JOURNAL OF CONVENTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND HOLISTIC HEALTH

Articles>> Volume 9 Issue 1, 2025

JOURNAL OF CONVENTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND HOLISTIC HEALTH
Harnessing Ayurveda to reduce cancer therapy toxicity: the role of Kalyanaka Ghrita
K.S. Megha and K.P. Roshini
J Convent Knowl Holist Health 9 (1): 245 (2025)
Cancer continues to be the second leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 20 million new cancer cases and approximately 9.7 million cancer-related deaths were reported in 2022. Current projections indicate that one in five individuals will develop cancer in their lifetime, with about one in nine men and one in twelve women succumbing to the disease. While chemotherapy and ionizing radiation remain the cornerstone of conventional cancer therapy, their lack of selectivity often results in significant cytotoxicity to healthy tissues, contributing to serious adverse effects and limiting treatment efficacy. There is a critical need for therapeutic agents that can selectively protect normal cells from the collateral damage of anticancer treatments without diminishing their therapeutic potential. In this context, lipid-soluble and targeted antitoxic compounds are emerging as promising adjuncts due to their ability to confer molecular-level protection. Kalyanaka Ghrita, a classical polyherbal formulation from the Sushruta Samhita (Kalpasthana), traditionally used for detoxification and rejuvenation in the management of Garavisha (chronic poisoning), presents such potential. Several of its herbal constituents have demonstrated significant antioxidant and radioprotective properties in preclinical studies. This suggests that Kalyanaka Ghrita may serve as a valuable integrative adjunct in oncology, offering protection against chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced toxicity while preserving antineoplastic efficacy.

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