All About GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor) And Its Ayurvedic Aspect

ABSTRACT

Tumor or cancer is a disease which scares everyone and has become most common these days. It not only hampers the quality of life of the patient but also affects them to the core. So here is today's topic of discussion named GIST which is also known as gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Let's see what Ayurveda has to say about GIST and how to manage this condition without compromising the quality of life of the patient.

INTRODUCTION

GIST is a soft tissue tumor of the gastrointestinal tract which can be located in any part of the digestive system. The outlook of this disease may vary from person to person depending upon the stage, prognosis or patient's body type. Around 83% of the population survived for 5 years after diagnosis of this disease. As there is advancement in the treatment of cancer so as per recent research their survival has been increased. It is more common in people over 40 years of age. The exact cause of this disease is not known but there are lots of risk factors which are as follows:-

• Age - Most common age group for developing GIST is 40 to 70 years.
• Genetic mutation- Rarely found in people with mutated genes itself during birth.
• Chemical exposure
• Weak immune system
• Poor diet and lifestyle
• Use of excessive Antacids, NSAIDs
• Excessive radiation exposure

SYMPTOMS

Patient with GIST develops Symptoms like:-

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pain in abdomen
• Bloody stool
• Bowel obstruction
• Abdominal mass
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Fullness of abdomen
• Discomfort
• Gastric formation

All these symptoms may vary from person to person as per the size of tumor or location. Now coming to the diagnosis, which can be done with CECT abdomen, USG, Endoscopic study etc. As per allopathy there is no treatment for GIST, only symptomatic management is done. Then at later stages, surgery is the last option.

AYURVEDIC OVERVIEW OF GIST

Ayurveda is a wonderful science which not only tells us the treatment of disease but also guides us with dietary and lifestyle changes to be done daily or seasonally. In Ayurveda, Arbuda is the word used for any abnormal cell growth in the body. It is a vicious cycle where there is an aggravation of doshas and formation of ama coupled with deformation of channels that triggers abnormal cell growth resulting in tumor formation. The three doshas vata, pitta and kapha are the basis of ayurveda and in tumors they loses their coordination and cause tissue damage to escort their way toward occurrence of critical conditions.

Role of Ama Visha in GIST

Due to imbalance in doshas the digestive fire gets weak and causes accumulations of endotoxins in the body i.e. Ama. Then this ama obstructs the channels which in turn create inflammation at that particular area which can be circular, bulged up, increased in size. Ama is a very vast term which has been highlighted since ancient times. As per ayurveda, most of the diseases are caused due to formation of ama (endotoxins).

"Dushiyatagnis dustoanna ntatta pachti laghavapi Apachyamanam shuktwam yatayannam visharooptama"

(Charak Chikitsa 15/44)

This shloka states that due to weak digestive fire, the undigested food results in formation of amla padarth named ama or amavisha (endotoxins).

You Might Be Thinking What Is Ama Visha?

Let me make you understand this thought as per today's world. In today's world everyone is more into urban food like junk food, fried, processed and packed foods. These foods come in combinations like cheese with sauce, Cheese with tomato, Imli with curd, Samosa and they are known as toxic food combinations which inturn produces a compound called dioxin. This dioxin compound breaks the signalic system of the body and blocks the channels. So our body doesn't recognise the cancerous cells and increases its production to that particular area or adjacent structures.

Role Of Vayu In Proliferation Of GIST

As we have discussed, there is an imbalance of all three humors in the body. Here vata dosha plays an important role.In this vata dosha is predominantly the reason because proliferation of cells is mainly due to vata dosha. As per ayurveda there is a quotation "vayurvibhajiyati" i.e vata is responsible for division which leads to proliferation of cells. So if we control the vata dosha then we'll move one step ahead of the treatment.

Role Of Past Life Karmas In GIST

As per ancient texts, there are many causes of tumors or arbuda but  Our acharyas considered Arbuda as a karmic disease which occurs due to poorva janma krit karma of the patient. Other risk factors include aging, Environmental exposure, improper lifestyle, lack of physical activity or suppressed emotions.

Symptoms As Per Tridosha Predominance

Symptoms like pain in abdomen, unexplained weight loss, tumor proliferation is mainly due to vata because vata is mainly predominated in pranavaha and asthi vaha channels.

