Do Ayurveda have the answers to cancer? The supporters of the alternative therapies claim that Ayurveda has the potential to treat cancer. However, the scientific community has always denied it, due to lack of evidence.
To clear this confusion, All India institute of medical sciences (AIIMS) is up with a major research project where many specialists from the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences will come under one roof to study and establish the efficacy of Ayurveda in treating breast, cervix and oral cancer.
G K Rath, head of Cancer Department at AIIMS told a leading daily that under the large-scale project at the AIIMS, cancer patients are administered coded Ayurvedic drugs, in addition to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Ayurveda helped reducing the side effects of breast cancer like hair fall, nausea and fall in blood parameters in one of the pilot studies.
Many Indians now believe on alternative medicines, and for some diseases, positive outcomes have been observed. But the practitioners don’t share the ingredients used which creates a lack of evidence.
A nodal officer for the collaborative project told TOI, "Our aim is to validate the medicines prescribed as alternative therapy. This will help standardise and exploit the potential of this therapy. Allopathic treatment has its limitations and it is often associated with side-effects while alternative therapies are considered safer,"
The AIIMS project also intends to look into the claims that Cannabis helps in maintaining a life quality in cancer patients after treatment, and alleviates acute and chronic radiation toxicities.
Many practitioners give herbo-minerals also known as ‘Bhasm’ for treating cancer. But no one knows in what quantity it is beneficial. But sometimes, it can deteriorate the kidney function as well.
