Ayurvedic Medicine fights Pancreatic/Colon
Cancer
Ayurveda,
India’s oldest healing tradition, shows
promise in halting two deadly cancers:
pancreatic and colon.
In a recent
University of Pittsburg study, triphala, a
blend of 3 herbs; amia, harada and bihara
killed pancreatic cancer cells in mice. In
traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Triphala is
said to ease intestinal-related disorders,
promoting good digestion.
Mice, grafted
with human pancreatic tumors were
administered a triphala solution five days a
week.
After four weeks, researchers found that
tumors in triphala treated mice were half
the size of those in the untreated mice.
"We discovered
that triphala fed orally to mice with human
pancreatic tumors was an extremely effective
inhibitor of the cancer process, inducing
apoptosis in cancer cells," said Sanjay K
Srivastava, lead investigator and assistant
professor University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine.
Apoptosis is
the process in which the body normally
disposes of damaged, old or unneeded cells.
Triphala is
not the only cancer combatant Ayurveda can
claim. Research reveals that turmeric, a
spice common to Ayurvedic cooking and
healing, is an effective fights several
forms of cancer including skin, breast and
the very deadly colon cancer.
Human clinical
trials on curcumin—the active ingredient in
tumeric-have already been launched.
Scientists at
the University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston (UTMB) have discovered that
curcumin blocks neurotensin-a hormone
contributing to the growth and spread of
colon cancer.
“Our findings
suggest that it may be useful for colon
cancer treatment, as well as a potential
colon cancer suppression in cells that
respond to gastrointestinal hormone
neurotensin,” said B. Mark Evers, director
of UTMB’s Sealy Center for Cancer Cell
Biology.
SOURCES:
A Spicy
Solution For Colon Cancer? ScienceDaily
(Sep. 20, 2006) — Looking for a cancer cure?
Try the spice rack.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060919233243.htm
“Triphala -
Indian herbal remedy raises cancer cure
hope.” Author / Submitted By: University of
Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Updated On:
4/21/2007.
http://www.4to40.com/health/print.asp?id=118
