Healing of Cancers

Our team of doctors and our Ayurvedic Cancer Specialist works together to heal patients coming to us who are suffering from Cancer, both physically and mentally. We work in cases where the patient is either exclusively treated by us or offer a combined healing approach of using Ayurveda healing in combination of allopathic treatments the patient is undergoing. Ayurveda offers special medicines that effectively combat many types of Cancers. Given our founder also helped heal her Cancer through Ayurveda, helping Cancer patients has been one of our most rewarding elements of our work. Since 2014, Plantation Villa has been helping Cancer patients heal and recover from a variety of Cancers.

Cancer continues to defy the advancements made by modern medicine and after many years of intensive research and new drug developments, it is still responsible for the death of millions of people. One of the issues with modern medicine is that even if the primary lesion is removed, a complete cure cannot be guaranteed as the causative factor (nidana) is not eliminated.

Ayurveda and traditional Sri Lankan medicine has served in the curative and preventive aspects of Cancer since ancient times. ‘Gedi-Vana-Pilika’ (Oncology) has been a specialization practiced for many generations. Earliest written evidence of treating Cancer by Sri Lankan physicians can be found as far back as 1680 BC in records of João Ribeiro². Since 1879, some books written in Sri Lanka on traditional medicine are abundant in herbo-mineral drugs for Cancer. Even today, some indigenous practitioners treat various types of Cancer effectively in those who seek traditional treatments at earlier stages of the disease. See below for some frequently asked questions by our potential guests:

Do Ayurveda drugs for Cancer have adverse effects?

Modern medicine for Cancer has a significantly deteriorating impact on the patient’s quality of life. Ayurveda anti-Cancer drugs have very limited or no side effects, and do not show any deleterious effects on health. In fact, most of the drugs used in Cancer therapy have been known to provide beneficial effects on other diseases as well i.e. Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia etc.

Is it possible for a drug that has beneficial effects on healthy cells to have deleterious effects on Cancer cells?

Yes. The energy metabolism in Cancer cells is different from that of healthy cells. The defense mechanisms in Cancer cells are premature compared to normal cells in the body. Furthermore, the harmful herbs or minerals used in some of the herbo-mineral compounds are made less toxic to the normal cells by a special procedure called shodana and marana. Plus, each of these drugs are carefully formulated not to severely derange any of the three doshas in balance. This is an art well explained in the pharmacology of Ayurveda. 

Is it possible to stop metastasis?

Yes. If deranged Kapha that is accumulated in the body is eliminated by shodana (purification / detoxifying) procedures like nasya etc and by Kapha nissaraka (Kapha eliminating) drugs, it removes the ‘seat’ of Cancer thus preventing further progression of Cancer. Along with this, vata-pacifying drugs has to be administered as well, because vata is responsible for the proliferation and metastasis of Cancer

Many observations suggest that the anatomic localization of a neoplasm and its venous drainage cannot wholly explain the systemic distributions of metastases. For example, prostatic carcinoma preferentially spreads to bone, bronchogenic carcinomas tend to involve the adrenals and the brain and neuroblastomas spread to the liver and the bones. Conversely, skeletal muscles, although rich in capillaries, are rarely the site of secondary deposits.

Care for the mind

Mental stability of the patient facilitates the curing of any disease. Especially in Cancer, the psychological state of the patient should be corrected along with the physical state. This can be done by encouraging the patient to take part in spiritual activities according to his/her religion. Yoga and meditation can be practiced regardless of their religion. The balanced/happy/peaceful state of mind achieved through these practices may help restore the balance in the body as well.

Post Cancer Recovery and Palliative Care at Plantation Villa

In general, patients come to Plantation Villa after undergoing western treatments for Cancer. We find that some tissue damage from surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy is present. They also show psychological trauma from the illness, such as fear and anxiety, regardless of the form of the therapy he or she has been through. From experience we have found that Cancer patients suffer a great deal of problems through stress and fear of the disease and the emotional upheaval it brings. Our system of healing, combining approaches for body, mind, as well as lifestyle and contact with nature can aid on all different levels of recovery.

