Ayurvedic Medicine in Treating Colon Cancer
Ilyas Farooqui
Wayne State University
Abstract
Ayurveda is the ancient homeopathic equivalent to modern medical science; it is over 5,000 years old and was primarily discovered in India. It was designed to promote good health and longevity rather than to fight disease and was practiced mainly among professionals such as physicians and surgeons. Ayurveda uses non-invasive homeopathic and holistic approaches to treating ailments such as infections, viruses, cancers, and tumors. Ayurveda should be looked at as a way of life and not just a treatment. The secrets to the Ayurvedic way of life have been

known to promote better health along with quality of life, which usually go hand-in-hand.
Ayurveda has proven itself to be an effective treatment for cancer, specifically colon cancer. My research question will be examining in detail how Ayurvedic practices help treat stage 3 colon cancer in terms of; pain management, patient quality of life, and overall health.
Ayurveda is an ancient homeopathic health system derived from the Indian subcontinent.
Ayurveda, which means "science of long life", is a 5,000-year-old system portion of Indian medicine (Garodia, 2007). It was designed to promote good health and longevity rather than to fight disease and was practiced mainly among professionals such as physicians and surgeons.
Until recently, Ayurveda's secrets were passed down mainly through word of mouth, discussion between village "shamans" and physicians finally crossed Ayurvedic Medicine into modern medicines frontier. Ayurveda is a medical system that deals not only with the body but with the mind and spirit as well, not unlike homeopathic medicine. According to Ayurvedic medicine, most diseases are connected with the mind and pathologic changes in the body are caused by imbalance in three different body systems. The main goal of Ayurvedic therapy is to restore the balance between these three major body systems. The balanced coordination of body, mind, and consciousness is the Ayurvedic definition of good health (Chopra, A. 2007).
Ayurvedic medicine is a much better health care system than modern medicine because it doesn't just treat the symptoms but the patient’s body and soul. Ayurveda is focused on a healthy way of life, rather than fixing the patient after their destructive habits have already destroyed their body.
Modern medicine has its perks sometimes, such as quick solutions to problems through impromptu surgery and technical tools that help one save life quicker and monitor bodies functions closer, however these quick fixes don’t alleviate the general problem. Cancers of the prostate, breast, lung, and colon, although most common in the Western world, are least common in the Eastern world. This goes to show that even though the diseases have been introduced, they are not prevailing due to certain factors. One of those main factors is the westerner’s way of life compared to the easterner’s way of life. Indulging in excess and not getting enough excursive is a key in fatal illnesses, it’s like buying a new car then never changing the oil, you must maintain your body or it will not perform the way you need it to! Modern medicine also is very cut and dry; they treat the disease and send you on your way. Ayurvedic medicine treats your mind, body, and soul. If the patient is unhappy yet healthy, their inner state is not balanced and shamans will take it upon themselves to help that individual through meditation, praying, yoga, or by any means necessary to ensure the patients mind is content. Ayrveda is overall a better way of life and if implemented we'd save millions in treating colon cancer along with many other cancers.
The principles of patient safety are foremost in Ayurveda, including meticulous aseptic techniques used for surgery (ex. careful boiling of instruments, cleaning of hands).Treatment involves the surgical removal of tumor, herbal remedies, dietary modification, and spiritual treatment (ex. detoxification, rejuvenation, prayers, sound therapy, stress relief, meditation, yoga, and astrology). Strong purifying modalities have been primarily used for medical management of cancer. Both internal and external purifications are given through therapy. Modern medicine also

