Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (Mar 2025)

Role of a Chemo-Recovery Kit with Ayurvedic formulations - containing coral in managing chemotherapy adverse effects and maintaining quality of life in breast cancer patients

  • Sadanand Sardeshmukh,
  • Vineeta Deshmukh,
  • Tushar Patil,
  • Shweta Gujar,
  • Vasanti Godse,
  • Swapna Kulkarni,
  • Shrinivas Datar,
  • Dhananjay Deshpande,
  • Nilambari Sardeshmukh,
  • Sushma Bhuvad,
  • Bhagyashree Sardeshmukh,
  • Sandeep Chavan,
  • Vidya Gupta

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101012
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 2
p. 101012

Abstract

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Background: Breast cancer is one of the major concerns in women globally. Treatment for breast cancer comprises surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, and palliative care. Though chemotherapy is an important component of treatment, it induces adverse effects, which are mainly caused by the inability of chemotherapeutic drugs to distinguish between dividing cancer cells and normal cells leading to increase in oxidative stress and hampered immune status. Objective: To investigate the benefits of Ayurvedic medicines in breast cancer patients for managing chemotherapy adverse effects. Material and methods: In this retrospective study, 27 female breast cancer patients who underwent surgery, posted for chemotherapy, and complying inclusion were included. These patients were divided into two groups. Study group of 13 patients were treated with Ayurvedic formulation - Chemo-Recovery Kit with coral [filed as a herbo-mineral kit for Indian patent (201921018273- published) and US Patent (17/609,601- published)] along with chemotherapy, while 14 patients were not provided with any additional Ayurvedic medicines and were treated with chemotherapy alone (control group). Results: Out of commonly observed adverse effects, statistically significant improvement is noted in symptoms such as fatigue (p < 0.0001), vomiting (p = 0.001), nausea (p = 0.003) and skin discoloration (p = 0.005) in patients treated with adjunct Ayurvedic medicines. The remaining symptoms such as constipation, stomatitis and fever were also less prominent in this group. Karnofsky score (p < 0.0001) and quality of life assessed were well maintained in patients treated with Ayurvedic medicines. Conclusion: Chemo-Recovery Kit with coral is highly effective in management of chemotherapy induced nausea, vomiting, fatigue and skin discoloration and thus to improve Quality of Life.

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