Chemotherapy can be an essential part of cancer treatment, but its side effects can make everyday life difficult. Mouth sores, constipation, fatigue and nerve-related symptoms may affect eating, movement and overall wellbeing. Could Ayurveda have a supportive role in managing some of these problems?
A 2025 case report published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine describes the use of Ayurvedic interventions alongside conventional cancer treatment in a man with sigmoid colon cancer. The report documents improvements in several symptoms and follow-up findings over five years. However, because it describes just one patient, it cannot establish that Ayurveda caused these improvements or that the same approach will work for other people.
What Did the Researchers Investigate?
The report, authored by P. Divya, examined the integrated management of a 64-year-old man diagnosed with stage III sigmoid colon cancer, as described in the article’s abstract. The sigmoid colon is the S-shaped section of the large intestine immediately before the rectum.
The patient underwent surgery to remove the affected part of the colon and subsequently received chemotherapy using the FOLFOX regimen. This combination includes fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin, medicines used in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
During chemotherapy, the patient experienced several adverse effects, including oral mucositis, constipation, rectal bleeding, reduced blood counts and peripheral neuropathy.
Oral mucositis is inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the mouth. Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage or dysfunction affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; it can cause numbness, tingling, pain or difficulty with everyday tasks.
The case report describes how Ayurvedic interventions were used to manage these symptoms while the patient received conventional cancer treatment.
What Happened During the Patient’s Treatment?
According to the published report, the patient underwent surgery followed by 12 cycles of FOLFOX chemotherapy, completed in June 2018.
The article describes the following Ayurvedic interventions for different symptoms:
- Oral mucositis: Yashtimadhu (licorice) powder, Triphala decoction and Dadimadi Ghrita were used as part of the reported management.
- Constipation and rectal bleeding: Triphala Guggulu and external application of Jatyadi Ghrita were used.
- Reduced blood counts and fatigue: Drakshadi Kashaya was prescribed.
- Peripheral neuropathy: Ksheerabala 101 was used.
- Continued supportive care: Dooshivishari Agada and Brahma Rasayana were prescribed after chemotherapy.
These details describe the treatment reported in the publication; they are not recommendations for patients to reproduce the regimen. The suitability, safety and effectiveness of each formulation require separate assessment.
What Improvements Did the Case Report Describe?
The author reported improvements in several symptoms during the patient’s treatment and follow-up.
Mouth sores and swallowing difficulties
The report states that the symptoms of oral mucositis improved following the use of topical and oral Ayurvedic interventions. The author also described the symptoms as becoming milder during subsequent chemotherapy cycles.
These observations suggest a possible supportive role worth investigating, but a single case cannot establish which intervention, if any, was responsible for the improvement.
Constipation and rectal bleeding
The patient experienced constipation, painful bowel movements and rectal bleeding during treatment. The report describes the bleeding as resolving after the prescribed Ayurvedic management.
However, the patient also had haemorrhoids and anal fissures, and the report does not establish the independent contribution of each intervention to the outcome.
Fatigue and reduced blood counts
The article reports that blood counts remained stable after the prescribed intervention. It does not provide sufficient controlled evidence to determine whether the Ayurvedic formulation caused this change or whether other factors contributed.
This distinction matters because chemotherapy-related changes in blood counts can be clinically significant and require appropriate medical monitoring.
Nerve-related symptoms
The patient developed substantial numbness in the upper and lower limbs. A nerve conduction study confirmed sensory neuropathy, and the report states that Ayurvedic treatment continued for approximately one year.
The patient later reported relief from the symptoms. However, the article notes that the nerve conduction study was not repeated, so objective confirmation of nerve recovery was unavailable.
What About the Cancer Follow-Up?
The report describes encouraging follow-up findings after conventional treatment. A PET-CT scan performed in July 2018 reportedly showed complete resolution of the previously identified disease findings. Colonoscopies in December 2021 and March 2023 were reported as normal, apart from small haemorrhoids in the later examination.
