Can Ayurveda help in treating Melanoma (Skin Cancer)?

Abstract

Healthy cells are being divided and replaced in our body in a controllable manner, this occurs throughout your life. When these cells start to divide in an uncontrollable manner this gives birth to malignant tumors. This is also known as a cancerous form of a tumor. A benign tumor does not have the capability to spread in the body and it does not cause any harm. A malignant tumor spreads throughout the body, it travels through blood vessels eventually affecting the organs. There are many types of cancer and one of them is skin cancer also known as Melanoma which is sometimes confused with moles. Through this article, we are going to discuss more melanoma and how it affects the body.  We will also discuss how you can manage it through herbal medicine.

Introduction

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is very serious. The development of the melanocytes is the one that produces melanin which helps in giving pigmentation to the skin. Melanin is responsible for giving us the color that we have. For example people with darker color have high levels of melanin whereas fair people do not.  It helps us in protecting from dangerous rays of the Sun which is why white skin is toldto apply sunscreen. In skin cancer, the melanocytes start to divide uncontrollably leading to a malignant tumor that can occur at any age and spreads locally as well as the distant places by blood and by lymphatics. Besides the skin, melanoma can also occur in other sites like the oral, esophagus, orbit, conjunctiva, and leptomeninges.  The common sites for skin melanoma are the trunk in men and legs in women and the other locations are soles, faces, nail-beds, and palms.

There are Four Types of Malignant Melanoma

1. Lentigo Malignant Melanoma

This develops from the pre-existing lentigo and its slow-growing. Mostly seen in older people especially who are exposed to the sun in excessive amounts.

2. Superficial Spreading Melanoma

It is one of the most common types where you can see elevated lesions with ulcerated surfaces and variegated colors.

3. Acral Lentiginous Melanoma

This is mostly seen on the surface of palms, soles, and mucosal surface. These tumors undergo ulceration and early metastases. It is worse than that of superficial spreading melanoma.

4. Nodular Melanoma

It appears as deeply elevated nodules that grow rapidly and undergo ulceration and it is one of the worst prognosis.

Stages of Melanoma

There Several Stages That Help In Diagnosing The Severity Of Skin Cancer. There Are Stages Which Include. There are Stages Which Include

Stage 1:- The malignant myeloma is only confined to the epidermis which is called “melanoma in situ&rdquo

Stage 2:- The malignant tumor is 2mm thick and has not spread to the lymph nodes or other sites. Ulceration can be seen on the affected part.

Stage 3:- The tumor has become 1mm thicker in total 4mm thick malignant melanoma has been formed.

Stage 4:- The cancer cells have invaded into lymph nodes and have started to spread through lymphatic channels to the other sites. In some of the cases, the melanoma may not be visible and if visible, they are mostly ulcerated.

Stage 5:- The malignant has invaded into the subcutaneous fat and spread through the blood and lymphatic system. Cancer has spread to parts like the brain, lungs, liver, adrenals, and spinal cord.

Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma

In the early stages of the disease, it is difficult to detect whether the person has melanoma or not because it appears as a simple mole. There are several symptoms that will help in the diagnosis of skin cancer and these include

• Changes in the skin can be seen like a new black spot that appears as a mole or a change in size, shape, or color of an existing mole.
• Sores that appear on the skin are not able to heal properly.
• Skin sores start to bleed.
• An unexplained lump can appear on the skin which appears waxy, smooth, pale, and shiny.
• Lumps that are ulcerated and red in color might bleed.
• Red spots can be seen which are dry, rough, and scaly.

Examination in Unusual ABCDE Pattern

This Is the Method That Is Very Important In Revealing the Type of Lesion

• A is for Asymmetric:- These are the non-cancerous moles that appear to be round and symmetrical but if the cancerous mole is present then it will look different from the normal mole.
• B is for Border irregular:- This type of moles appears to be irregular and appear as blurred, notched, and ragged melanoma.
• C is for Color Change:- It appears to be containing uneven color or shades and that might include brown, black, or tanned melanoma.
• D is for Diameter:- Mole more than 6mm is considered to be dangerous and cancerous.
• E is for Evolving:- The rapid change in moles which can be seen in weeks or months are also the sign of skin cancer.

