Sticky Icon
Widget Toggle

AyurVAID's Integrative Cancer Care (ICC)

Why is the ICC Important?

Cancer is a multifaceted disease involving a number of key hallmark characteristics. Cancer cells grow out of control, escape the immune response and normal cell death, induce their own blood supply, and are able to metastasise to distant locations of the body. These hallmark features provide a foundational understanding of cancer cells’ biological behaviour.
Cancer growth is influenced by numerous factors, such as the tumour’s blood supply, the presence of hormones or growth factors, chronic inflammation, metabolic imbalances, immune system disturbances, and toxins, all of which create a microenvironment conducive to tumour growth.
Cancer treatment isn’t just about fighting the disease but supporting the patient’s overall well-being. While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation form the primary modalities of treatment, they often end up producing drastic side effects such as fatigue, nausea, neuropathy, mucositis, burning sensations of the skin, and immune suppression. These side effects impact normal functioning and the patient’s ability to tolerate these treatments. Ayurveda offers a promising and comprehensive approach for cancer that targets the body’s natural healing potential, instead of the disease itself.

Ayurveda scope

Cancer and Its Hallmarks – Reinterpreting through the Perspective of Ayurveda

Ayurveda defines cancer as Arbuda, which is closely related to solid tumors. Arbuda is regarded as a huge, hard, immobile, and increasing lesion due to an imbalance in all three Doshas, but primarily Vata and Kapha, and Mamsa (muscle tissue) and Rakta (blood). It results in the growth of abnormal tissue and obstruction of body channels.
While classical Ayurveda texts do not directly address non-solid tumours such as leukaemias or lymphomas, several conditions can be reinterpreted to align with these clinical presentations, such as Halimaka (similar to liver or blood cancer), Raktapitta (similar to acute leukaemia), and Gulma (resembling lymphomas).
Ayurveda views such diseases as arising from disturbed Doshas, blocked channels (Srotas), and damaged tissues (Dhatus), rather than just structural changes. It also emphasises the role of poor digestion (Agni), systemic imbalances, and inflammation.
This perspective is particularly relevant today as modern oncology increasingly recognises the role of inflammation, immune dysregulation, and metabolic disruption in cancer biology.
This convergence/integration presents an opportunity to integrate classical Ayurveda insights with contemporary approaches for a more comprehensive and individualised model of cancer care across prevention, treatment, and survivorship.
As a leader in Ayurveda treatment for cancer, AyurVAID’s Integrative Cancer Care (ICC) combines Ayurveda therapies with conventional management to promote functional health, side-effect management, and long-term survivorship. It includes specialised care for 3rd-stage cancer treatment and 4th-stage cancer treatment.

Why Choose AyurVAID’s Multidisciplinary Cancer Care?

  • Non-Conflicting- Our plan of treatment aligns perfectly with your main cancer treatment. We interact very closely with your oncologists, dietitians, and physiotherapists.
  • Complementary Care- We make sure our evidence-based Ayurveda cancer treatment supports your main line of treatment to allow better tolerance, fewer side effects, a quality life, and longer survivorship.
    Regular Monitoring and Updates- Progress is measured using standardised scales and timely lab investigations.

Regular follow-ups and updates are shared with the primary oncology team.

Key benefits

What Are Key Areas of AyurVAID’s ICC

Primary Risk Prevention

Identify and treat key risk factors such as inflammation, metabolic disturbances, hormone imbalance, and toxin accumulation.

Early intervention in high-risk groups such as:

  • Those with a history of cancer in first-degree relatives
  • Women with premature menarche or late menopause (associated with breast and ovarian cancers)
  • Those with genetic susceptibility (e.g., BRCA mutation carriers)
  • Those with obesity, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders
  • Those with long-term carcinogen exposure, like smoking, alcohol, and radiation, etc.

Secondary Prevention

  • Managing early-stage and pre-malignant lesions conservatively
  • Managing comorbidities contributing to cancer progression.

Adjuvant Care

  • Reducing cancer treatment-related side effects such as fatigue, neuropathy, pain, and mucositis.
  • Increasing tolerance to radiation and chemotherapy.
  • Enhancing immune function to minimise the risk of infection

Tertiary Prevention

  • Managing residual side effects like fatigue and sleep disturbance
  • Managing weight-related comorbidities, poor sugar control, cardiovascular health, and enhancing the general quality of life.
  • Managing functional challenges associated with different types of cancer, such as pulmonary rehabilitation and musculoskeletal impairments.

