2. Ayurveda (Sanskrit: आयुर्वेद Ayurveda , "life-knowledge"; English pronunciation /ˌaɪ.ərˈveɪdə/)
or Ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional Hindu medicine native to the Indian
subcontinent. Contemporary practices derived from Ayurvedic traditions are a type of
alternative medicine. Ayurveda is a discipline of the upaveda or "auxiliary knowledge"
in Vedic tradition. The origins of Ayurveda are also found in the Atharvaveda,[4][5] which contains
114 hymns and incantations described as magical cures for disease. There are also various
legendary accounts of the origin of Ayurveda, e.g., that it was received
by Dhanvantari (or Divodasa) from Brahma.

3. Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to
invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and
lymph systems. Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. Cancer starts when cells in a
part of the body start to grow out of control. Cancer cell growth is different from normal cell
growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new, abnormal
cells.Cancer cells can also invade (grow into) other tissues, something that normal cells can't do.

5. People with cancer often use touch therapies such as massage and aromatherapy. Many
people say these therapies help them to cope better with cancer and its treatment.
Research is looking into whether some herbs or plant treatments used in Ayurvedic
medicine could help to prevent or treat cancer.
But we don't know much about some of the treatments that are part of Ayurvedic
medicine, such as special diets and herbal remedies. These treatments could be harmful
to your health or interfere with conventional treatment, such as cancer drugs or
radiotherapy.
To decide on a plan of treatment your practitioner will take your medical history and
assess your doshas. To do this they examine your tongue, lips, and nails. They look inside
your eyes, ears, nostrils and mouth. They may also examine your back passage (rectum)
and genital area. They listen to your lungs and heart, and take your pulse.
The practitioner will also take into account your emotions, your relationships with other
people and even the season and time of the day. They hope to be able to balance all
these factors in your life and restore or maintain your health and well being. They will
then discuss which treatments will help you most.

6. Ayurvedic medicine for cancer symptoms
Ayurvedic medicine involves the use of several types of therapies and people use it for
many different types of illness. Some of these therapies, such as massage, may lower
stress and help you to relax. Research has found that some aspects of Ayurvedic medicine
can help to relieve cancer related symptoms and improve quality of life.
Meditation can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and boost general wellbeing.
Recent studies have shown that yoga helps to improve sleep patterns in lymphoma
patients and also reduces symptoms of stress in people with breast cancer or prostate
cancer.
Ayurvedic medicine to treat cancer
More than 200 herbs and plants are used in Ayurvedic medicine. Some early laboratory
and animal research suggests that compounds taken from traditional Ayurvedic medicines
may be able to slow the growth of cancer in animals.
Some Ayurvedic methods, such as yoga, massage and relaxation, are generally helpful to
people with cancer. But others, such as some herbal treatments, certain diets and
cleansing the bowel can be harmful. You should be very cautious when using them and
always check with your doctor first because they can have some serious side effects. You
should also contact your doctor for advice if an Ayurvedic practitioner diagnoses you with
any new medical condition.

7. The physical level Ayurveda approaches the patient on several levels of causes, including physical,
emotional and spiritual. The most superficial level is approaching the symptom, which is the tumor
itself. On the most superficial physical level are herbs that can reduce tumor growth and perhaps limit
metastasis. Herbs can be taken internally or applied over the tumor as a paste, acting directly on the
cancer and supporting a deeper healing when used in accordance with the patient's vikruti. The
practitioner must also decide if the patient requires tonification or purification therapy. Strong
patients with ama require purification therapies in accordance with their prakruti and their vikruti.
Purification therapies reduce ama along with excess dosha. By cleansing the srotas and the subtle
nadis of the body, prana can flow freely and support the healing process. Purification is a reducing
therapy, reducing the dhatus of the body as well as the doshas. Since this weakens the body, it should
only be performed in patients who are strong enough. Purification therapy can be similarly viewed as
cytotoxic, meaning it destroys cells. When applied properly, cellular destruction is directed primarily
toward the cancerous cells. Patients who are weak should undergo strengthening or tonification
therapy. These therapies attempt to build up the strength (ojas) of patient. Consisting primarily of oil
therapies and rejuvenative herbs, these therapies are not directly beneficial for destroying cancer
cells, but do invigorate the immune system. A strong immune system is required for controlling the
growth of cancer cells. Ideally, patients begin Ayurvedic treatment early when they are strong,
allowing the practitioner to take the patient through a period of purification followed by a period of
tonification or rejuvenation. This process leaves the patient's body purified and their immune system
strong. In addition to the management of ama and ojas, the most important system of the body to
manage is the digestive system.

