVÉǪÉäkÉÖ *
ºÉÆ|É»ÉÖiÉÆ ¨É¨ÉÇÊhÉ ªÉSSÉ VÉÉiÉÆ »ÉÉäiɺºÉÖ ´ÉÉ ªÉSSÉ ¦É´ÉänùSÉɱªÉ¨É **
ªÉVVÉɪÉiÉä%xªÉiÉ JɱÉÖ {ÉÚ´ÉÇVÉÉiÉä YÉäªÉÆ iÉnùvªÉ¤ÉÖÇnù¨É¤ÉÖÇnùYÉè:*
ªÉuùxuùVÉÉiÉÆ ªÉÖMÉ{ÉiÉ Gò¨ÉÉuùÉ Êuù®ú¤ÉÖÇnÆù iÉSSÉ ¦É´ÉänùºÉÉiÉùvªÉ¨É ** (ºÉÖ.ÊxÉ. 11/19-20)
8) nùÉä¹ÉènÖÇù¹]ä%ºÉÞÊVÉ OÉÎxlɦÉÇ´Éäx¨ÉÚSUÇôiºÉÖ VÉxiÉÖ¹ÉÖ * **
ʺɮúɨÉÉƺÉÆ SÉ ºÉÆʸÉiªÉ ºÉº´ÉÉ{É: Ê{ÉkɱÉIÉhÉ: * (+.¾þ.=.29/5)
*
( Indication of the role of microbes in causation of malignancy)
9) +ÊiÉ´ªÉ´ÉɪÉEò¨ÉÉÇv´É´É¨ÉxÉ´ªÉÉÊvÉEò¶ÉÇxÉè: *
´ÉɨÉ{ÉÉ·ÉÉÇʸÉiÉ: {³ýÒ½þÉ SªÉÖiÉ: ºlÉÉxÉÉÊuù´ÉvnÇùÇiÉä **
¶ÉÉäÊhÉiÉÆ ´ÉÉ ®úºÉÉÊnù¦ªÉÉä Ê´É´ÉÞrÆù iÉÆ Ê´É´ÉvnÇùǪÉäiÉ * (+.¾þ.23/24)
Courtesy: Dr. K. Rajagopalan
Arbuda - a sequel
In avaranavatha
Ê´ÉpùÊvÉ{±ÉÒ½þ¾pùÉäMÉMÉÖ±¨ÉÉÎMxɺÉnùxÉÉnùªÉ:
¦É´ÉxiªÉÖ{Épù´ÉɺiÉä¹ÉɨÉÉ´ÉÞiÉÉxÉɨÉÖ{ÉäIÉhÉÉiÉÂù (+.¾þ.ÊxÉ.16/58)
In vatarakta
......... ºiɤvɨɤÉÖÇnùEòÉÊ®ú SÉ (+.¾þ.ÊxÉ.16/17)

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Diseases wherein rakta is vitiated
iÉÎi{Ékɶ³ý乨ɳèý: |ÉɪÉÉä nÚù¹ªÉiÉä, EÖò¯ûiÉä iÉiÉ:
ʴɺÉ{ÉÇÊ´ÉpùÊvÉ{³ýÒ½þMÉÖ±¨ÉÉÎMxɺÉnùxÉV´É®úÉxÉ (+.¾þ.ºÉÚ.27/21/2)
Dusivisam
+ɨÉɶɪɺlÉä Eò¡ò´ÉÉiÉ®úÉäMÉÒ (+.¾þ.=.35/35)

Table II
The various stages of development of arbuda

Sopha Granthi/Gulma Arbudam Adhyarbudam

(Oedema) (Glandular swellings) (Tumour) (Metastasis - Primary site)

Dwirarbudam Vidhradhi Vrana

(Distant metastasis) (abscess) (Malignant ulcers)

