arrow_backBack to Issue

Integrating Ayurveda for Better Tolerance to Chemotherapy

Published:05 Nov 2025
visibility0 Viewsdownload1 Downloads
Surya C.S.1*, Dr Dr. N Manojkumar MD (Ay)2

1 Final year PG Scholar, Dept of Dravyagunavigyana,VPSV Ayurveda College, Kottakkal

2 Professor and HOD, Dept of Dravyagunavigyana,VPSV Ayurveda College, Kottakkal

Corresponding Author:Surya C.S.

subjectAbstract

Cancer is a major social, public health, and economic problem in the 21st century. Chemotherapy is the second most widely accepted treatment protocol for cancer after surgery. But it comes with an increased risk of infections and side effects. Failure to manage the adverse effects of chemotherapy in a timely manner could have life-threatening consequences. Ayurveda Treatment has been found to be significantly handle the negative effects of chemotherapy. It allows patients to tolerate adversities of chemotherapy. This review mainly deals with brief idea about chemotherapy, Side effects of Chemotherapy and how the adversities managed in western medicine as well as in ayurveda. Although Ayurvedic treatments may improve the quality of life for cancer patients and serve as a crucial immunity booster after chemotherapy. But there is a lack of evidence-based research to demonstrate its efficacy and potential. 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.

sellKeywords

AyurvedaChemotherapyAdverse effects

format_list_numberedReferences

  1. Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024 Apr 4.
  2. Marsh RDW, Samual J. The Essentials of Clinical Oncology. 1st ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2005. p. 588.
  3. Metri K, Bhargav H, Chowdhury P, Koka PS. Ayurveda for chemo-radiotherapy induced side effects in cancer patients. J Stem Cells. 2013;8(2):115–29. PMID: 24698988.
  4. Katta B, Vijayakumar C, Dutta S, Dubashi B, Ramakrishnaiah VPN. The incidence and severity of patient-reported side effects of chemotherapy in routine clinical care: A prospective observational study. Cureus. 2023 Apr 29;15(4):e38301. doi:10.7759/cureus.38301.
  5. Longley DB, Johnston PG. Molecular mechanisms of drug resistance. J Pathol. 2005;205(2):275–92. doi:10.1002/path.1706.
  6. Carvalho C, Santos RX, Cardoso S, Correia S, Oliveira PJ, Santos MS, Moreira PI. Doxorubicin: The good, the bad and the ugly effect. Curr Med Chem. 2009;16(25):3267–85. doi:10.2174/092986709788803312.
  7. Conklin KA. Chemotherapy-associated oxidative stress: Impact on chemotherapeutic effectiveness. Integr Cancer Ther. 2004;3(4):294–300. doi:10.1177/1534735404270335.
  8. Crawford J, Dale DC. Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia: Risks, consequences, and new directions for its management. Cancer. 1999;100(2):228–37. doi:10.1002/cncr.20018.
  9. Bower JE. Cancer-related fatigue—Mechanisms, risk factors, and treatments. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2014;11(10):597–609. doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.127.
  10. Cavaletti G, Marmiroli P. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity. Nat Rev Neurol. 2010;6(12):657–66. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2010.160.
  11. Sonis ST. The pathobiology of mucositis. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004;4(4):277–84. doi:10.1038/nrc1318.
  12. Pabla N, Dong Z. Cisplatin nephrotoxicity: Mechanisms and renoprotective strategies. Kidney Int. 2008;73(9):994–1007. doi:10.1038/sj.ki.5002786.
  13. Relling MV, Evans WE. Pharmacogenomics in the clinic. Nature. 2015;526(7573):343–50. doi:10.1038/nature15817.
  14. Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M. An overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):208–13.
  15. Rege NN, Thatte UM, Dahanukar SA. Adaptogenic properties of six rasayana herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine. Phytother Res. 1999;13(4):275–91.
  16. Thatte UM, Dahanukar SA. Rasayana concept: Clues from immunomodulatory and other pharmacological studies. Indian J Exp Biol. 1989;27(6):565–74.
  17. Baliga MS, et al. Triphala, Ayurvedic formulation for treating and preventing cancer: A review. J Altern Complement Med. 2013;19(5):1–15.
  18. Patwardhan B, Chorghade M, Vaidya AD. Ayurveda and natural products drug discovery. Curr Sci. 2015;108(8):1406–12.
  19. Sharma H, Chandola HM, Singh G. Ayurvedic management of cancer treatment–related fatigue: An integrative approach. Ayu. 2020;41(1):26–33.
  20. Amuthan A, Devi V, Shreedhara CS, Rao V, Jasphin S, Kumar N. Vernonia cinerea regenerates tubular epithelial cells in cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in cancer bearing mice without affecting antitumor activity. J Tradit Complement Med. 2021;11(3):279–86.
  21. Kim SD, Kwag EB, Yang MX, Yoo HS. Efficacy and safety of ginger on the side effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(19):11267. doi:10.3390/ijms231911267.
  22. Eslami Aliabadi H, Saedikia A, Hosseinzadeh M. The effect of peppermint on chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Adv Med Biomed Res. 2025;33(157):85–95. Available from: http://journal.zums.ac.ir/article-1-7600-en.html
  23. Moga MA, Bălan A, Anastasiu CV, Dimienescu OG, Neculoiu CD, Gavriș C. An overview on the anticancer activity of Azadirachta indica (Neem) in gynecological cancers. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(12):3898. doi:10.3390/ijms19123898.
  24. Varughese T, Joseph J, Menon R. Efficacy of Jackfruit365™ green jackfruit flour fortified diet on Pegfilgrastim to prevent chemotherapy-induced leukopenia: A retrospective study. Biomolecules. 2020;10(2):218. doi:10.3390/biom10020218.
  25. Desai AG, Qazi GN, Ganju RK, El-Tamer M, Singh J, Saxena AK, Bedi YS, Taneja SC, Bhat HK. Medicinal plants and cancer chemoprevention. Curr Drug Metab. 2008;9(7):581–91. doi:10.2174/138920008785821657.
  26. Sawarkar P, Sawarkar G, Bhojraj N. Case report: The role of Panchagavya and Panchakarma treatment in the management of radiotherapy and chemotherapy side effects in infiltrative ductal carcinoma. F1000Research. 2024;12:1383. doi:10.12688/f1000research.139233.2.
  27. Bendale YN, Birari-Gawande P, Patil A, Kadam A. Ayurveda Rasayana Therapy (ART) leads to tumor regression and increased survival in chemo-intolerance high-grade stage IV follicular lymphoma: A case study. Clin Case Rep. 2024;12(6):e8076. doi:10.1002/ccr3.8076.

How to Cite

C.S., S. & (Ay), D. D. N. M. M. (2025). Integrating Ayurveda for Better Tolerance to Chemotherapy. International Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine, 15(6). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijahm/v15i6.01

APA

American Psychological Association Style