Ayurvedic approach for the treatment of side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients

Abstract

Ayurveda has its own role in the prevention and management of cancer’s complications. Chemo- and radiotherapy are highly toxic and both damage adjacent healthy cells. Their side effects may be acute like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue or chronic like pharyngitis, esophagitis, laryngitis and persistent dysphasia. According to Ayurveda, many medicines show the anticancer properties such as Brihamarasayan, Brahmi, Guduchi, Yasthimadhu, Ashwgandha, and Amalaki which can be helpful in treating cancer as well as the side effects caused by chemo- and radiotherapy in cancer patients. In the present work, the literature regarding classical Ayurvedic texts, research papers in peer reviewed journals and related data of different websites was critically reviewed. The review concludes that Ayurvedic Medicines have effective result in cancer and reducing the complications.