How To Treat Lung Cancer Through Ayurveda?

As we know respiration is the main process without which no living being can survive. Lung cancer is a deadly disease where the index ratio is higher in males as compared to females. It is more common in older adults, rare in youngsters and in children. Among all cancers, lungs are more prone to develop cancer because lungs are the organ in our body that are directly exposed to the external environment. Lung cancer is defined as the abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of the abnormal cells, these growths are potential enough to invade and spread to other body parts and they might be malignant or non-malignant in nature. The lung carcinoma patient may present with the symptoms like cough, chest pain coughing up blood, etc. As epithelial cells are involved in lung cancer, therefore this condition is also called as Lung Carcinoma. As per Ayurveda, it is categorized under “Arbuda”

Types Of Lung Cancer

There are two main types of lung cancer, they are

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) – They usually develop within the lungs and are highly malignant in nature.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) – They are usually present in the airways (trachea and bronchioles) and it is a rare variety of lung carcinoma. Most heavy smokers are prone to develop this type of cancer

What Causes Cancer?

• Cigarette smoking / tobacco is the main cause of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.
• Consumption of carcinogenic substances like – alcoholic beverages, junk foods, polluted water, red or processed meat, ajinomoto, etc.
• Hereditary – Those who have a family history of cancer are more likely to develop cancer.
• History of any other cancer – Due to metastasis lungs may also involve.
• Environmental factors – Exposure to air pollution such as mists and pollen.
• Occupational hazards – Occupational exposure to inorganic substances like – sulfuric acid, radon gas, uranium, arsenic compounds, asbestos, beryllium, chloromethyl ether, etc. Those who work in rubber and glass industries and painters are more susceptible to develop
• Any history of Trauma (abhighata)
• History of lung disease – Any COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) may be associated with a high risk of cancer

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer?

• Chest pain, pain may radiate towards shoulder
• Wheezing may be present
• Cough
• Hemoptysis (Coughing up with blood)
• Weight loss
• Dysponea and shortness of breath
• Heartburn
• Inflammation and congestion (Swelling in the airway cause congestion)
• Hoarseness of voice
• Tenderness over the thoracic region
• Supra clavicle and infra clavicle lymph node swelling
• Weakness
• Headache
• Fever
• Debility

Diagnosis

As the prognosis is poor, early diagnosis helps to save the patient. For diagnosis, laboratory and imaging investigations are required, they are

• CBC (Complete blood count)
• C- reaction
• Chest X-ray
• CT- Chest
• Lung biopsy
• Bronchoscopy

Management Strategy

Management strategy includes the following things

• Smoking cessation itself is a half treatment along with the management of dietary and lifestyle habits.
• Management to restrict abnormal growth
• Treatment to reduce the size of the tumor or carcinoma
• Rejuvenating the dead and affected cells
• Increasing the vital capacity of lungs
• Enhancing the immunity

All these things we can achieve by balancing the Sharirik doshas (Vata – Pitta – Kapha), Mansik doshas (Raja – Tama), Trimalas (Sweda- Mutra – Purisha), Saptadhatus (Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja, Shukra), Agni (all 13 types of agni) and Ojas.

Treatment Aspect As Per Ayurveda

As we know Ayurveda is an integrated system of medicine which potentially hampers the pathogenesis of various deadly diseases with the help of its Herbal formulations, Panchakarma, Yoga and daily and seasonal regimens.

• Panchakarma therapies are helpful to detoxify the body, restore the normal function, eliminate ama, and restrict the cancerous growth. The procedures that are helpful in lung cancer are – Vaman, Virechana, Basti, Abhyanga, and Swedana.
• Internal Medications: – Planet Ayurveda offers various herbal formulations that are very effective in treating cancer. They have incorporated in “Crab Care pack” and their description is as follows
• Curcumin 95%
• Tulsi Capsules
• Vasaka Capsules
• Kasahar churna
• Aller-G care
• Brahmi Chyawanprash
• Kanchnaar guggul

Curcumin 95%:

• Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer herb that helps to manage the infection and growth of tumors. It is also used as a preventive measure in those who have a family history of cancer.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meals.

Moreover, as per our classics, haldi possesses these qualities

(Reference – Kaidev Nighantu)

The meaning of this shloka goes as – Haldi is also called as nisha, has a pungent and bitter taste, hot in potency, dry in nature, pacifies Kapha and pitta dosha, effective in wounds, anemia, tumors, diabetes, skin problems, and inflammatory disorders.

Tulsi Capsules

• Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is an immune modulator herb that helps to manage the immunity as well as impaired signals from the brain that causes uncontrolled symptoms.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meals.

Vasaka Capsules

• Vasaka is a well – known herb for respiratory tract disorders. It helps to manage the signs and symptoms of lung cancer and restores the vital capacity of lungs.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meals.

Kaas-Har Churna

• This powder is prepared from the herbs like – Vanshalochna, pippali, ela, dalchini, etc. It supports the lung function and is also a unique formulation of Planet Ayurveda that supports the lung function.

Dosage: 1 teaspoon twice daily with plain water after meals.

Aller-G Care

• Lung cancer is a pranavaha srotas vyadhi where prana Vata is vitiated at Kapha site, so these Aller-G care capsules help to balance Vata in the body and eliminate toxins from the body.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meals.

Brahmi Chyawanprash

• Basically, the herbs contained in this formulation are amla, brahmi, ashwagandha, punarnava, pippali, etc. They all are anti-oxidant and rejuvenating herbs thus helps to eliminate free radicals from the body and repair the damaged tissues.

Dosage: 1 teaspoonful twice daily with plain water after meals.

Kanchnaar Guggul

• Kanchnaar guggul is a classical preparation of Ayurveda that helps to cut down the extra growth from the body due to its ksharan and tikshana qualities.

Dosage: 2 tabs twice daily with plain water after meals.

Along with the above medicines the use of Prarakshak Churna is really effective. It helps to fight against lung problems like cancer and other respiratory disorders. This powder consists of Shirish (Albezzia lebbock), Vaasa (Adhatoda vasica),Anantmool (Tylphora asthmatica) Dalchini (Cinnamomum), Bharangi (Clerodandrum serratum), Pippali (Piper longum),Kantkari (Solanum xanthocarpum) and Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Advise

• Add tulsi, mulethi, black pepper, long pepper, turmeric, Indian gooseberry in your diet as they help to maintain a healthy immune system.
• Even you can go for an external application like massage your chest with – Karpuradi taila, or tilla taila by adding pinch of saindhava lavan in it.
• Passive smoking increases the risk, thus avoid it.

 

                    “Quit Smoking Otherwise Quit Life”