Acute leukemia and its identification in ayurveda - A review based on clinical observations

Abstract

Modern science and medicine established scientific details of leukemia only during the second half of 19th c. J. H. Bennett a pathologist established leukemia by publishing study on 35 cases and he is credited with the innovation of leukemia; in Ayurveda no systematic study seems to have been attempted to understand or identify the leukemia let alone the treatment. This was also due to the lack of opportunities in oncology institutes or organized research by government bodies. Extensive research on all aspects is underway in modern medicine and claims are being made by many traditional healers, but no system of medicine has been able to achieve success so far; experts in Ayurvedic system say the strategies do hold promising positive results but needs proper studies. Here an attempt has been made to understand and identify leukemia by clinically studying well diagnosed cases for 11 years in collaboration with oncology experts in a premier Onco-institute of India. Study involved 800 patients who were clinically studied from an Ayurvedic perspective during their entire course of disease with or without treatment; detailed descriptions and analysis of various possibilities in the Ayurvedic system were discussed (and documented) and finally concluded based on authoritative sources.