Integrating ayurvedic medicine into cancer research programs part 1: Ayurveda background and applications

Abstract

Integration of Ayurveda into our current health care research programs is critical to making progress in global wellness and in disease prevention and control, especially for cancer. Ayurveda promotes restoration of the innate healing mechanisms existing in the body for optimal immunity, resilience, and health. Ayurveda also has an abundant resource of botanical products containing diverse pharmaco-active ingredients and millennia of experience of clinical applications for health benefits. But there is a lack of evidence-based research to demonstrate its efficacy and potential. This 2-part review is written from the perspective of a western-trained biomedical scientist and student of Ayurveda. It aims to educate research scientist peers about the opportunities and challenges for scientific validation of Ayurvedic herbal compounds, protocols, and modalities and inspire more research in this area. Part 1 will review several aspects of Ayurveda including principles of body constitution (Prakriti), digestion (Agni and Ama) and mind-body health, in relation to cancer. Part 2 [1] will focus on Ayurvedic botanical resources used for cancer and research studies will be discussed on selected herbal compounds. Research gaps and opportunities will be identified to guide development of research programs to validate safety and efficacy of these therapies. Importantly, the use of Ayurvedic modalities is not intended to substitute for allopathic treatments for cancer but as an integrative component for prevention and restoration of strength and immunity post treatment.

Keywords: Ama; Ayurveda; Cancer; Prakriti. Agni.

Fig. 1

Publications on Ayurveda. A search in the Scopus reference data base for the text “Ayurveda” in the title, abstract or key words, produced >7500 documents between 1990 and 2022. They are shown as number of documents per year. Trends of research publications in Ayurveda show a peak in 2020 with most of the authors from India.

Fig. 2

Ayurveda- Contributions to Health and Prevention of Disease. This review is divided into 2 parts containing 4 main aspects of Ayurveda that contribute to health and prevention of disease and are discussed in relationship to cancer etiology. Part 1 will cover sections A, B and C. A) Prakriti or body constitution is represented by Vata, Pitta and Kapha expressing the qualities of the basic elements of nature, Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. B) Digestion is a critical component of health and depends on strong Agni – or digestive fire. When Agni is insufficient, then Ama, a metabolic toxin accumulates in the tissues resulting in seeds of disease. C) The state and balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit will be discussed as a fundamental component to health. Part 2 of this review is a companion document in this issue and will address D) Rasayanas and herbs in Ayurveda (representative picture of Guduchi, (Tinospora cordifolia), as well as research questions and directions, gaps, and opportunities.

Fig. 3

Analogy: Three Doshas as expressed in a car. The three doshas of Prakriti can be understood using an analogy of a car. The Kapha elements of earth and water, structure, and lubrication, are represented by the body and wheels and engine oil of the car, Pitta elements of fire and water; transformation and metabolism are represented by the engine, and drive train, and Vata elements of space and air, movement and intelligence are represented by the motion, control of movement, and the intelligence from the driver and dashboard GPS. All aspects interact and are necessary for efficient functioning of the car, like how these 3 doshas interact and support our physiology and psychology.

Fig. 4

Qualities and expression of Vata Pitta and Kapha. Ayurveda proposes that in biological systems, including humans, there are three operators which govern all life processes and are expressed in the physiology as the Doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They coordinate functioning both in our bodies and in the whole of nature. The qualities of Air and Space are listed as Vata, qualities of Fire and Water are listed as Pitta, the qualities of Earth and Water are listed as Kapha. Characteristics of Vata Pitta and Kapha are listed for how they express in the physiology when they are in balance, and when out of balance.