European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ETIOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF ARBUDA W.S.R. CANCER

Dr. Ankita Rakhecha*, Dr. Sanjay Shukla and Dr. Parizat Agrawal

ABSTRACT

Cancer in essence is a change in cell metabolism. It is one of the most dreaded diseases of the 20th century and spreading further with continuance and increasing incidence in 21st century. Incidence of cancer is also related to the age and sex. Although modern science has made some major strides in understanding cancer and its molecular basis, the knowledge about how to prevent or treat cancer is still lagging behind. The knowledge and management of cancer was not unknown to the ancient surgeons of India. Though the Sanskrit equivalent for this word is not found in Ayurvedic literature, diseases having the signs and symptoms similar to those of Cancer are discussed in various contexts. This paper reviews ayurvedic classics to depict nidan panchak of cancer and it focuses on the ayurvedic concept of the causes of cancer and its linkage with inflammation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. In Ayurveda causation of any disease is mentioned under 5 divison. Role of nidan have much importance in understanding cancer through Ayurveda. According to Ayurvedic principles, the disease cannot be named on its own because it differs between persons in terms of illness, clinical presentation and also the treatment required. Ayurveda describes different stages of tumorigenesis as chronic inflammatory and intractable diseases with the possibility of developing malignancy, precancerous growth or probable malignancy, granthi (benign glandular swelling), and arbuda (definite malignancy). Arbuda is a malignant tumor or cancerous growth. That means an uncontrolled growth of abnormal tissues, due to low dhatu agni. Study of pathophysioloy of cancer may be helpful to understand prodromal symptoms, pathogenesis, classification and provide possible management potentials through Ayurveda. Ayurveda emphasizes prevention first and cure next .Rasayan is mentioned as the fold of preventive care. Many of this group of drugs do immune modulatory and antioxidant properties. Ayurveda may help to understand mode of action of Anticancer herbs by samprapti vightan. Ayurveda is also helpful in rehabilitation of patients.

Keywords: Nidanpanchak, Tumorigeneis, Arbud, Rasayan, Cancer, Arbud, Granthi, Nidan.