Ayurvedic Treatment for Melanoma (Skin Cancer)

Abstract

The cells of skin develop in an orderly and controlled fashion under normal circumstances i.e. older cells move towards the skin’s surface, where they die and eventually slough off and are replaced by the new healthy cells beneath them. But with few mutations in the DNA due to damage in genes by some environmental or genetic factor, new cells may start to grow uncontrollably  and can eventually form a mass of cancerous cells. One of such cancerous diseases affecting skin cells is melanoma. In this article we’re going to discuss melanoma, its clinical features, causes and best possible Ayurvedic medicines for its management.

Introduction

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin carcinoma that develops from the melanocytes (pigment producing cells), because most of the melanocytes keep producing melanin. This cancer typically reported occurrence in skin (cutaneous melanoma) but rarely it can occur in intestine (intestinal melanoma), mouth (oral malignant melanoma) or eyes (uveal melanoma). Melanoma is much less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but it is very difficult to treat. Melanoma commonly affects the people with fair skin, whereas in some cases the  colored skin people are also affected. Cutaneous melanoma can develop mainly on the palms of hands, soles of feet, and under the nails.

Sign and Symptoms

The clinical features of the disease include presence of mole and changes in the shape, size, color, or the touching sensation of a mole are often the initial warning signs of melanoma.  These changes may appear in any previous mole present on the body or may be newly formed unusual-looking mole, and these warning signs are better elicited by an ABCDE rule-

1. Asymmetry- The overall mole is not the same, i.e. one half of the melanoma is different from the other half.
2. Border- The edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, uneven, or irregular.
3. Color- The color pattern over the mole is not the same all over, there may be presence of tan shades, brown or blackish or sometimes patches of blue or red.
4. Diameter of the mole is usually larger i.e. usually 3-6 mm or may be larger than that.
5. Evolving- There is a tendency of the melanomatous mole of changing shape, size, color, or appearance. The skin patch may appear different and may present with itching, oozing, or bleeding.

Causes

It is believed that exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and other sources are the major leading cause of melanoma. But the mechanism by which the UV radiations affect the DNA of the healthy skin cells was not very well understood. It is considered the combination of environmental and genetic factors that leads to melanoma formation.

Risk factors for developing melanoma include fair skin, a family history of melanoma, weakened immune system, having many moles, living in higher elevation (more exposure to UV radiation), excessive UV light exposure or a history of sunburn.

Ayurvedic View

In Ayurveda, the various skin disorders are considered under the broad term Kushta roga. Furthermore, skin ailments are believed to be caused by vitiation of dosha with predominance of pitta and rakta. Here due to the resemblance of features of melanoma, it can be correlated with kaaknak kustha (a subtype of maha kushta). The features of kaaknak kustha as given by Acharya Charka are as

(Reference- Charak Samhita Chikitsa sthana 7/20)

The skin lesion which is having gunja- like color means blackish in the middle, and reddish at the periphery or vice versa means no fixed color, having asymmetry in both halves, which never go under suppuration, and is formed by vitiation of tridosha is known as kaaknak kushta.

Treatment

Planet Ayurveda is a globally emerging manufacturing hub that formulates herbal or herbomineral medicines with strict adherence to ancient ayurvedic texts. The products made here are 100% natural in origin and are processed and formulated into herbal medicines under the guidance of an expert team led by ayurvedic doctors with time tested formulas.

The crab care pack is the combination of best herbal formulations suggested by planet Ayurveda’s expert for the management of melanoma. This pack includes-

1. Curcumin Capsules
2. Ashwagandha Capsules
3. Chandraprabha Vati
4. Tulsi Capsules
5. Kanchnaar Guggul
6. Guggul Capsules

Product Description

1. Curcumin Capsules

Curcumin capsules are obtained from the standardised extract of Curcuma longa (Haridra). Haridra contains many phytochemicals including curcumin which aids in killing or eliminating the cancerous overgrowth in our body, and having other anti-cancerous properties also. Curcimin helps to regulate the overactivity of telomerase enzymes and thus prevents unnecessary uncontrolled division of cells. It promotes the normal functioning of skin cells and suppresses cancerous cells.

Dosage- 2 capsules to be taken two times a day with plain water after meals.

2. Ashwagandha Capsules

Ashwagandha Capsules are one of the best immunomodulator medicines obtained from the standardised extract of Withania somnifera. It is very much useful in the management of melanoma as it slows down the uncontrolled proliferation/multiplication of cancerous cells of the skin. This help as already mentioned has an effective role in the immune system, it aids in boosting the immunity, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties will prevent the oxidative damage and reduces inflammation in the moles.

Dosage- 2 capsules to be taken two times a day with plain water after meals.

3. Chanderprabha Vati

Chanderprabha Vati is one of the polyherbal classical formulations used for management of various cancerous conditions. The main contents of these tablets include vidanga (Embelia ribes), shilajit (asphaltum), shunthi (Zingiber officinale), etc. This formulation helps in balancing the vata, pitta and kapha- tridosha.

Dosage- 2 tablets to be taken three times a day with plain water after meals.

4. Tulsi Capsules

Tulsi Capsules is an herbal medicine which protects our skin from the formation of cancerous cells. There are many anti-cancerous chemical constituents such as eugenol, which not only reduces the size of cancerous growth but also prevents the further spreading or enhancement of cancer cells from skin.

Dosage- 2 capsules to be taken two times a day with plain water after meals.

5. Kanchnaar Guggul

Kanchnaar Guggul is the best classical formulation made from many herbal ingredients for various inflammatory conditions and tumours. The ingredients of this tablet include haritaki (Terminila chebula), kachnaar (Bauhinia variegata), varun (Crataeva nurvala) and other such herbs that prevent the formation of tumour cells and also reduce the uncontrolled division or growth of cancerous cells in melanoma.

Dosage- 2 tablets to be taken three times a day with plain water after meals.

6. Guggul Capsules

Guggul capsules are obtained from the standardised extract of resin of the plant Commiphora mukul. This plant contains a high quantity of phyto-steroids that aids in its anti-inflammatory effects in various cancerous aor tumor overgrowth. Moreover, it’s balancing effects on tridosha is helpful in maintaining the normal health of skin cells and checking the further overgrowth of melanoma.

Dosage- 2 capsules to be taken two times a day with plain water after meals.

Conclusion

In the end of this article it is concluded that the use of these herbal formulations along with some lifestyle alterations such as avoidance of overexposure to UV radiations along with some dietary changes, is the best and most effective way of management of melanoma and preventing the further spread of this disease.