Symptoms like inflammation, nausea, vomiting, unusual bleeding, nutritional disturbance is mainly due to pitta dosha because pitta is predominated in rakta vaha channels. Nutritional disturbance makes cells anaerobic thus leading to overgrowth. Uncontrolled increase in mass, indigestion like symptoms is due to kapha dosha because kapha is predominated in masavaha and medovaha channels. Kapaha dosha overloads all the dhatus with ama dosha. Therefore all the three doshas play an equal role in causing the arbuda or GIST.

There are 6 types of tumors as per acharya sushruta–

1. Vataj Arbuda
2. Pittaj Arbuda
3. Kaphaj Arbud
4. Raktraj Arbud
5. Mamsa Arbud
6. Medoj Arbuda

Some Tumors With Ayurvedic Correlation

1. Ras arbuda - Epithelialcarcinoma, Lymphoma, melanoma,
2. Raktarbuda - Leukemia
3. Mamsaarbuda - Myogenic sarcoma
4. Medoarbuda - Lipomayosarcoma
5. Astheyarbuda - Osteosarcoma
6. Majja Arbuda - Multiple myeloma
7. Shukra Arbuda - Testicular carcinoma
8. Artavaarbuda - Ovarian tumor
9. Stanyaarbuda - Breast cancer

So we can correlate GIST with Mamsa arbuda. As per ayurveda, Mamsa arbuda is well managed with ayurvedic herbs and wonderful classical formulations. We can improve the quality life of the patient by increasing the longevity with no or zero side effects.

Management Of Arbuda As Per Classical Texts:-

Arbuda can be managed by following three ways which are explained below:-

1. Management of Vata - To manage proliferation of cells we should focus on alleviating excessive vata from the body. For managing vata we should use dashamoola drugs, Eranda, haritaki, ajmoda, intake of medicated oils etc.
2. Detoxification of Ama (Endotoxins) - Ama dosha can be detoxified by two ways i.e By shodhan of body with detoxification procedures like panchkarma and shaman with ayurvedic herbs like chitrak, bhallataka, black peer, Shunthi, jeerak, pippali moola, ajwain, chavya etc.
3. Rasayan Chikitsa (Improving Immunity) - This treatment modality can be done to improve the immunity of the patient which is possible with healthy lifestyle like light exercise,  consuming proper food, sleeping at right time, avoid viruddh ahar (intake of toxic food combinations),   decreasing anxiety,  emphasize positive emotions or by avoiding excess use of five white substances- White sugar, White salt, White hydrogenated oil, White flour and White rice. Along with a healthy lifestyle you should include rasyan dravya like Amla, bhallataka, Giloy, Mandukaparni, Yashtimadhu, Brahmi etc. Rasay treatment prevents the growth of tumor cells due to its antioxidant properties and brightens the cells with prasad bhaga by improving agni so selecting an appropriate rasayan according to arbuda is very important. Some important rasayan prayogas are :-
   • Bhallataka rasayana
   • Chitraka rasayana
   • Shilajatu rasayana
   • Lashuna rasayana
   • Pippali rasayana
   • Haritaki rasayana
   • Guggulu rasayana
4. Gomutra Therapy -  Gomutra has been used in classical texts since ancient times. It is well explained by acharya sushruta and vagbhata with its numerous therapeutic actions and also as an ingredient of panchgavya (Godughda, gomutra, ghee, curd, dung). This is very effective in managing GIST or arbuda.
5. Ayurvedic Herbs to Manage GIST - There are lots of herbs which assist in managing arbud or tumor. Kanchnar (Bauhinia variegata), bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium), Curcumin (Curcuma longa), Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Tulsi (ocimum sanctum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), anantamul (Hemidesmus indicus), triphala, guggul (Commiphora mukul), Kumari (Aloe barbadensis) etc. All these herbs possess Anticancer properties which aids in alleviating extract proliferated cancerous cells.
6. Role of Rasaushadhi in Managing GIST - Rasaushadhis (herbo-mineral preparations) are the one which has a very good effect in patients suffering from cancer or tumor. Many Rasaushadhi's like:-
   • Abhrak bhasma
   • Shankha visha bhasma
   • tutha bhasma
   • heerak bhasma
   • swarna bhasma
   • tamra bhasma
   • Arbudohar ras
   • Amar sunder ras
   • Arogya sagar ras
   • Udaya Bhaskar ras
   • Umashambhu ras

CONCLUSION

Therefore, coming to an end, I hope that fear of your mind must have gone away after reading this article. GIST is a tumor whose allopathic treatment is surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy and palliative care. All these treatment modalities hamper the quality of life and cause a bundle of side effects. So we should adopt ayurveda because it not only manages the diseases but also improves the quality of life with no adverse effects.

