Exploring the Role of Ayurveda in Cancer Prevention: Traditional Wisdom Meets Modern Science

Ayurveda, a traditional Indian system of medicine, has been in practice for more than 5000 years and remains a vital part of integrative medicine. This review discusses the contribution of Ayurveda to cancer prevention, focusing on its integrative approach that includes herbal therapies, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications. Ayurvedic herbs like turmeric (Curcuma longa), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and possible anticancer activities in scientific research. In addition, Ayurveda also focuses on detoxification treatments, mind-body therapies, and dietary controls to enhance overall well-being and prevent cancer. Although encouraging early research, difficulties exist in standardizing Ayurvedic interventions and proving their effectiveness through scientific clinical trials. Combining Ayurveda with conventional oncology could contribute complementary value to cancer prevention and patient treatment. Future studies need to address how to integrate traditional wisdom and evidence-based medicine in order to determine the role of Ayurveda in cancer prevention and treatment.