Ayurvedic Integrative Approaches in Managing Side Effects of Modern Cancer Therapies

The cancer will be destroyed by chemotherapy and radiation, but again they have side effects that are as unpleasant as the cancer itself. People resort to Ayurveda, an Indian practice, in order to co-exist with those more recent therapies. According to Punarjan Ayurveda, one of the best cancer hospitals, the entire body and the mind and soul applies the natural processes such as herbs, diet and yoga to polish those rugged edges. The combination is not supposed to substitute the therapy by doctors; it is supposed to contain harmless supplementation. Altogether, about 40% of American cancer patients experiment with complementary treatments like this one, say health surveys, in the hopes of getting an easier ride through treatment.

When our cells are subjected to treatments of cancer, what is their response?

Think of your body as a city and cells as the employees who ensure that everything is good. Present treatments attack the bad cells, the cancer ones that multiply without limits. Chemotherapy is an example of a strong disinfectant that kills rapidly dividing cells by interfering with their DNA, the directions in each cell that cause it to make copies of itself. This prevents cancer from spreading but does not selectively target with absolute precision. Healthy bone marrow, hair follicle, and gut cells are affected too, causing symptoms such as hair loss, stomach upset, or fatigue owing to such cells being unable to repair or regrow themselves at a fast rate.

At a deeper level, the processes create something known as oxidative stress. That's when free radicals, unstable particles, accumulate and destroy cell structures such as walls and power plants (mitochondria). It's similar to rust corroding metal. Radiation has its way by bombarding cells with bursts of energy, disintegrating DNA strands and inducing inflammation, where the body's immune system overacts and kills good tissue surrounding them. Research illustrates that 70% of chemo patients successfully survive this cell-level mayhem, resulting in months-long fatigue, documented in cancer research publications.

How Ayurveda Comes To The Rescue Of Stressed Cells

Ayurveda has a theoretical framework of health as a balance among three forces: movement. When therapies disrupt the equilibrium, it employs plants and procedures to bring back the balance. A good example is turmeric that acts as a cell-level protector. It neutralizes such free radicals, reducing oxidative damage to allow cells to recover further. Small experiments, such as a 100-patient test on women with breast cancer, detected that taking turmeric decreased inflammation markers by 30%, reducing swelling and pain.

The second is through ashwagandha, a root that enables cells to manage stress. It increases natural guardians in cells, such as enzymes to repair DNA damage, and makes the body stronger. Imagine wrapping a warm blanket around your cells on a stormy day. In one trial of 50 individuals exposed to radiation, those on ashwagandha experienced 25% lower fatigue because their cells appeared to refill quicker. Ayurveda also individualizes diet to your constitution, in this case favoring warm, easily tolerated food that feeds cells without straining the gut, which is frequently irritated by treatment.

Can Ayurvedic Daily Habits Help with Recovery?

They can. Simple habits. Oil pulling, rinsing with sesame oil in the mouth, extracts toxins from the buildup of meds, comforting mouth sores at the cell surface where tissues parch and crack. Stretching (Yoga) has the effect of enhancing circulation, which carries oxygen to the starving cells as a result of side effects of treatment. This calms the mind which then indirectly helps as it lowers stress hormones, which cause inflammation, through yoga breathing. Such practices are currently being offered in approximately 60 percent of integrative cancer centers, and according to patient surveys, it has been reported that their mood and sleep have improved.

However, it does not fit all. Ayurveda is customized to your own make. When therapies build heat in your body (pitta imbalance), cooling spices such as aloe vera calm radiated burns on the skin by quenching cells and helping to diminish redness. According to an Indian study of 200 patients, it demonstrated 40% speedy healing of the skin through aloe versus plain creams.

• Drink ginger tea every day to calm stomach cells that are disturbed by chemo.
• Take neem leaf baths to soothe skin cells damaged by radiation.
• Consume dates with porridge to provide constant energy for exhausted bone marrow cells.
• Do child's pose yoga to calm nerve cells that are shaken with worry.
• Rubbing oil on dry, cracked cells is a massage.
• Chew fennel seeds as an after-meal digestive for the assistance of gut cells in the process of digestion.
• Drink water from licorice roots to protect throat cells from hoarseness.
• Go for a walk outside to boost oxygen in blood cells with low numbers.
• Meditate for 10 minutes for stress reduction on immune cells.
• Add holy basil to soups for antioxidant protection from free radicals.

Why Breathe These Worlds Together for Optimal Health?

Combining Ayurveda and contemporary care provides a more complete picture. Physicians do most of the anti-cancer therapy, and Ayurveda completes on comfort. It's all about listening to your body and adding up the small things. A global survey of 50% of the patients who used integrative approaches revealed that they reported feeling more empowered with fewer hospitalizations for side effects. Always consult your physician before trying anything new because some herbs have a deleterious effect on medication. In the end, this style respects science and nature equally as well, so you would be more yourself in the battle.

For more information about natural cancer care, log on to www.punarjanayurveda.com.