Abstract:
In the Indian context, the Siddha system of medicine (one of the oldest traditional systems, primarily from South India) is increasingly utilized as a powerful complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer. This is one of the approved medical systems under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. This evidence based ancient system of medicine is very popular and practiced in southern part of India over several centuries. Although the conventional allopathic medical system is widely practiced all over the world for cancer treatment, its serious side-effects and higher failure rates in addition to huge treatment cost, made the people, especially economically weaker people in India, to seek for alternative remedy for treating Cancer. The primary reason for Siddha's popularity is its ability to improve Quality of Life (QoL) by reducing Side Effects by helping the patients to tolerate chemotherapy and radiation better. It is also effective in alleviating cancer-related fatigue, pain, and loss of appetite.
Although the success rates in cancer treatment in this system are based on some anecdotal cases, a recent study by a government hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, brought out a statistics showing that nearly 50% of the cancer patient visited the government siddha hospital for their first line treatment. Recent research studies revealed that the ingredients of the medicines followed for cancer treatment have scientific support. The science behind this traditional system and some recent success stories of this system for cancer treatment are discussed and presented.