The author describes the patient as surviving in good health five years after treatment.
These findings are important to the history of this individual case, but they must be interpreted carefully. The patient had undergone surgery and completed chemotherapy. The report cannot determine whether the Ayurvedic interventions contributed to the cancer outcome or prevented recurrence.
In particular, the absence of reported disease on follow-up imaging or colonoscopy in this individual does not demonstrate that the Ayurvedic medicines have anticancer effects.
Understanding the Ayurvedic Perspective
The report uses several Ayurvedic formulations traditionally associated with different supportive purposes. Yashtimadhu and Triphala were used in the management of oral symptoms, while Triphala Guggulu and Jatyadi Ghrita were used for bowel-related complaints. Ksheerabala 101 was used for nerve symptoms, and Brahma Rasayana was prescribed as part of continued supportive care.
These uses reflect the treatment approach described by the author. Traditional indications and proposed biological mechanisms should not be confused with clinical proof that a formulation is effective or safe for people receiving chemotherapy.
Herbal and herbo-mineral preparations can have adverse effects and may interact with anticancer medicines or other prescribed drugs. Their composition, quality and suitability also matter.
What Are the Limitations of This Research?
The most important limitation is the study design: this is a case report involving one patient, not a controlled clinical trial.
It therefore cannot establish cause and effect, estimate how often similar outcomes might occur, or determine whether the treatment is more effective than standard supportive care.
Other limitations include:
- There was no comparison group receiving standard supportive care alone.
- Several Ayurvedic interventions were used, making it difficult to identify the contribution of any individual formulation.
- Some outcomes were based on the patient’s reported symptoms.
- Nerve recovery was not objectively reassessed with a repeat nerve conduction study.
- The report cannot establish whether the Ayurvedic interventions affected cancer recurrence or long-term survival.
Further research involving larger groups, suitable comparison groups, clearly defined outcomes and systematic safety monitoring would be needed to evaluate these questions.
What Should Patients and Families Take Away?
The report offers a detailed account of one patient’s experience with an integrated approach to cancer care. It may help researchers identify questions for future studies on supportive care during chemotherapy.
For patients and caregivers, the practical lessons are:
- Discuss mouth sores, constipation, fatigue, numbness or changes in blood counts promptly with the oncology team.
- Ask about evidence-based options for managing chemotherapy side effects.
- Inform the oncologist about every herbal product, Ayurvedic formulation or supplement being considered.
- Do not start or stop any treatment, alter chemotherapy schedules or replace prescribed cancer medicines without medical guidance.
- Seek individualised advice from qualified healthcare professionals who can coordinate care and assess potential interactions.
Severe symptoms, inability to drink or eat adequately, fever during chemotherapy, significant bleeding or rapidly worsening weakness require prompt medical assessment.
Conclusion: An Observation Worth Further Study
This case report describes symptom improvements and encouraging follow-up findings in a patient who received Ayurvedic interventions alongside surgery and FOLFOX chemotherapy for sigmoid colon cancer.
It raises questions about whether carefully evaluated Ayurvedic formulations might help manage selected treatment-related symptoms. But one patient’s experience cannot establish efficacy, prove prevention of cancer recurrence or justify general treatment recommendations.
The next step is rigorous research that assesses both potential benefits and risks. Integrative cancer care should remain coordinated, evidence-informed and centred on patient safety.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Ayurveda or other complementary approaches should not replace or delay evidence-based cancer treatment.
Ayurvedic management of chemotherapy induced adverse effects in sigmoid colon carcinoma – a case report
P Divya 1,⁎
- Author information
- Article notes
- Copyright and License information
PMCID: PMC12166785 PMID: 40446463
CITATION:
Divya P. Ayurvedic management of chemotherapy induced adverse effects in sigmoid colon carcinoma – a case report. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2025 May-Jun;16(3):101112. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101112. Epub 2025 May 30. PMID: 40446463; PMCID: PMC12166785.
