This document discusses the use of phytotherapy and plant antioxidants for cancer treatment. It provides background on cancer as an incurable disease that is a leading cause of death. Ayurvedic concepts view cancer as originating from metabolic changes and aggravated doshas. Cancer therapy in Ayurveda uses internal medications, purification treatments, and certain plants to eliminate doshas and toxins. Phytotherapy uses plant extracts and antioxidants which may reduce side effects of chemotherapy and help combat cancer by counteracting free radicals. Many plants show potential as resources for new anti-cancer drugs due to antioxidant activities.
2. CONTENTS
• CANCER – A QUICK LOOK BACK
• CONCEPTS AS PER TRADITIONAL SCIENCE
• PATHOGENESIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
AYURVEDA
• CANCER THERAPY – A CO-THERAPY
• PHYTOTHERAPY – FROM PLANTS TO
MEDICINE
• CANCER PHYTOTHERAPY
• ROLE OF PLANT ANTIOXIDANTS
3. CANCER – A QUICK LOOK BACK
• CANCER (ARBUDA) - Incurable diseases
OF 21ST
CENTURY - 25% OF ALL DEATHS
IN U.S.A.
scientific investigations
world is running behind alternative
medicines like Ayurveda to
minimize the side effects
due to chemotherapy and
prolong their lifespan.
4. CONCEPTS AS PER TRADITIONAL SCIENCE
• classics clearly describes about both granthi
(tumor) and arbuda (cancer)
• relation to tridoshas (vata, pitha, kapha)
5.
6.
7.
8. PATHOGENESIS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH AYURVEDA
• CANCER ORIGINATES DUE TO METABOLIC
CHANGES
• Vata dosha is responsible for cell division.
• Aggravation of vata dosha and suppression of
kapha doshas or both the doshas interacting
with one another may result in proliferation of
cells.
• Ekadesavriddhi (growth at a specific part) is a
part of abnormal cell division resulting in
benign of malignant tumours.
9. CANCER THERAPY – A
CO-THERAPY
• Internal medication (samana chikitsa)
• Sodhana chikitsa (purification treatment)
• Eliminate the vitiated doshas
• Certain poisonous plants, minerals and animal
products are rendered non-toxic and are used
as rejuvenating drugs (immunotherapy) in the
treatment of cancer.
• Surgical management
10. CANCER THERAPY – A
CO-THERAPY
• The generation of aldehydes during
chemotherapy could be reduced by the use of
antioxidants from herbals used in Ayurvedic
system of medicine. Therefore many
researches are conducted at phyto-chemical
levels, pharmacological levels and clinically
on herbs to study the anti-cancerous effect and
to develop the immune system in the cancer
patients there by combating the side effects of
chemo.
11. PHYTOTHERAPY – FROM PLANTS
TO MEDICINE
• Phytotherapy is a science-based medical
practice and thus is distinguished from other,
more traditional approaches, such as medical
herbalism, which relies on an empirical
appreciation of medicinal herbs and which is
often linked to traditional knowledge.
“green wave” started in the 1970
12. • plants are applied in therapy is in the form of
infusions or decoctions.
• concentrated extracts are prepared it is possible to
administer quite large doses of plant material in a
convenient way (e.g. 1 capsule instead of 50 g of
dry leaf).
PHYTOTHERAPY – FROM PLANTS
TO MEDICINE
13. CANCER PHYTOTHERAPY
• Plants are considered as important resources
for researchers to prove and develop new
drugs.
14. • The Role of Plant Antioxidants on Cancer
Free radicals high concentrations
damage all major components of cells, including
proteins, DNA, and cell membranes.
Crucial role in the development of Cancer
Antioxidants, especially medicinal plants with
antioxidant activity, have the ability to counteract
the condition.
CANCER PHYTOTHERAPY
high
conc
entr
atio
ns
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