Ayurveda Article - New Book 'The Answer To Cancer' For Everyone

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The Answer to Cancer: A New Book by Dr. Sharma, Vaidya Rama Kant

Mishra and James G. Meade

 

Excerpts from an interview with Hari Sharma, M.D., pre-eminent

author, scientist and researcher, on The Answer to Cancer, a new book

written by him in conjunction with ayurvedic expert Rama Kant Mishra

and James G. Meade and published by Select Books.

 

 

Total Health News: What prompted you to undertake this project of

writing a book on cancer-prevention?

 

Dr. Sharma: The present state of Western medicine does not involve

prevention. At best, early detection is encouraged through

mammograms, Pap tests, prostate screenings, etc. However, all the

information available suggests that the majority of cancers are, in

fact, preventable. It is estimated that 60-70% of cancers can be

averted by implementing simple changes in one's diet and lifestyle.

Why wait until cancer attacks when you can easily make sure the

disease never gets a chance to start? For this reason we have written

a how-to book of easy, uncomplicated steps that anyone can use to

modify his or her diet and lifestyle. Small changes that prevent

cancer and also promote overall health and well-being.

 

Total Health News: Give us some statistics on cancer in America today.

 

Dr. Sharma: According to the American Cancer Society, men in the U.S.

have a 1 in 2 chance of developing this dreaded disease in their

lifetime. Women are slightly better off, with a 1 in 3 chance of

falling victim to cancer. There are 8.9 million Americans living with

cancer today. In the 12 years between 1990 and 2002, doctors

diagnosed 16 million cancer cases in the U.S. An estimated 555,000

Americans are expected to die of cancer in 2002, more than 1,500 a

day.

 

Total Health News: Those are disturbing numbers. What would you

consider top risk factors?

 

Dr. Sharma: Cancer generally develops slowly, over a period of ten

years or more, and it can arise from a single factor or a combination

of factors. The three major risk factors for developing cancer are

smoking, alcohol, and diet. Most people are aware that smoking is

linked to cancer. However, they may not realize that it is linked to

one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States. Alcohol

increases the chances of getting cancer of the mouth, larynx, throat,

esophagus, pancreas, and liver. Alcohol, in combination with smoking,

heightens the risk of developing cancer of the digestive and urinary

tracts. Young women who consume alcohol and are on estrogen-

containing birth control pills are at a higher risk of developing

breast cancer. Estrogen causes breast cells to divide. The young

cells are more susceptible to the damage caused by free radicals

generated by alcohol. Alcohol is a potent generator of free radicals,

which are implicated in damage to the DNA that can result in

initiation and promotion of cancer formation.

 

In the area of diet, high-fat foods can increase the chances of

getting cancer (e.g. colon, rectum, prostate, endometrium). Cancer

develops frequently if you eat too many smoked, cured, pickled, or

charred foods. Some sources are also linking sugar to cancer. Cancer

cells thrive on sugar. By using more sugar, the cancer cells produce

lactic acid, which seems to help the body produce new blood vessels.

This, in turn, helps the cancer to spread. Sugar also weakens the

immune system and increases insulin, which causes cells to reproduce

quickly. This can contribute to more rapid growth of the cancer.

 

Being overweight is a risk factor for cancer. Those who are 40%

overweight have a much higher risk of developing colon, breast,

prostate, gallbladder, ovarian, and uterine cancers.

 

Some risk factors for cancer come from within the body. Hormones,

immune conditions, and inherited mutations disrupt normal functioning

of the DNA. The female hormone estrogen may contribute to breast

cancer, as I mentioned, as well as other cancers in women. Some

cancers appear to run in families. The environment also poses risks,

e.g. pollution, excessive exposure to sunlight, radiation,

pesticides, chemical carcinogens, asbestos, arsenic, etc.

 

Total Health News: With so many diverse factors involved, does a

prevention-based approach really reduce the risk?

 

Dr. Sharma: Yes, prevention really works. According to the American

Cancer Society, prevention works in a startlingly high percentage of

cases, as high as 60%. But the percentage could even be higher,

perhaps even as high as 90%. A prevention-based approach focuses on

the overall well-being of the body and mind. Instead of worrying

about what carcinogen is affecting your skin or what drug has the

least side effects, prevention allows a person to concentrate on

feeling good and increasing his or her immunity. You focus on

building a stronger physiology so that not only cancer but many other

illnesses and diseases are no longer a threat. And all this can be

achieved through gentle, easy steps that pale in comparison to the

overwhelming bombardment of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

 

Prevention is basically disregarded in Western medicine. The main

emphasis is on treatment of cancer (i.e. chemotherapy, radiation, and

surgery). What is considered 'prevention' is actually early

detection, e.g. mammogram, Pap test, prostate specific antigen, and

tests for colon and rectal cancer in those over the age of 50.

