The Classical Ayurveda Anti-Cancer Formulations

Rasoushadhis are special Ayurveda pharmaceutical formulations prepared from metals, minerals, potent herbs, and animal products. These medicines are preferred for severe chronic illnesses which are difficult to cure and life-threatening. Cancer is one such disease that ancient seers of Ayurveda noted. Several Rasoushadhis with potential cytotoxic and cell growth inhibitor actions are recommended for cancer treatment. The present chapter aims to disseminate such formulations, the basis behind their activity, and relevant other formulations that Ayurveda practitioners use to manage Bhaishajya Ratnavali and Rasayogasagar are two important compendia of Ayurveda formulations. Therefore in the present work, the anti-cancer formulations narrated in these two texts are reviewed and compiled. It can be said that the prevalence of cancer in the ancient Indian population was far less, and this may be why the number of anti-cancer formulations is limited. The use of metals and minerals in the form of chelation therapy for cancer can be correlated with Ayurveda anti-cancer Rasoushadhis. Several modern kinds of research on metals, minerals, and herbs contain supportive evidence indicating the rightness of the classical claim of the anti-cancer effect of herbominetal preparation. Relevant information from such research is also presented here. This chapter may be a brief illustrator of the ancient wisdom of anti-cancer formulations.