Basic Approach
Ayurvedic treatment for cancer should be basically holistic in approach and so modulated as to have
the following results.
1) eradication of morbid tissues
2) protection of healthy cells from toxicity and other unfavourable conditions.
3) promotion of regeneration of healthy tissues.
Anti cancer treatment has five major categories depending upon the level of medical care required –
preventive, prophylactic, curative, palliative and supportive.
Based on the current understanding of the biology of carcinogens preventive and prophylactic measures
can be adopted. It includes early identification of disease, avoidance of carcinogens and specific
interference to lower cancer risk. Ayurveda definitely has some important role to play in preventive
oncology because carcinogenesis is not an event but a process evolved over a considerable period of
time. Manipulation of genetic, biologic and environmental factors in the causal pathway should be
attempted. It could be made easy by adopting and updating the principles and practices laid down in
svasthavrtta. It may perhaps be possible to influence the mutations leading to carcinogenesis at embryonic
level by resorting to well designed prenatal care systems. The methods and materials recommended in
ayurveda in this regard could be subjected for indepth study. Life style modification in terms of diet,
relaxation, exercise, attitude, and motivation can be effectively practiced. Patient education and public
awareness programmes enlightening the need of upkeeping positive health could be contributory.
Chemoprevention is a relatively new concept. It involves the use of natural agents (chemical agents are
also considered in western medicine) to reverse, suppress or prevent carcinogenesis before the
development of invasive malignancy. The purificatory treatment regimen of ayurveda followed by the
regular use of rasayanas may prove an effective mode of chemoprevention.
The inbuilt health potentials of human body could be appropriately channeled to inactivate the carcinogenic
proliferation. It may perhaps be possible to influence the mutation leading to carcinogenesis at cellular

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level. This appears to be one of the basic axioms of the biologic therapy which is aimed at manipulating
the host-tumour interaction in favour of the host. The very existence of a cancer in a person is testimony
to the failure of the immune system to deal effectively with the cancer. Tumour cells have inherent
capabilities to escape the attention of the defensive mechanism of the host. This could be compared
with underground terrorism. In the initial phase tumour cells do not exhibit notable difference from
normal cells so that they are not identified as possible culprits. Tumour activity at this level is too down
regulated to be recognized by the cells so that normal antigen-antibody complex does not develop.
Tumour cells can cloak themselves in a protective shell of fibrin to minimize contact with surveillance
mechanisms. In short the entire purpose of immune mechanism is thus defeated by the tumour cells
moving in a hidden path. It is unfortunate that most of the universally accepted anti-caner treatments
also suppress the immune mechanism adding to the misery of the individual affected. This may perhaps
be one of the demerits of the cancer therapy.
There are guidelines in ayurvedic classics to deal with neoplasia of various types. But therapeutic
efficacy of such measures to counteract the process of carcinogenesis remains to be established. The
centres of advanced studies in ayurveda and allied sciences are equipped with the infrastructure capable
of isolating drugs having anti-mutagenic, anti-proliferative activity. There is every reason to believe that
in the near future ayurvea would have an Arbudaharaganam to be incorporated into the chapter of
Sodhanadigana sangrahaneeyam..
Ayurvedic practitioners have already started using classical formulation such as Gulguluthiktham
Kwatham, Kanchanaragulgulu, Rasasindooram, Gandhira rasayanam etc. of treatment of malignant
disorders. Guided by my experience, I may make an incidental mention about auto-urine therapy too.
My personal observation is that urine contains some anti-cancerous ingredients. As scholar of both
western medicine and ayurveda, Dr. K. Rajagopalan holds the view that medicaments recommended in
Arshochikitsa have specific role in the treatment of colon cancer. In a way we are finding clinically
meaningful anti-tumour and anti-cancerous effect of ancient classical preparations. The observational
and empirical data so obtained would be helpful to form a medical oncology of ayurveda.
Palliative care refers to the medical or comfort care that reduces the severity of a disease, slows its
progress rather than providing a cure. In the case of cancer, palliative care becomes the focus of the
treatment in certain conditions. This helps management of pain and other distressing symptoms.

Credo for oncology

Supportive care has an important role in the success of cancer therapy. Supportive care is a major
determinant of quality of life. Ayurveda believes that physician is not the final authority to decide the life
span of the patient. But he has the responsibility to provide the best possible human care to the patient
until he breathes his last.
1) xÉ ´Éèt: |ɦÉÖ®úɪÉÖ¹É:
2) ªÉÉ´ÉnÂù Eòh`ööMÉiÉÉ |ÉÉhÉÉ iÉÉ´ÉnÂù EòɪÉÈ Ê¦É¹ÉÎMVÉiɨÉ *
The credo for oncology could be to ‘cure sometimes, to extend life often and to comfort always’.
As has been rightly expressed by Willam castle
the role of a clinical investigator is to ask question at the bedside and then go as far from the
bedside as his curiosity, legs, money and facilities will take him. Some may take one step,
some may take ten, but the important thing for the clinical investigator is the direction he
walks, not the number of steps he takes.

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References
1. Charakasamhita
2. Susrutasamhita
3. Ashtangahrdayam
4. The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine Vol. 7, November 5, 2001.
5. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, Vol. I, 15th Edition.

Dr. P.K. Warrier,

Managing Trustee & Chief Physician
Arya Vaidya Sala,
Kottakkal - 676 503

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