Cancer- Ayurvedic Understanding And Hopeful Treatment Modalities

This article is written by Dr. MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD (Ayu).Cancer is a burning problem nowadays. The disease is more common in developed and developing countries than the undeveloped nations. It determines one strong point that modern lifestyle and food habits have direct impact over the occurrence of this illness. It does not mean that the disease was not prevalent in olden times. Because, age old Ayurveda system of medicine refers in detail regarding the name Arbuda or Karkatarbuda. Close review of the etiological factors and clinical manifestation help us to co-relate arbuda with cancerous growths. 

Origin and common factors of Cancer(arbuda):According to Acharya Sushruta, the father of surgery, the aggravated Doshas are accumulated in a particular localized area of the body. There, they cause excess aberration in muscular tissues (mamsa pradooshana) and hence in the area, circular-stable-mild painful-larger-broad based-non suppurative growths are caused which are gradually maturing in nature. Such muscular growths will have broader (wider) base and often the base (site of origin) is not visible too. Such abnormal, prominent growths are termed as cancerous mass(Arbuda)i.e.,गात्रदेशे क्वचिदेव दोषा: सम्मूर्च्छि��ता मांसं अभि�प्रदूष्य ।वृत्तं स्थि रं मन्दरूजं महान्तं अनल्पमूलंचिरवृध्दि+दमपाकम् ॥कुव/न्तिन्त मांसोच्छ्रायं अत्यगाधं तदरु्बु/दं शस्त्रविवदो वदन्तिन्त ॥ (सु.विन. )Types:Based upon the dominance of doshic factor and tissues involved, they are classified as-1. Vataja arbuda2. Pittaja arbuda3. Kaphaja arbuda4. Raktarbuda

5. Mamsarabuda6. Medo arbuda

Raktarbuda:Vitiated doshas occupy the blood (rakta) and vessels (sira). There, they compress and contract the localized area and hence an elevated bigger muscular tumor is developed. This growth often bleeds from its periphery by mere touch or abrasion. Such a condition is called Raktarbuda. This gives rise to severe emaciation and chronic anemia

Mamsarbuda:Constant trauma or damage in any muscular part of the body leads to vitiation of localized area. Further, these tissues undergo instant transformation and quick multiplication of abnormal cells result into a tumor. This is usually painless, unctuous, vivid colored, non suppurative, palpated like stone and stable in nature. This is caused usually in non vegetarians and such a condition (mamsarbuda) is incurable.

Medo arbuda:If such a growth is observed over the adipose tissues, it is termed as Medo arbuda.Adhyarbuda (quick multiplicable tumors/metastasis)

If the above said varities of tumors (benign tumor) begin to spread (disseminate) to the nearby area and hence extend the pathology there also, the condition is called Adhyarbuda.It is actually the metastasis or malignant condition of the tumors. This is considered to be incurable.

Non-suppration of Arbuda:Acharya Sushruta points out the reasons to non suppuration of tissues as below-त पाकं आयांवित कफाधिधकत्वात् मेदोऽधिधकत्वात् विवशेषतस्तु ।दोषस्थि रत्वात् ग्रथनात् तेषां सवा/रु्बु/दान् एव विनसग/त्स्तु ॥ (सु.विन ११/२१)Due to the predominance of kapha (phlegm) and medas (adipose tissue), aggravation of doshas altogether in major amount, non-vulnerable tumor formation and natural tendency of the cell duplication, the arbuda (metastasis) does not undergo suppuration.Management of Arbuda as per Ayurveda:Acharya Charaka denotes that the metastasis should be treated as like the cysts or abscesses, as they have similar site of origin, aetiology, characteristic features, dosha(humor) and dooshya(tissues). The efforts should be carried to mature the growth (if possible) and later cautery is carried.

Acharya Sushruta specified the following line of treatment in cancerous growths:1. Vatic cancerous growths:a. Mild sudationb. Oil swab application by bitter oilsc. Blood letting2. Paittic cancerous growths:a. Mild sudationb. Purgationc. Scraping by the leaves of teakd. Application of medicated paste of Aragwadha (Cassia fistula), Gojihwa (Onosma bracteatum Wall. ), Trivrit(Operculina turpathum (Linn.) Silva Manso.) etc

3. Kaphaja cancerous growth:a. Emesisb. Purgationc. Blood lettingd. Medicinal application- Fine paste of langali(Gloriosa superba), karavira(Nerium indicum) etce. Application of alkali, cautery and surgery (if very essential)

Single drugs useful in Cancer treatmentDevadaru – Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud.Aragwadha – Cassia fistula Linn.Trivrit – Operculina turpathum (Linn.) Silva Manso.Karanja – Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre.Madanaphala – Catunaragum spinosa (Thunb.) Trivengadum.Langali – Gloriosa superb Linn.Karavira – Nerium indicum Mill.Haridra – Curcuma longa Linn.Tankana – Borax(Sodium borate)Kshara – Alkalis

Formulation useful for Cancerous growth:

1. Arogyavardhini vati 2. Triphala guggulu 3. Panchatikta ghanavati4. Guduchi satwa 5. Bhadradarvadi kashaya6. Gojihwadi kashaya 7. Aragwadhadi kashaya 8. Shivakshara pachana choorna 9. Pancha valkala kwatha etc

Wholesome diet and habits:

1. Light food2. Cow’s milk

3. Supernatant part of curd or buttermilk4. Liquid diet5. Red rice6. Green gram soup7. Pepper8. Turmeric9. Cow’s urine10. Organic food (chemical free food)

Unwholesome diet and habits:

1. Heavy food2. Spicy food3. Penetrative food4. Non vegetarian diet5. Tobacco6. Fried and oily food7. Fatty food8. Junk food etc

Last drop:Dear readers of easyayurvedic.com, it is indeed very pitiable to see increasing number of cancer patients now a days. Proper awareness about the healthy food, emphasis towards the natural and organic food, avoidance of spicy, oily, fried and junk food will surely help to prevent from the disease. One should be away from chemicals,synthetic substances,corrosives,irritants,narcotis etc.Or else, the suffers should take care of their food and habits with caution.