Survivorship: For patients in remission or who are fully cured

  • ICC emphasises functional recovery, prevention of relapse by addressing risk factors, and long-term well-being through dietary, lifestyle, and psychological support.
  • Managing late-stage treatment effects like lymphedema, bone loss, and hormonal imbalances.

Palliative Care:

  • Pain and symptomatic relief
  • Psychosocial support for patients and families

End-of-Life Care

  • Ayurveda treatment for cancer stage 4 ensures maximum quality of life in the final stages.
  • Prioritising symptom management and emotional well-being for both patients and caregivers.

Major Cancers Covered

  • Breast Cancer
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Head and Neck Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Esophageal and Stomach Cancer
  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Gallbladder Cancer
  • Urinary Bladder Cancer
  • Haematological Malignancies
  • Brain Tumours
  • Lung Carcinoma
  • Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer

AyurVAID’s 4-Step Approach for Integrated Cancer Care (ICC)

  • Comprehensive Disease Evaluation
    A thorough assessment of the patient’s health status, medical history, genetic predispositions (e.g., Lynch syndrome, BRCA1/2 mutations), tumour characteristics, severity, and comorbidities ensures a personalised Ayurveda treatment for cancer tailored to their unique needs.
  • Ayurveda Diagnosis & Assessment
    Ayurveda provides a deep understanding of cancer by identifying Nidana Panchaka (underlying causative factors) and Samprapti (disease pathways) through classical diagnostic methods:
    Ashta Sthana Pariksha (8-fold examination)
    Dasha Vidha Pariksha (10-fold examination)
    Srota Pariksha (Assessment of body channels)
  • Patient-Oriented Goal Setting
    Collaborating with patients and oncologists to define clear health goals, expected outcomes, and personalised strategies fosters active participation, ensuring a well-coordinated approach to treatment and recovery.
  • Personalised Treatment Planning
    ICC translates these goals into a customised, evidence-based treatment protocol, addressing the patient at a whole-person level, considering physical, mental, and emotional health.

AyurVaid’s Root-Cause Approach: Potential Contribution in Cancer Care

1. Chronic Inflammation and Tumour Microenvironment

Chronic inflammation, metabolic disturbances, and environmental factors create a tumour-friendly environment by disrupting the immune system. 

According to Ayurveda, chronic inflammation is associated with Ama (toxins) accumulation, Dosha imbalances, and Srotoavarodha (channel blockages). Vata imbalance promotes metastasis, Pitta drives inflammation and oxidative stress, while Kapha promotes fluid retention and excessive cell proliferation, fostering tumour progression.  

AyurVAID’s Precision Treatment Protocol

Ayurveda for cancer management plays a crucial role at the cellular level by addressing its hallmarks and enablers, such as immune evasion, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction.

  • Reducing Tumour-Promoting Inflammation

Amapachanam: Reduces systemic inflammation by eliminating metabolic toxins

Agnideepanam: Enhances digestion and metabolism, optimising nutrient absorption

  • Modify the tumour microenvironment to reduce proliferation

Srotas Shodhanam: Detoxifies body channels, improving circulation and oxygenation

Rasayana Therapy: To enhance immunity & tissue strength

2. Nutrition & Metabolic Imbalances

Cancer and its therapies disrupt the body’s metabolic balance, leading to overnutrition or undernutrition, which impacts patient outcomes. Poor dietary intake, inflammation, metabolic imbalances, and hormonal changes contribute to weight fluctuations, loss of muscle mass, immune dysfunction, and disease progression.
In Ayurveda, Agni Dushti (impaired digestion) produces Ama (toxins) that get accumulated in the body, creating a toxic environment conducive to cancer cell growth and spread. Further, it also compromises the immunity of cancer-afflicted patients.
AyurVAID’s Precision Treatment Protocol
Addresses undernutrition and overnutrition
Our personalised dietetics, Amapachana protocols, and gut-centric therapies support metabolic flexibility and enhance treatment responsiveness. Better gut health can positively impact the immune system and reduce systemic inflammation and tumour growth.