uses cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical removal of tumors, which are a last resort in Ayurvedic Medicine. Emotional support and psychotherapy are provided with yoga, meditation, and prayers along with individualized nutrition plans and dietary interventions. The
Ayurvedic concept of treatment of inflammation of cancer does have aggressive last steps that were aforementioned, but they are to be taken only as a final measure. Multiple approaches for the prevention and treatment of cancer are usually practiced first. Some therapeutic treatments used to fight cancer lead to emotional stabilization and stress release along with detoxification of the cellular and tissue memories. Exercise and diet are important factors that can sometimes dictate the primary treatment. Vigorous exercise, however, is forbidden in lean and weak patients. Instead, patients are advised to perform specific yoga positions that are believed to benefit them in mind and body with the least physical stress. Certain postures are believed to stimulate the internal organs and glands and improve immunity and organ function. Diet is prescribed according to age, body constitution, season, and environment, as well as the socioeconomic status of the patient. All of these factors are a detrimental part of the Ayurvedic
Research process and will help determine how successfully Ayurvedic Treatment is for stage 3 colon cancer patients.
Ayurveda is defined as, "the science of life"; it is not just to heal ailments but rather a way of life for the patient. Ayurveda is used in many different ways for many different types of ailments.
One very common example is Turmeric powder being added into patient’s food to increase the speed of their metabolism and to help them lose weight. Obviously other factors go into
Ayurvedic diets, such as exercise and massage, but a small factor that could tip the scales in ones favor would be the Turmeric powder. Another example of how Ayurveda can be incorporated into ones daily life is through substitution; simply switch your "vanilla latte with whip cream" for a healthier alternative such as "green tea with honey" every morning to keep your mind and body balanced. Tea provides natural antioxidants without dehydrating moisture from your skin, unlike coffee. Plus tea will give your system an extended release of caffeine , whereas coffee will provide a jolt then give you a crashing feeling later (Itchitawa 2005). Most people use Ayurvedic medicine as a way of maintaining their dietary health and keeping their bodies in shape.
Ayurveda demands abstinence from any drugs or alcohol and also limits certain foods depending on your age, weight, and social health status. Overall, Ayurveda demands a healthier lifestyle, through abstinence of anything that may harm the body and by undergoing rituals and activities that promote harmony within the body.
There are four different types of treatment of cancer through Ayurveda (Garodia 2007). The four alternative treatment types include; Mind-body medicines, biologically based practices,
Manipulative and body-based practices, and Energy medicine. Mind-body medicine specifically treats colon cancer through meditation or yoga; mind over matter is the key concept of this treatment. Biologically based practices for colon cancer include natural flushes to cleanse the patient’s colon. Manipulative and body based practices pertain to massages and reflexology; manipulation of tissue with hands or special tools. Energy medicine is scarcely used for colon cancer but it involves Reiki; when one moves their hands over areas of the body with high energy to alleviate some of the pain, some are skeptical of this but some would also swear by it!

There are three main Ayurvedic approaches to maintaining ones health and well-being; body, mind, and natural elements (Aggarwal 2002). The main way to keep one’s body healthy though
Ayurveda is to avoid eating in excess, making healthier choices, and knowing that what goes into your body is what will fuel your body. Twinkies don't make for such good sustenance, by thinking in these terms one realizes the worth of good food and searches far and wide to attain it.
The mind is immensely important when attaining balanced health. Depression is a rising problems in the US, Ayurveda reinforces positive thinking and encourages optimism to avoid tumbling into depression. By combining positive eating habits with positive mental processes one can achieve a state of happiness and remain this way throughout their lifetime. Natural elements refer to natural medical plants and herbal remedies. These days pharmaceutical companies are billion dollar businesses and process all the natural components of their medicine until it come out looking like one small easy to swallow tablet, in Ayurvedic medicine things are left in their natural state with little or no change to the healing plant itself. Ayurveda uses certain plants for certain treatment. Weight management herbs are ginger, turmeric, and clove. Herbs such as Neem and Amla help detoxify seasonal allergies and asthma. The plant Vinca Roscea is commonly used to treat cancers, such as colon and breast cancer. Vinca Roscea has become so common, that now modern medicine has manufactured it into a diluted treatment for cancer patients (Aggarwal 2002).
Typical modern approaches to treating colon cancer include local incision or simple polypectomy, which is surgically removing the polyp or tumor while it is still just a small cluster of cells. If the tumor is too large resection and anastomosis may be needed, this is when tissue or part of an organ needs to be cut to prevent poisoning the rest of the body. If the cancer goes into the second stage then chemotherapy, or radiation therapy may be used as well, these processes are extremely painful and the patient has absolutely no social life what so ever when undergoing these procedures. These are the main options that patients are given when they walk into a hospital, almost all of these options are painful and none of them guarantee results. Ayurvedic approaches as I’ve mentioned above heal the body through herbs, flushes, and ritualistic practices. Especially when one is deemed a terminal patient the last thing they need is to go through painful procedures and feel pain or be sedated the last days of their life. Ayurveda provides comfort and relief through humane procedures, which are easy on the patient along with easy on the pocket for their loved ones.
My approach to treating colon cancer would be to obtain patients in their third stage of colon cancer and treat them using ayurvedic methods and compare these results to what modern medicine has been practicing for years. I would incorporate healthy eating habits, prayers or simply meditations if it conflicts with the patient’s beliefs, exercise or flexibility rituals, along with surrounding the patient with compassionate and knowledgeable caretakers. I hope to find that by surrounding the patient with positive energy, and instilling healthy dietary and mental practices we will see a significant outcome after treatment by increasing longevity and chances for success.

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