October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month; Ayurvedic View

The increasing rate of cancer in the world has led to a common concern for all of us. A disease that used to be rare earlier has now become a common problem with its roots spreading all over around the globe. Among all the types of cancer, the recent concern is on breast cancer, which is spreading fastly to the women all around the world. October has been observed as the international breast cancer awareness month in order to create awareness about breast cancer all over the world. Pink is the color denoting breast cancer and hence October is also called the pink month.

The rate of breast cancer is rising significantly and has doubled in the last decade. The death rate due to breast cancer in US is higher than any other cancer and hence it has become a matter of prime concern. The awareness program basically aims in providing the basic knowledge of the causes, prevention and remedies of breast cancer to the entire woman of world, which is the only way to fight against the disease. This program has really helped in reducing the death rate due to breast cancer.

Started in 1985 as America’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), Breast Cancer Awareness Month has shown a remarkable achievement in creating awareness about the disease that has resulted in a significant decrease of breast cancer to 2 percent every year since 1998. This awareness program focuses on educating people about breast cancer as well as raising funds for research and treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the tissues of breast. Prominently, there are two types of breast cancer namely ductal carcinoma, which initially starts from ducts that move milk to the nipples, and lobular carcinoma that starts from lobules. The common thinking is breast cancer is most prevalent in old age but the fact is, one can be a victim breast cancer in younger age too as the cancer cells are more belligerent in younger women. In fact the chances of breast cancer are more in younger woman. If detected in the early stage of its development, breast cancer can be treated up to 95 percent but once the formation of lump takes place its very difficult to recover. Ignorance is one of the main reasons of breast cancer, even if formation of lumps is felt; it is neglected, as there is no pain in the initial stage. But it grows with time. Moreover, one more reason is most of the woman are still not comfortable in discussing about breast or problems related to breasts. They don’t want to go for a breast checkup.

In today’s lifestyle we are more dependent on synthetic and packaged food and this is one of the main reason of breast cancer. Ayurveda, an ancient traditional Indian medical science, tells that there should be a balance between the three humors (tridoshas) in the body in order to attain good health. Packaged food contains various chemicals, which disturbs the harmony of the humors of body (vata, pitta and kapha) that leads to several diseases.

Though medical science has developed a lot in the modern time but still an absolute treatment for cancer is lacking. Ayurveda has solution for all the disease in it and it acts as both preventive and curative science. Ayurveda provides a range of preventive measure for breast cancer following which can reduce the risk of breast cancer.

According to ayurveda human body contains three doshas called tridoshas namely vatta, pitta and kapha, which signify physical, mental and spiritual status of body. There need to be a harmony in the tridoshas in order to keep you healthy. Any imbalance in these doshas can result in occurrence of disease. As per aryurveda, breast cancer is also a result of imbalance in the harmony of vata, pitta and kapha that results in the formation of cyst or lump in the breast. Ayurveda suggests a number of measures for the prevention and cure of breast cancer, which are highly effective.

Panchkarma is the process which cleans the vata, pita nad kapha in human body and removes the unwanted toxins from the body and stimulates the immune system. Panckarma involves three aspects called snehan, swedan and sirodhara. Senham involves gentle massage, swedan is the steam bath and in sirodhara, ayurvedic formulations are poured on the forehead of the patient.

Ayurveda suggests a healthy and organic diet in order to avoid breast cancer. It avoids the consumption of inorganic and packaged food that lead to development of synthetic hormones in the body causing adverse effects.

Practicing yoga daily is very beneficial for us and it helps in reducing the chances of breast cancer to null. Daily walking and yoga helps in proper lymphatic circulation thus avoiding the chances of breast cancer.

Self-breast massage with castor oil helps in prevention of swellings and formation of cyst in the breast. Moreover a gentle outward stroke to breast while lying in the bed is recommended. A gentle massage with neem oil is also quite effective in the treatment of breast cancer.

Ayurveda suggests a range of herbs, which are very effective in the treatment of breast cancer.  Herbal preparations of neem, tulsi, bhrungraj, patha, saariva, bhringraj guggulu, red clover, chaparral, roots of burdock, dandelion, barley grass, oregon grape root and aloe vera are quite beneficial in prevention and cure of breast cancer.

Ayurveda recommends the use of thermography instead of mamography for the early detection of breast cancer. The radiations used in mammography have side effects while there are no side effects in thermography.

Toxic elements present in the body are the major reason behind breast cancer. Rasayana therapy aims in the treatment of these toxic elements with the use of several ayurvedic medicines and rasa rasayana therapy. The ayurvedic medicines for the treatment of breast cancer include Kamadudha-Ras, Shankh-Vati, Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Laghu-Sutshekhar-Ras and Vishwa. These medicines have no side effects.

Human body contains several minerals such as mercury, copper, iron, zinc, sulpher, and silver. Rara rasayana therapy is used to fulfill any deficiency in any of the minerals.

In human body the new cells replace dead cells continuously. Yukti Vyapashraya helps in proper elimination of the dead cells and is very effective in the treatment of breast cancer.

Smoke treatment is recommended in ayurveda for the treatment of breast cancer. In this medicated herbs are burned and the smoke produced is very effective in elimination of toxic elements from the body of patient.

Ayurvedic treatment is best described as an alternative treatment along with conventional treatment methods. It stimulates the healing rate of disease and helps in fast recovery. However, an absolute treatment of breast cancer is still not available but by living a balanced life style and by taking care of certain things on daily basis one can prevent the occurrence of breast cancer. Conventional methods of breast cancer are effective but on a temporary basis whereas ayurveda gives a holistic treatment by removing the ultimate cause of disease.

Today when the entire world is concerned for fighting breast cancer, ayurveda has proved to be a hope for the patients due to its holistic approach. By following the ayurvedic solutions, we can fight the deadly disease and help others to fight.  Thus, ayurveda can help in eradicating the disease from the root.

Reference: Mahaaushadhi.com

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