Ayurveda-Based Integrative Care for Carcinoma Esophagus: A Case Study

Apollo AyurVAID Hospitals’ Ayurveda cancer treatment center successfully integrated Ayurveda in the supportive care of a 57-year-old female patient with Carcinoma Oesophagus (Grade 2 Squamous Cell Carcinoma), undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Patients highly rate our Clinical Care, Outcomes, and Service

Patients expressed high satisfaction with their Psoriasis treatment, highlighting significant improvements in their conditions. 

Causes

Case Studies

Scientific Evidence For Ayurvedic Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation

  1. Bendale, Y et al. (2024). Exploring the potential of Ayurveda for developing an evidence-based integrative model of cancer care in elderly patients. Journal of Clinical Oncology. This study showed that Ayurveda therapy improved health-related Quality of life, performance status, anxiety, and depression.
  2. Buch, Z. (2024). Classical Ayurveda management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A case report. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. This study showed significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life parameters following Ayurveda intervention.

Hear from our patients!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

Bendale, Y et al. (2024). Exploring the potential of the traditional Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, for developing an evidence-based integrative model of cancer care in elderly patients with cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. external link
Zankhana Buch (2024). Classical Ayurveda management of TCH-based chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy – A case report. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. external link
Singh, R. (2002). An assessment of the Ayurvedic concept of cancer and a new paradigm of anticancer treatment in Ayurveda. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 8(5), 609–614. external link
Zankhana. M. Buch M.D (2014). Role of Ayurveda in Integrated Cancer Rehabilitation: AyurVAID’s Integrated Cancer Rehabilitation Program (ICRP) – A Role Model (Kayachikitsa). International Ayurvedic Medical Journal. external link
Joffe L, Ladas EJ. (2020). Nutrition during childhood cancer treatment: current understanding and a path for future research. Lancet Child Adolesc Health, 4(6), 465–475. external link
Dedge, A. P., Kadam, S., Mumbaraddi, S. (2024). Integrative pathways to wellness: Exploring Ayurvedic principles and practices in cancer management. Ayush Journal of Integrative Oncology, 1(3 & 4):65-69. external link
Rathod, S. S., Mishra, B. R., Mishra, A. B. (2023). Ayurveda for cancer therapy – A review. J Ayurveda Integr Med Sci, 05:193–196. external link
Kareem, A. A. (2024). Exploring the impact of Ayurvedic treatments on cancer therapy: Insights from patients, economic perspectives, and utilization trends. external link
Arnold, J. T. (2023). Integrating Ayurvedic medicine into cancer research programs Part 1: Ayurveda background and applications. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 14(2), 100676. external link
Arnold, J. T. (2023). Integrating Ayurvedic medicine into cancer research programs Part 2: Ayurvedic herbs and research opportunities. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 14(2), 100677. external link

Symptoms

Pathogenesis

AyurVAID’s Approach

Treatment Plan

Scientific Publications

Pre and Post AyurVAID’s Protocol-Based Treatment

FAQs

References

Did the information meet your needs?

As we work hard to improve our services, your feedback is important to us. Please take a moment to help us serve you better.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, Ayurvedic practitioner, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Stay Connected to Health and Wellness

Subscribe to our hospital newsletter for the latest health tips, updates on services, patient stories, and community events. Sign up today and stay informed!

Homepage B RCB

Please fill out the form below to Request a call back

Patient details

Select Preferred Center

Content Details

We update our articles as new material becomes available, and our specialists keep a close eye on the health and wellness industry.

Medically reviewed by
Dr Rakesh Nair
Written by
Dr Shobitha Madhur

Share this article on

Medically Reviewed

Last updated on:

Do you have concerns with the content?

Report Problem

Ayurveda Doctors for Stroke Rehabilitation

Related Blogs

We’d Love to Hear from You!

Feedback form(disease page)

Can we help?

Something wrong with our medical content?
 
Report Problem form

Popular Searches: DiseasesTreatmentsDoctorsHospitalsWhole person careRefer a patientInsurance

Hours of Operation:
8am – 8pm (Mon-Sat)
8am – 5pm (Sun)

Follow Apollo AyurVAID hospitals