Toxic emotions at work

Ayurveda has a very different approach to ailments and their treatment when compared to its more modern cousins, especially those that rely heavily on documented scientific procedures.

The bedrock of Ayurveda and its various treatments are the three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – which bear a significant influence on our physical, mental and spiritual health. Any imbalance in them results in the body suffering from a disease.

The impact of the dosha imbalance on our health is most clearly seen in the case of an ailment like breast cancer. According to Ayurveda, the significance of this particular imbalance, in fact, stretches beyond an individual’s ill-health and is reflective of the various factors that are affecting our environment.

Recent advances in modern science seem to be catching up with Ayurveda. It is a known fact that the real danger behind cancer are not the lumps themselves but metastasis – the ability of the cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body.

According to studies carried out by researchers at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, and published in the International Journal of Cancer, a compound derived from plant roots used in Ayurveda can prevent breast cancer cells from metastasizing.

The compound in question is the Withaferin A which comes from the roots of Withania somnifera, in other words the Ashwagandha or the Indian ginseng, the roots of which have been used as an Ayurvedic medicine.