8. The Mental Level The role of the mind in healing must be emphasized as mental disturbances
are a more subtle cause than the physical imbalances in the doshas. Healing the mind is
therefore more difficult and requires positive self-inquiry and insight. Studies have indicated
that positive thinking activates the immune system and supports healing. Yet, positive thinking
not easy to sustain. A consciousness that is more tamasic or rajasic will have a difficult time
sustaining a positive focus. Mental and emotional challenges produce blockages in the flow of
energy in the physical body. The physical body is capable of manifesting what the mind
imagines. Unhealthy imaginings (images produced deep within our consciousness), appear first
in the astral body (dream body) and can eventually manifest in the physical body as disease.
Healing begins with the purification of the mind. Periods of silence and a lack of sensory
stimulation are the best methods of purifying the mind, and can then be supported through th
use of herbs such as brahmi, tulsi and calamus. In addition to the internal use of these herbs,
shirodhara can help produce inner silence while tonifying the mind. Nasya supports mental
purification. For patients with a more tamasic nature, this path of healing is very difficult. They
will often lack the motivation for self-inquiry and will not fully engage in the subtle therapeutic
process. These patients benefit from traditional Western psychotherapy, which begins the
process of self-awareness through exploring and releasing repressed feelings. By removing
obstruction to the flow of prana in the body, psychotherapy can be an important part of the
patient's healing process. So much of one's mental power of healing lies in their capacity to
experience self love. A lack of self-love, contentment and compassion equates to a lack of
mental ojas and are the additional roots of all diseases including cancer. Hence, mental
purification is the process of removing these negative feelings.

9. The Spiritual Level Our spirit is essentially pure, perfect and is not truly in need of
healing. However, our spirit is bound to the cycle of birth and death through the Karma
generated by the actions of our ego. Spiritual healing is the process of removing or
healing our karma, which plays a role in all disease. Cancer has a cause. While some of
those causes are exogenous, others are endogenous, arising from within. They originate
in the samskaras deeply imbedded within our consciousness and manifest in part
through our genetics and i n part through the desires (vasanas) that generate our
actions. Our genetic predispositions combine with the choices we make to bring about
our challenges. In this case, the challenge is cancer. Spiritual healing is the healing of the
samskaras and the underlying karma that generated it. In doing so, cancer magically
seems to disappear. Hence, healing is learning. When the lesson is learned, the condition
is no longer necessary. Lessons often surround destructive lifestyle habits, thoughts, and
emotions, and exist to give us the opportunity grow, learn and evolve on our journey
toward enlightenment. Without suffering, we would have no feedback about how we are
living or progressing on our spiritual journey. Healing the spirit by removing our karma
and freeing ourselves from suffering and the wheel of rebirth is the greatest journey of
all. It is often the most difficult and lengthy path of healing, but also the most complete
path. While this part of the healing journey will go on for the patient's entire life, and
even their next, each change in the patient's consciousness alters how they manifest in
this lifetime. Even small changes at the level of consciousness can be enough to heal
cancer!

10. While everyone is looking for the definitive cure for cancer in an herb, Ayurvedic practitioners
know that healing is more than taking a pill. Herbs offer great potential to stimulate the healing
process and can even destroy cancer cells. This property of an herb (or drug) is called the
cytotoxic effect. While studies reveal that herbs have cytotoxic or antineoplastic (preventing
cancerous cell growth) activity, few have documented their exact effect. Historical references
often state simply that herbs are beneficial in a general sense, but do not specify which types of
cancer they are effective for, or at what stage. In the classical Ayurvedic literature, there are
listings of complex formulations for the treatment of various types of arbuda (malignancy).
Many of the herbs that are credited with the potential to heal cancer are strongly purifying,
ridding the body of toxins, excess dosha and ama. Most of these purifying and reducing herbs
are bitter in taste. While there are hundreds of herbs with presumed anticancer effects, several
examples of strongly reducing herbs with a reputation to destroy tumors include red clover,
burdock root, dandelion root, guggul, turmeric and chaparral. Other specific herbs have been
well studied, and include: Green tea (Camellia sinensis), has been shown to reduce the
incidence of a variety of cancers, including the most impossible to cure, pancreatic cancer, and
also to prevent stomach, colon, and breast and lung cancer. This conclusion was based upon a
study of the population of China which showed that as tea consumption increased, cancer rates
sharply decreased. Shatavari (Asparagus racemonus) and Brahmi (Bacopa Monniera ) has also
have been found to possess anticarcinogenic activity. An alcoholic extract of both herbs has
been shown to be effective in reducing epidermal carcinoma of the nasopharynx. Shatavari is a
rare example of a nutritive herb with anticarcinogenic properties.

11. Cancer is not simple, and cannot be cured through "mindfulness" any more than it can be
caused by "mindfulness". No one "lives forever" if they behave perfectly, and no one
behaves perfectly- there is no perfect system.
A preventative approach to cancer can be put quite simply, the more we live in harmony
with the natural laws of life, the more we are taking in the life-enhancing gifts of nature.
Cancer is a sign that our internal environment is disconnected to the external environment.
By keeping our internal environment harmonious prevents the cancer cells to take hold.
Prevention is the key.