Ayurvedic medicine

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine. It uses a wide range of treatments and techniques. There is no reliable evidence to support its use as a treatment for cancer.

Summary

• Ayurvedic medicine uses a range of treatments and techniques
• Some techniques might help with the symptoms of cancer or its treatment
• Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for cancer is not backed up by research
• Some of the treatments might have severe side effects

What is Ayurvedic medicine?

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine which began about 5,000 years ago. It is not just one treatment. It is a way of diagnosing illness and using a wide range of treatments and techniques.

Ayurveda is an Indian word. Ayur means life and veda means knowledge.

Ayurvedic medicine can include:

• advice on diet and special diets
• taking specific Ayurvedic medications
• herbal medicine
• massage
• meditation
• yoga, breathing and relaxation techniques
• bowel cleansing

An Ayurvedic practitioner might suggest any or all of these treatments. It will depend on your particular health problems.

Ayurvedic medicine believes that health problems happen when your mind, body and spirit are out of balance.

Ayurvedic practitioners believe we are made up of 3 elements known as doshas.

These are:

• air and space (vata dosha) which allows movement
• fire and water (pitta dosha) which allows for change and handles digestion and metabolism
• water and earth (kapha dosha) which gives structure or cohesion

These 3 doshas let the body’s organs work together in harmony. They also create your relationship with the environment and universe.

Ayurvedic practitioners believe that health depends on the correct balance of all 3. They claim that combinations of Ayurvedic medicine bring balance and harmony into the body. It helps to:

• increase energy and wellbeing
• decrease stress
• prevent and cure disease

There is no scientific evidence to prove that Ayurvedic medicine can treat or cure cancer, or any other disease.

Why people with cancer use it

People with cancer often use touch therapies such as massage and aromatherapy. Many people say these therapies help them to cope better with cancer and its treatment.

Research is looking into whether some herbs or plant treatments used in Ayurvedic medicine could help to prevent or treat cancer.

But, we still don’t know much about some of the treatments that are part of Ayurvedic medicine. These include treatments like special diets and herbal remedies.

These treatments could be harmful to your health or interfere with conventional treatment such as cancer drugs and radiotherapy.

How you have it

Your practitioner will aim to restore or maintain your health and well-being. They will do it by balancing many factors in your life.

To plan your treatment, they will take your medical history and assess your doshas.

They will examine your tongue, lips and nails, and look inside your eyes, ears, nostrils and mouth. They might also examine your back passage (rectum) and genital area. They will listen to your lungs and heart and take your pulse.

They will ask about your emotions and relationships with other people. They will even consider the time of day and what season it is.

Then they’ll discuss which treatments they think will help you most.

Some practitioners might recommend getting rid of toxins. They might cleanse the bowel (intestines). They do it by putting liquid into your back passage (enemas). Or, they might suggest taking medicines to make the bowel work more quickly (laxatives).

Other ways of cleansing and detoxifying include:

• forced vomiting
• drawing blood from the body

These methods can be harmful. Most therapists don’t use them.

Some Ayurvedic methods are generally helpful for people with cancer. These include:

• yoga
• massage
• relaxation

But others such as some herbal treatments, diets and bowel cleansing can be harmful.

Always check with your doctor first as some treatments can have serious side effects. Ask their advice if an Ayurvedic practitioner diagnoses you with a new medical condition.

Your relationship with your practitioner is important. They are responsible for creating a safe space for you to work together to decide on your treatment.

Tell your practitioner if you don’t feel comfortable with anything that they are doing.

Finding an Ayurvedic practitioner

No single professional organisation regulates Ayurvedic medicine in the UK. Therapists and practitioners can join several associations. There is no law to say that they have to.

Always choose a trained and qualified practitioner. Contact the Ayurvedic Practitioners Association (APA) first.

Aurvedic practitioners are qualified to diagnose diseases and conditions from an Ayurvedic perspective. They can prescribe and give Ayurvedic remedies and treatments. They can also give nutrition and lifestyle advice.

Ayurvedic therapists are not trained as practitioners. They do not have to finish any specific training. They can give Ayurvedic nutrition and lifestyle advice. They can also give hands-on treatment such as massage. But they can’t diagnose conditions or prescribe Ayurvedic remedies.

There are several places that people can train to become Ayurveda practitioners. There are also different levels of training. Many practitioners go to India to study as there are more than 180 Ayurveda training schools there. Some of the training in India can take up to 5 years to complete.

Some practitioners train in a specific treatment. It might be in massage or meditation, but not in others such as herbal treatments.

Possible side effects of Ayurvedic medicine

You might have some side effects depending on which treatments you have. Herbal treatments, diets and bowel cleansing can have harmful side effects.

Herbal medicines and special diets

There is little published information about the herbal remedies used by Ayurvedic practitioners. Some common herbs might have dangerous side effects when you take them with cancer drugs or radiotherapy.

Following certain diets when you have cancer is not always safe either.

Detoxing methods

Some Ayurvedic practitioners will recommend getting rid of toxins. They might cleanse the bowel (intestines). They might put liquid into your back passage (enemas). Or, they might suggest taking medicines to make the bowel work more quickly (laxatives).

Regular enemas and laxatives can cause many side effects. Some of these can be serious and potentially fatal.

Side effects include:

• infections
• constipation
• bowel inflammation
• salt and other mineral imbalances in the body

Never use enemas or laxatives to clear your bowel if you have abdominal pain, vomiting or feel sick. Always ask your doctor first.

Other cleansing methods include drawing blood from the body (bloodletting) and forced vomiting. These methods can be harmful. Most therapists don’t use them.

Bloodletting can be dangerous for anyone, but especially for people with cancer. You might already have low levels of blood cells because of cancer or your treatment.

Low blood cell counts can cause tiredness (fatigue), breathlessness and other symptoms. Removing blood will make these symptoms worse.

Forced vomiting is unhealthy and can upset the levels of salt and minerals in your body.

We advise anyone with cancer not to rely entirely on Ayurvedic medicine. Talk to your doctor if you are thinking of giving up conventional medical treatment.

Sanjeevani

An Indian study in 2011 looked at selaginella bryopteris. It is a traditional Indian herb known as Sanjeevani. It found that compounds taken from the herb stopped the growth of cancer cells in test tubes. It also reduced the development of skin tumours and ovarian cancer cells in mice.