Herbal Remedies for GIST Cancer - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

ABSTRACT

Gastrointestinal tract is also known as the alimentary canal or digestive tract. It is a muscular tube which is hollow starting from the oral cavity. Digestive tract includes the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus where the waste is excreted. The large intestine consists of appendix, cecum, colon and rectum while the small intestine has three parts called duodenum, jejunum in the middle and ileum in the end. There are various organs which help in enzyme secretion which in turn helps in breaking food into nutrients. The main purpose of the gastrointestinal tract is to breakdown food to consume the nutrients from it. GIT has four layers called mucosa, sub mucosa, muscularis externa and serosa.

INTRODUCTION

GIST means Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. A tumor is formed when the cells grow abnormally forming mass. A tumor can be both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) spreading from one part of the body to the other. There are many types of tumor and one of them is Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.

Gastrointestinal Stromal tumors are soft tissue sarcoma which can occur anywhere on the digestive tract but the most common sites affected in the digestive tract are Small intestine and stomach. The sarcoma cells are the cells which hold the body together and it consists of fat cells, tendons, joints, blood vessels etc. The tumor starts from the pacemaker cells found in the walls of the Gastrointestinal tract. The pacemaker cells are called ICCS (Interstitial cells of Cajal). They send signals to the digestive tract to move food and liquid into the digestive system.

TYPES

Other types of GIT malignant tumors which develop from other cells:-

• Adenocarcinomas:- This GIT cancer can occur in esophagus, colon, rectum and stomach. It starts from the gland cells which line almost all the parts of the digestive tract.
• Squamous cell carcinoma:- This cancer starts from the squamous cells or flat cells which covers part of our digestive tract. It covers the upper part of the esophagus and the end part of the anus.
• Neuroendocrine tumor:- They have common functions like nerve cells and also with endocrine cells (Hormone producing).
• Epidemiology:-
• 4000 to 6000 adults are affected by gastrointestinal stromal tumor all around the world.
• 60 percent of gastrointestinal stromal tumors are of the stomach while 35 percent is of the small intestine.

SYMPTOMS

Clinical features presented in Gastrointestinal stromal tumor are:-

The symptoms depend on the severity, size and location of the tumor in the digestive tract. The signs may vary from person to person. Below are the commonly presented symptoms:-

• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Blood while passing stool
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Feeling or Sensation of Mass inside the stomach
• Weakness all the time
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Obstruction of bowels

CAUSES FOR GIST CANCER

The main cause for the gastrointestinal stromal tumor is not known yet. But the cancer develops when the cells start to grow uncontrollably. They can spread to the liver and even cause death. The main reasons to develop GIST are due to mutation of certain genes. There are some risk factors which are the cause for developing gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

RISK FACTORS FOR GIST CANCER

• Age:- People who are above 50 are more likely to develop this cancer while people below 40 are less likely to have it and occur in very rare cases.
• Sex:- Men are more likely to be affected by gastrointestinal stromal cancer as compared to women.
• Hereditary syndrome:- Mutation of the gene called neurofibromatosis type1. If this mutation runs in the family for example if your mother or father had GIST then you are more likely at risk to develop this cancer. But this does not happen in every case.
• SDH gene mutation:- The mutation of succinate dehydrogenase gene and people born with this mutation are more likely to develop GIST.

