Introduction to Oncology (Cancer) in Ayurveda

by J.L.N. Sastry

Cancer is one of the biggest challenges of human kind and medical research.  Herbal and traditional remedies are being screened world-wide for their anticancerous properties.  Often Cancer is referred as Arbuda of Ayurvedic Literature.  However most of the drugs recently screened as anti-cancerous, were not indicated in Arbuda in the ancient texts.  Therefore, an attempt is made to introduce what cancer is in Ayurveda. 

On the other hand detailed discussion of the cancerous conditions in Ayurveda is also made.  An integrated approach is derived to understand and manage the cancer in the context of present day scientific developments. 

A list of experimental and clinical studies conducted on single and compound Ayurvedic preparations for their anti-cancerous properties is also provided.  A short Bibliography of Cancer related research in Ayurveda at Post-Graduate and Ph.D. level is also made available.  Different institutes and their cancer research throughout the world is reported for the reference of the students and scholars.

About the Author:

Dr. J.L.N. Sastry hails from a traditional Ayurvedia family. He is born at Narasapuram (W.G. Dist., Andhra Pradesh) on 06-07-1965). He had School studies at Kakinada (E.G. Dist., A.P.) and passed B.A.M.S. in 1989 from Dr. N.R.S. Govt. Ayu. College, Vijayawada (A.P.) IN FIRST CLASS. He completed M.D. (Ay.) in Dravya Guna Speciality from Dr. B.R.K.R. Govt. Ayur. College, Hyderabad in 1998 October. He stood first in A.P.P.S.C. selection (January 1990) and worked as Med. Officer (Ayu.) for Govt. of A.P. in the Indianj Medicine & Homoeopathy Dept., (1992-99). Between 1998-99 he acted as Research Projects Coordinator at the Govt. Research Dept. of Ayurveda, Hyderabad. He stood first at the UPSC (1998) and joined as Medical Officer (Ay.) inj CGHS, Chennai in June 1999.

The author is the recipient of two gold medals from Nagarjuna Univ. (A.P.) for the merit shown during B.A.M.S. (1988). The author presented several clinical and scientific papers at Regional, National and International seminars. He had more than 15 publications in standard journals and also published several articles in newspapers.

Author also had given Radio-talks and given guest lectures at various prestigious institutes (both Ayurvedic & Modern Medicine). He published a book 40 Years of research in Ayurveda in A.P. (on behalf of grda, Hyderabad).