Ayurveda in Management of Side Effects of Oncotherapy

Abstract

Cancer, being a leading cause of death takes away approximately 9.6 million life per year globally. Drugs, chemotherapy and radiation therapies used for cancer treatment are often toxic and damages the adjacent healthy cells. The side effects may be acute (occurring within a few weeks after therapy), intermediate or late (occurring months or years after the therapy). The presently available “protectors” for overcoming the side effects of therapy have not been up to the mark which creates the need of finding a more efficient alternative. Ayurveda an ancient system of medicine and most widely practiced especially because of its side effects free treatment principles. According to Ayurveda, there are three ‘doshas’ (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). The side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are very common with the signs of aggravated ‘pitta dosha’. In Ayurveda, two ‘vishas’ (gara and dushivisha) are also there. Theses cause symptoms like chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects. The ‘kapha’ helps the ‘visha’ to retain inside the body. In the Vedic system, cancer is viewed as a psychic disorder, a disruption in the aura allowing the entrance of a negative astral force. Emotional cleansing, mantra, and meditation are important to counter this. The Polyherbal preparations (Chavanprash avaleha, Triphala) show control on the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy by showing the radio-protective effect. Here in this review, we have tried to demystify the Ayurveda principles and its role for the possible treatment of side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy with a view leading to enhanced quality of life for cancer patients. © 2020 iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation. All rights reserved.