Chemotherapy: 1 definition

Introduction:

Chemotherapy means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

[«previous next»] — Chemotherapy in Ayurveda glossary
Source: AYU: Efficacy of Rasayana Avaleha

Chemotherapy is used in the treatment of Cancer (a disease affecting mankind).—Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy have cytotoxic effects, which are hazardous to the normal cells of the patient, causing many unnecessary effects.—Cancer chemotherapy involves the use of cytotoxic drugs and hormones. The clinically useful anti-neoplastic agents are more toxic to the sensitive malignant cells than to the normal cells of the tumor-bearing host.—In cancer patients treated annually with chemotherapy, possibly 20% are cured and an additional 20% may experience significant prolongation of life. The remaining 60% have minimal or no benefit from cytostatic treatment and suffer from its toxic adverse reactions.

Chemotherapeutic agents can be considered as visha-dravya (toxins) as per Ayurveda. These agents are ushna-virya (hot potency), tikshna-dravyas working as a two-edged sword, and while destroying cancerous cell also destroy healthy normal fast-growing cells of the gastrointestinal tract, mucous membrane, skin, hair root, and so on. Hence, the medicotherapeutics of chemotherapy can be explained on the basis of visha.

Rasayana-avaleha (an Ayurvedic preparation) has proved to be an effective adjuvant therapy in protecting patients from the adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. [...]. Therefore, administration of rasayana-avaleha along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy can improve the quality of life of cancer patients.

Ayurveda book cover
context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Discover the meaning of chemotherapy in the context of Ayurveda from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Related products

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: