In cancer treatment, there are no small margins for error, and the obstacles can be high.

But in the recent few years, another kind of therapy, which has its origin in India itself, has come into the limelight, known as Ayurveda. But the burning question remains: So what is the cancer cure that is treated under Ayurveda? Thus, it is high time we turned to this topic and dispelled the myths.

First of all, let me describe to your readers briefly what Ayurveda is. Ayurveda is a holistic healing system that originated over 5 thousand years ago. Ayurveda aims at a balance between the body and the soul. It also focuses on aspects of prevention and health promotion with natural remedies, diet, and lifestyle alteration. It is also important to know that Ayurveda has been recognized more for its capacity to control various health diseases and conditions; giving it a hardcore cancer treatment tag is something else.

Present knowledge does not make available any evidence that Ayurveda cures cancer today. The consensus among medical professionals is clear: cancer is a chronic disease, and treatment is quite invasive, which includes surgical procedures, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. These are some treatments proven with research support and clinical evidence. Thus, Ayurveda should be regarded not as a cure by itself but as a helpful supplement to the patients’ treatment courses.

Various patients who receive traditional therapies develop adverse reactions like vomiting, exhaustion, and stress. These symptoms can be managed using Ayurvedics such as herbs, yoga, pranayam, etc. For example, herbs such as ashwagandha and turmeric are associated with the inflammatory index, and using them may enhance the overall well-being of the patient.

Also important is the fact Ayurveda also entails an individual style of treating the patient. There are no two persons who are similar in Ayurveda, and so first, the Ayurvedic doctor analyses the Prakriti of an individual to decide on the therapies to be provided. This may be useful for cancer patients because a more complex and individualised management approach may be needed that includes not only the medical aspect of the disease but also an oncological patient’s psychological state.

But it is also important not to go overboard with Ayurvedic remedies and treatments. Herbal medicines are not all good, and some have been found to have adverse effects when used together with conventional cancer therapies. For instance, some of the herbs can cause blood coagulation issues or liver problems, thus complicating the patient’s condition given the situation. Thus, it is crucial that the patients discuss with their oncologist before they begin using any of these Ayurvedic treatments.

The other important factor to look at is the research function. Some have reported that they benefitted from Ayurvedic treatment, but scientific evidence on the effectiveness of Ayurveda in treating cancer patients is inexistent. Integrative oncology is still a fairly new area of study, and the world is only now starting to look at how practices such as Ayurveda can be used alongside western medicine. But as of now, we have to doubt any assertions about Ayurveda as a cancer cure.

And therefore, Ayurveda brings only additional supportive measures to supplement treatment for cancer, but it is not a cure. It is hereby important for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer to consult the appropriate healthcare workers. Integrating orthodox treatments with complementary methods such as Ayurveda is likely to improve the quality of life but cannot act as a substitute for conventional treatment.

So, if you or someone you know is considering Ayurveda as part of a cancer treatment plan, remember: there can be no doubt that it is always important to know more, consult instead of guess, and use only working methods. I have learnt that the pathway through arriving at the diagnosis of cancer and beyond has a long way of being laborious, but it is crucial for the patient; when empowered with the right quality of support and data, they know how to proceed throughout the fight ahead with hope and courage.