Chemotherapy is one of the most appropriate treatment practices of using anti-cancer drugs to eradicate the cancer cells; while doing so, this process brings about quite a few changes in the body of the patients sustaining it. During the course of chemotherapy enormous poisons are generated in the body which would have been flushed out by the body itself, had it been in a healthy state, but that is not the case with a body which is already impaired and put in jeopardy due to cancer.
Cancer in line with Ayurveda:
Cancer, according to Ayurveda is an extreme disproportion of the three energies in our body i.e
- Air
- Fire
- Earth
As a result of this disproportion of energies, there occurs an erratic formation of cells which heap together to form an anonymous and non-useful mass which increases when the cells inside it become fully grown and increase in number. These uneven cells then disseminate to parts of the body other than the original site from where the growth began.
Ayurveda Diet for Cancer Patients:
In conformity with Ayurveda, cancer patients should refrain from over indulging in food (Binge eating) and consumption of excessive water with meals (with the assurance that the water consumed by them is not at all contaminated by any means).
Moreover they should cultivate a habit of eating their meals calmly and leisurely by masticating their food properly and need not indulge in any activity after the intake of meals. During the course of chemotherapy, the patients should be promoted with appropriate diet that would not only assist the body to bring up the venoms, but also would not generate any supplementary venom.
In accordance with the principles of Ayurveda, cancer patients should refrain from the following:
- All refined food stuff
- Processed sugars
- Sugar rich foods
- Ice cold drinks
- Liquor
- Foods that contain flavor enhancers and preservatives
- Meats
- Oily fried foods
All the aforesaid groups of foods obstruct the tunnels and avenues and disturb normal functions of the body.
Ayurveda endorses the intake of a healthy diet for prevention of cancer e.g. plenty of fresh fruits (excluding the sweet fruits such as bananas, mangoes etc) especially the citrus ones such as orange, grapefruit, mandarin, lemon, lime, tangerine etc.
- Lots of fresh vegetables (particularly the cauliflowers,tomatoes,soybeans,chilli peppers)
- Sufficient quantities of bitter green vegetables such as bitter gourd, broccoli, spinach, collard greens etc.
- Mellow spices
- Whole grains such as barley, oats, rye etc.
Role Of Ayurveda In Mitigating The Chemotherapy Effects
Ayurveda offers the power of the following natural remedies for reducing the nasty effects of chemotherapy.
Curry leaves
These have the marvelous ability to defend the body from the rotten effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This can be accounted for by the antioxidant action of curry leaves.
Ginger
It assists in curtailing the feelings of nausea and vomiting throughout and post –chemotherapy treatments. One could either chomp a little piece of ginger or sip tea made from it.
Caraway Seed Tea
This could be drunk to do away with the nausea and vomiting (side effects) of chemotherapy.
Ganoderma Luciderm or Reishi (a red mushroom)
This assists the patients sustaining chemotherapy, by minimizing its side-effects such as hair loss, lethargy and loss of appetite.
Fermented Soy Products
These can help reinforce the immune system and assist in increasing the blood counts.
Slippery Elm Tea
This can mitigate the pain of mouth blisters and eruptions, which is a frequent side effect of cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy.
Siberian Ginseng
This is endorsed for augmenting the immune system and for increasing the endurance and vitality of patients sustaining chemotherapy.
Olive Leaf Infusion
It helps to bolster the immunity system of the body.
Aloe Vera Extract
It helps to upgrade the immune system of a cancer patient and reduces the symptoms affiliated with an extensive assortment of chemotherapy drugs. By using Aloe Vera extract during chemotherapy, patients experience less lethargy, less constipation, less perception of pins and needles.
There are yet many more assets lying under the patronage of Ayurveda which could be explored by anybody who loves Mother Nature.