Melanomas That are Hidden

Skin cancer can also be seen in areas that have not been exposed to the sun and this includes spaces between the palms, toes, soles, genitals, and even scalp.

This Might Include

• Mouth, digestive tract, or vagina:- This is considered mucosal melanoma where melanoma can develop on the mucous membrane affecting the mouth, nose, esophagus, urinary tract, vagina and anus.
• Eyes:- This is called ocular melanoma where the white part of the eye known as sclera is affected. This causes changes in vision.
• Under the nails:- It is known as Acral-lentiginous melanoma which is very rare and is found in toenails or fingernails. It is mostly seen in people who are dark-skinned.

Causes for Melanoma

Melanoma occurs when something goes wrong with melanocytes which is our melanin-producing cell and this is what gives us color. Normally, melanocytes are produced in an orderly and controlled form where healthy skin cells are pushed by older skin cells. When these cells suffer DNA damage, it might show rapid growth resulting in a tumor that is cancerous in nature Hereditary is also one of the reasons where mutation of the CDKN2A gene can be seen which encode the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, mutation loss of the PTEN gene, and several mutations can result in Melanoma.

The environment is also one of the causes which include a long time exposure to skin or also from tanning lamps which result in skin cancer. Every time UV light is not only the cause because melanoma is also seen at places where sunlight is not received.

There Are Some Risk Factors That Contribute To The Development of Melanoma

• Sunburn history:- Multiple severe sunburn blisters can increase the risk of developing.
• Fair skin:- People who are fair skin have less melanin pigment and they are less protected from UV radiations of the sun. That is why people from Australia and New Zealand are more likely to develop skin cancer. If you have light-colored eyes, freckles, and easily get sunburned, you are more likely to develop melanoma as compared to people with a dark complexion.
• Excessive exposure to Ultraviolet light:- People who get exposed to the sunlight for tanning have a higher risk to develop skin cancer as compared to others.
• People living closer to the equator:- Because it’s the part of the earth which receives direct sunlight and they might experience higher amounts of radiation from the sun.
• Family history with melanoma:- If someone from your family like children, parents, or cousins has melanoma then you also have the chance to develop melanoma.
• Having an unusual mole:- Having moles less than 50 is normal but when this count increases then that’s an indication that you might have melanoma.
• Weak Immune system:- People who have weak immunity have a greater risk to have skin cancer and your immune system can also be suppressed by certain medication or had an organ transplant. People who have AIDS have a greater risk to develop Melanoma.

Clinical Investigation to Diagnose Melanoma.

This Includes a Various Test Which Will Help in the Diagnosis of Melanoma

Physical Examination– It is important to know the health and family history of the patient to confirm the cause of melanoma.

Skin Biopsy:- In this procedure, the sample of the skin lesion is taken which is then further tested. This will help in the confirmation of the disease.

If the melanoma has spread to lymph nodes:- In this senile node biopsy is done where dye is injected into the area of removed melanoma. Then this dye will flow into the lymph node and then the dye is removed. After that, it’s tested for confirmation of cancer cells.

Other tests include Imaging tests like X-Ray, CT-Scan, and PET scan which will indicate how much cancer has spread to the body.

Treatment of Melanoma

According to modern science, the treatment depends on the stage and size of cancer, and treatment according to them are chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or removal of the affected lymph node through surgery. This can also lead to complications and side effects making it more difficult for them to live a normal and healthy life.

According to Ayurveda Melanoma includes the violation of tridosha (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). The main involvement of the skin is a disturbance of Pitta along with raktadosh (toxification of blood) effecting the Agni (biological fire), Sapta dhatu (body tissues), Satkriyakala (involvement of generic sequence) and srotamsi (channels of the body). The main treatment that can be done is Jaloka Avacharana known as leech therapy or bloodletting and it will help in removing toxins from the blood and along with this herbal medicine will help in stopping the melanoma from spreading.

Herbal Medicine Provided By Planet Ayurveda for Melanoma

Planet Ayurveda provides their specially prepared herbal pack called “Crab Care Pack” which is 100 percent pure and natural. This pack is specially made for people who suffer from Melanoma and prevents the cancer cells from spreading more. It is made under the supervision of an MD Ayurvedic Doctor and each of them is clinically tested. They are free from chemicals, preservatives, and additives making them free from all kinds of side-effects. This makes them safe to use and this pack includes medicine:-

1. Curcumin Capsules
2. Kachnaar Guggul
3. Ashwagandha Capsules
4. Tulsi Capsules
5. Guggul Capsules
6. Chanderprabha Vati

Product Description

1. Curcumin Capsules

It is made from the herb called Curcumin (Curcuma longa) which is very commonly known as turmeric. It contains an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous property which helps in killing the cancerous cells in the body. It is also very effective in reducing the side effects caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Curcumin is also very useful in removing toxins from the body and making the body healthy.

Dosage:- Two Capsules Twice Daily With Water After Meals.

2. Kachnaar Guggul

This is the Herbal Formulation of

• Kachnar Bark (Bauhinia variegata)
• Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
• Pippali (Piper longum)
• Varun(Crataeva religiosa) and many more.

It is especially very effective in any kind of cancer which makes it very useful in treating melanoma. Kachnaar is very useful in preventing the formation of cancer cells and reducing the growth of malignant tumors.

Dosage:- Two Tablets Daily With Water After Meals.

3. Ashwagandha Capsules

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a very effective herb which helps in treating various disorders of the body. It is also known as “Winter Cherry” which helps in giving strength to the body. Ashwagandha is one of the effective nerve tonic and is also effective in skin cancer by slowing down the multiplication of cancer cells. This herb helps in increasing the immunity and due to its anti-inflammatory as well as anti-cancerous property makes it much effective.

Dosage:- Two Capsules Twice Daily With Water After Meals.

4. Tulsi Capsules

It is formed from one of the excellent herbs Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) which is also known as holy basil and is full of antioxidants. It helps in making the skin better and preventing it from all kinds of allergic reactions. Tulsi is also very beneficial in immunological disorders and helps in boosting the immunity. Tulsi is overall the best medicine for skin cancer.

Dosage:- Two Capsules Twice Daily With Water After Meals.

5. Guggul Capsules

It is one of the best ayurvedic herbs which has been used for centuries and  is high in steroid. It’s made from the tree called Commiphora mukul and is a natural substance and helps in cleaning the arteries as well as detoxifying the blood. Due to its property it serves best for Melanoma and also other types of cancer.

Dosage:- Two Capsules Twice Daily With Water After Meals.

6. Chanderpraha Vati

This is the Combination of Herbs Called

• Mustak (Cyperus rotundus)
• Vidanga (Embelia ribes)
• Shilajit (Asphaltum)
• Kapoor (Cinnamomum camphora) etc

And all of the herbs are best for treating cancer. It helps in prevention of any kind of ulceration and also reduces pain. Candraprabha vati helps in balancing all the three dosha and making the body healthy.

Dosage:- Two Tablets Twice Daily With Water After Meals.

Preventive Tips

Avoid Getting Exposed To UV Rays Which Is One of the Main Reason for Melanoma And In Order To Achieve That You Must Do This

• Try to wear clothes which protect you from exposure to the sun.
• Avoid getting sunburned.
• Apply sunscreen on the skin to avoid getting exposed to UV rays.
• Keep infants out from direct light of the sun.

Conclusion

It is concluded that skin is our barrier and invest on it to represent you for a long time. Melanoma is a condition which can be treated if found at an early stage and it can be life-threatening if not treated. Planet Ayurveda provides their Crab Care Pack which will help in reducing the growth of cancer and managing the disease. All the herbs are very effective and help the body to heal naturally by stopping the growth of cancer cells. Give your skin a little love with our Crab Care Pack.