At Plantation Villa, over the last 8 years we have been known internationally to offer effective residential care for patients recovering from Cancer. We have won many awards and we have been repeatedly recognized as the best holistic wellness retreat in Sri Lanka by many international awarding bodies.

The level of care we offer:

1. Emotional and Mental Support – Our experienced Ayurvedic Doctors and Yoga/Meditation Teachers and Therapists provide emotional and mental healing and support for Cancer patients through one-to-one counselling, mindfulness practices of Yoga and Meditation and similar techniques to calm the mind and guide the patients to accept and be at peace with their actual health condition. Furthermore, through the use of Ayurvedic herbs we provide nourishment and mental strength to allow patients who are mainly ‘drained out’ emotionally to recover and relax. Every other day we stimulate conversations on philosophy and life guidance, to give mind support and new ways of seeing reality for our guests.
2. Mental and Physical Detoxing – Patients gather a lot of mental toxification during a period of Cancer diagnosis and treatments through stress, family emotional upheavals and fear. It is important for them to be understood, reduced and removed to ensure long term health and wellness of the patient. Furthermore, some intensive Cancer treatments can leave post-procedure effects within the body and mind, causing the deterioration of tissues (such as hair, skin and nervous system) and changes in the outward appearance of the patient, which can also add to the stress and depression. All of this can delay full mental and physical recovery. Using Ayurveda Panchakarma therapies personalized to the patient’s condition, our team of doctors design and monitor the detoxification programs.
3. Nourishment and Rejuvenation – Nourishment of patients will be provided through food, Ayurveda medicines and treatments. The food services are fresh (most grown within our extensive organic gardens), prepared without preservatives and artificial products, according to Ayurvedic guidelines and monitored by our Ayurvedic Doctors. Where needed, these will be tailored to the patients needs by the doctors. They will also develop an Ayurvedic treatment plan for the patient including massages with herbal oils, special nourishment treatments and herbal medicines to improve strength and revitalize.
4. Natural and Tranquil Environment of Love and Care – Nature is abundant and all rooms are beautifully decorated with access to our extensive gardens where birds, rabbits and other gentle animals are at play. Rooms are luxurious with modern bathroom facilities and are specially designed and decorated to inspire calmness. The staff have over 8 years of experience in caring for sick, depressed and ageing patients in every level of disease (from beginning to end of life) and suffering in different forms. The staff are trained to offer care with loving kindness invoking a family feel for our guests, most of whom consider this as their home away from home.

Testimonial:

“I have had quite a transformational stay.  All doctors have been so amazingly knowledgeable, attentive and compassionately giving.  Doctor recommended an ultra sound to check the lymph nodes to see if had spread and give a good look at the tumour.  The ultrasound was negative for everything!  The blood tests also look good for no inflammation present.

I know deep in myself that I am healing my body has been kicked started to heal itself.  My stay here and the treatments available, has given me the space and time to let go of the last part of which I have found difficult to let go of perviously.  I am immensely grateful that Plantation villa offers this healing sanctuary for those who identify they have come too far away from nature’s rhythms and only need to come back into the arms of mother nature in order to re-establish balance.  Ayurveda has a simple philosophy with a profound impact on healing and nourishing the human soul.  I love it and will continue with all of its methods and philosophy, it has profoundly impacted the way I am now going to live my life.

Warmest wishes and gratitude to Ishara, for sharing her healing journey with the world and channeling it into helping others heal.  It was my motivation for coming here and I hope she can know the gratitude of the many, that she has gifted with that cancer journey, so that they might have the opportunity also, to come closer to knowing themselves and reconnecting with nature and their soul, along the journey of life.

I am taking so much away with me, but the dedication of all members of the staff has been very notable.  Everyone has shared of their heart, their smiles and hard work.   I certainly aim to return again this time next year, if not sooner.”

– Lady from UK (wished to remain anonymous for personal reasons)