In Ayurveda, cancer is a disease that often involves all three bodily humours (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), though it typically starts with a predominance of one. When an individual’s digestive fire or enzyme reserves are low, allowing a build-up of toxic substances, this can create an environment for cancer to grow. Cancer represents a negative life-energy, something like a micro-organism, which has become established in the body.
Cancer has numerous causes including our toxic environment, denatured and processed foods, sedentary lifestyle, and lack of spiritual purpose or effort in life. It’s most common basis is suppressed emotion or emotional stagnation, which causes accumulation of toxic material.
As many may be aware cancer, at one time, was not prevalent in North America and was considered a disease of old age. Cancer now afflicts almost one in two of all adults. Yes, we do have better diagnostic methods which may account for part of the statistical increase in cancer cases, however, the fact is these numbers keep growing. Perhaps the time has come to give more energy and money to preventative measures and educating people on ways to live healthier lives.