DIAGNOSIS FOR GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMOR

There is variety of laboratory test to diagnose for GIST which includes:-

• Physical examination:- It is done to look for any mass around the abdomen or any other health related issues. Medical history along with family history should also be included to detect the cause of GIST.
• CT scan:- It is useful for the patient to determine the location and size of the tumor present in the digestive tract.
• MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scan:- This shows the detailed images of tissues in the body. It will help with the patient who has GIST to know how much has it spread?
• Barium X-Rays:- Before the test you have to do fasting the night before or you may need to take laxatives to clean the digestive tract for examination. In this test, you have to drink barium liquid which coats the esophagus and the x-rays are taken to detect for tumors.
• PET scan:- It is done to look for possible areas where the cancer has spread. It is also useful to know if the treatment is working or not.
• Endoscopy:- In this test a tiny video camera is inserted into the digestive tract to have a clear image of tumors on the lining of the GI tract.
• Biopsy:- The sample tissue from the affected area is taken and further sends it for pathology. It is done to detect a type of tumor if it is benign or malignant.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMOR

All the herbal medicines provided by Planet Ayurveda are 100% vegetarian, pure and natural. Planet Ayurveda provides herbal remedies prepared from the best quality herbs and follow the strict rules of Ayurveda. All herbal remedies are free from chemicals, preservatives, and additives. These herbal medicines will help to stop the abnormal growth of cells in the body and manage the disease. Below are the medicines which will help you to manage the disease:-

1. Curcumin Capsules
2. Kanchnaar Guggul
3. Digestion Support
4. Mahashankh Vati
5. Graviola Capsules
6. Pitta Balance
7. Praval Panchamrit

Herbal Remedies for GIST Cancer

PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION

1. Curcumin Capsules

It contains the herbal extract of Haridra (Curcuma longa) and is one of the best remedies to treat cancers and tumors.  It contains anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties. It is useful in all kinds of Digestive Problems. Curcumin helps to stop the spread of Cancers. It is also helpful in purifying the blood.

Dosage:- 1-2 capsules two times daily after meals with water.

2. Kanchnaar Guggul

Kanchnaar is a beautiful tree growing in India, it has been found effective in tumors especially in the gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Also, it helps in both malignant and benign cancers having anticancer properties. It is also recommended in cases like Gangrene, Fistula in ano, Adenoids and tonsillitis too.

Dosage:- 1-2 tablets twice daily with water after meals.

3. Digestion Support

This is the safe herbal formulation prepared using Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Sounf (Foeniculum vulgare), Pippali (Piper longum) and many more. All these herbs help in all kinds of digestive problems. These aid in balancing the ‘kapha’ dosha and removing all the toxins from the intestine. It also assists in treating the ailments like constipation, gas or flatulence related to GIST cancer.

Dosage:- 1-2 capsules with water, after the meals.

4. Mahashankh Vati

It contains extract of herbs like Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica), Danti (Baliospermum montanum), Sarjikakshara (Natural Sodium carbonate) etc. Combining all these herbs, make it the best remedy for any kind of tumors and bars the cells from growing abnormally. Mahashankh vati also helps in digestive problems.

Dosage:- Take 1-2 pills daily with water, after meals.

5. Graviola Capsules

It is made up of herbal extract called Graviola (Annona muricata) which contains antioxidant and anticancer properties, thus, aids the body to restrict the growth of tumor and cancer. It is useful in treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. It also detoxifies the body.

Dosage:- 1 capsule twice daily with water, after meals.

6. Pitta Balance

It contains herbal extract of Akik Pishti (Agate compound), Jawar Mohar Pishti (Calcium compound) Praval Pishti (Coral compound) etc. Pitta which means Fire element, also called Agni helps in balancing our digestion. It helps in treating the disorders of gastrointestinal tract including tumors.

Dosage:- 1 capsule twice daily with water.

7. Praval Panchamrit

This is a classical herbo-mineral formulation in the tablets form, prepared by following the ancient Ayurvedic principles. It is helpful in reducing any growth or mass in the abdomen and all the problems related to the digestive tract like diarrhea or constipation. It helps to remove toxins from the body and aids the cells for growing normally. The tablets are also useful in cough asthma and urinary tract related problems.

Dosage:- 1-2 tablets twice daily with water, after the meals.

Contact my assistant to provide you the costing / ordering and delivery information at - costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or call at +91-172-5214030 Or Check Website - www.PlanetAyurveda.com

CONCLUSION

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor is one of the rare but dangerous disorders. But, it is treatable and can be well managed through Ayurvedic medicines. All the herbal medicines mentioned above, will help in treating the disease and stopping the cells from growing more abnormally. Moreover, these also help in managing the entire health of the individual. For consultation, you can write us at: herbalremedies123@yahoo.com.