Ayurveda helping breast cancer patients by complementing western medicine

Research from Pune evaluating the role of Ayurveda Rasayana Therapy (ART) in breast cancer care has drawn international attention after being presented at the ESMO Asia Congress 2025, one of the world’s leading oncology forums held from December 5 to 7.

The study, conducted by Rasayu Cancer Clinic, suggests that complementary Ayurvedic Rasayana therapy may significantly improve the quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients, particularly those coping with disease or treatment induced physical and psychological burden.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), breast cancer constitutes 28.2 per cent of all female cancers in India. While medical advances have improved survival rates, chemotherapy, radiotherap, and surgery often leave patients dealing with fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and fear of disease progression or recurrence.

This has led many Indian women to explore complementary systems such as Ayurveda to help manage treatment-related distress.

The Rasayu team analysed records of 254 breast cancer patients of various stages who sought Ayurvedic care between 2021 and 2023. Among these patients, some turned to Ayurveda after completing conventional treatment to help prevent cancer from returning.

Others sought Ayurvedic care to slow disease progression, while many used it mainly to improve their quality of life

The analysis revealed that patients who adopted Ayurveda as a complementary intervention to conventional treatment, mainly to alleviate treatment-related side effects, including post conventional treatment fatigue, fear of progression, anxiety and insomnia with the primary aim of improving overall well-being and daily functioning.