However, Western medicine does provide a few guidelines for

prevention that are helpful:

* Don't smoke

* Be moderate in drinking alcohol

* Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

* Avoid high-fat foods, especially from animal sources.

 

Total Health News: What would be the components of a prevention-based

approach, e.g. diet, lifestyle, herbs, etc.?

 

Dr. Sharma: The simple and powerful prevention-based approach is

multifaceted. It can be summarized as follows:

a) Diet and digestion: Eat a diet that is rich in natural cancer-

fighting chemicals. Add beneficial spices to your diet to fight

cancer. Avoid the toxic load to the physiology that makes the body

susceptible to cancer. Keep digestion working properly to enhance

immunity, build up beneficial chemicals, and reduce toxin

accumulation. Reduce sugar intake.

b) Enhance immunity by simple lifestyle changes, such as sleeping at

the right time, reducing stress, emphasizing positive emotions, etc.

c) Avoid smoking, alcohol, and environmental pollutants. Detoxify

your system using easy methods.

d) Add herbal formulations when necessary, to aid digestion, improve

sleep, enhance immunity, etc.

e) Bring harmony and peace into your life through meditation. The

Transcendental Meditation® technique has been shown in numerous

research studies to positively influence the physiology.

 

Total Health News: Where does ayurveda fit into a prevention program?

 

Dr. Sharma: Ayurveda translates as the 'Science of Life' and it is

strongly prevention-oriented. Ayurveda recommends 'Heyam dukam

anagatam' which translates as 'Avert the danger that has not yet

come.' Ayurveda provides wellness strategies for the mind, body,

senses, and environment. For the mind, Ayurveda prescribes

meditation. A lot of research has been done on Transcendental

Meditation , which shows reduced cancer in subjects practicing TM

®, as well as reduced anxiety and enhanced peace and harmony. For

the body, ayurveda has recommendations for diet, digestion,

elimination, sleep, detoxification, yoga exercises, breathing

exercises, etc. For the senses, ayurveda prescribes balanced

functioning of all five senses. This means that the senses should not

be overused, used in a distorted way, or underused. Overuse of the

senses can be avoided by getting the proper amount of sleep and

meditation. Distorted use of the senses can be avoided by not

watching gruesome scenes of torture and killing on TV, not listening

to gossip and harsh criticisms of others, not eating spoiled food,

not smelling foul odors, etc. No use of the senses should also be

avoided, since the only way to accomplish this would be a complete

withdrawal from ordinary existence.

 

A beneficial environment is also emphasized in ayurveda. This

includes both the 'near' environment and the 'far' environment. Near

environment refers to the place where you live and your workplace.

Far environment addresses the effect of the stars and planets, etc.

For example, the full moon has an effect on our emotions. The proper

use of all aspects of life - mind, body, senses, and environment -

brings about harmony and a long life that is free from disease and

suffering.

 

Total Health News: Are there any Maharishi Ayurveda formulations that

you would consider particularly important in a prevention program?

 

Dr. Sharma: In our book, we mention several herbal mixtures and

formulations that are very useful in purifying the body, improving

digestion, enhancing immunity, helping with sleep, and detoxifying

the body. Using the proper mixture of herbs that have the right

potency, and maintaining strict quality control in the preparation of

these herbal formulations, is of the utmost importance. The Maharishi

Ayurveda herbs are recommended by the Council of Vaidyas (Ayurvedic

physicians) who have intellectual knowledge and clinical experience

in this area. These preparations are taken from the ayurvedic texts

that have been in use for thousands of years. There is a vast amount

of research available on these various herbs. With regard to quality

control, ISO certification is the international standard for

assessing quality control, and if I understand correctly, Maharishi

Ayurveda Products International (MAPI) has the only ISO 9001

certified ayurvedic production facility in the world. We have

recommended individual herbs in the book and also, for the

convenience of the readers, the readily available quality herbal

mixtures from Maharishi Ayurveda.

 

Total Health News: How is the book organized? What are some of the

topics you cover?

 

Dr. Sharma: The book is written in a simple, light-hearted tone so

that everyone can benefit from it. We have focused on a broad

audience and therefore avoided technical medical jargon. The complex

material is described and explained in a very specific and easy to

understand way. The book begins with a simple description of cancer,

cancer statistics, and its cause. Then we delve into all the

different aspects of prevention, with a do-it-yourself approach to

improve various areas of life, e.g. diet, sleep, immunity,

detoxification, yoga, etc. We even explain ways to reduce

chemotherapy toxicity.

 

Total Health News: It sounds like an amazingly comprehensive program

for preventing cancer and staying healthy. Thank you, Dr. Sharma.

 

Dr. Sharma: It was a pleasure.

 

Readers can buy the book The Answer to Cancer by calling 800-255-8332

or online at http://www.mapi.com.

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

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