Cancer is the formation of an abnormal mass of cells on a certain part of the body due to the uncontrolled cell division. When this uncontrolled cell division happens in our brain, it leads to the development of brain tumor. Brain Tumor can also cause brain hemorrhage due to internal bleeding. Brain cancer can be treated safely by herbal medicines for brain tumor.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Anticancer herbal medicines have no side-effects. You can buy these medicines from brain tumor medicine manufacturers in South Africa.

In this article, we will discuss brain cancer and its treatment in Ayurveda.

Types of Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are categorized into two types primary and secondary.

Primary Brain Tumors

The tumors which originate in the brain of a person are known as primary brain tumors. Most of the primary brain tumors are benign. The areas in the brain where a primary Brain Tumor can develop are:

• Brain cells

• Meninges (the membrane which surrounds the brain)

• Nerve cells

• Glands

The primary tumours can be cancerous or benign. In adults, the two most common types of brain tumours are found: gliomas and meningiomas.

Secondary Brain Tumours

Secondary brain tumours develop in the other part of the brain and then spread to the brain. Following tumours can be transferred to the brain:

• Lung cancer

• Breast cancer

• Kidney cancer

• Skin cancer

The secondary brain tumours are malignant and are more harmful as compared to the benign tumours. This is because the benign tumours are not transferred to another part of the body.

Risk Factors of Brain Tumour

• Family History: If any person in your family is suffering from brain cancer, you should talk with your doctor about it. However, the chances of transfer of brain cancer genetically are very less.

• Age: The risk factors of brain cancer increases with the increase in age.

• Chemical Exposure: Being exposed to certain chemicals can increase the risk of brain cancer.

• Exposure to radiation: Being exposed to the ionizing radiation may increase the risk of brain cancer. A person can be exposed to such type of radiation through high cancer radiation therapy.

Symptoms of Brain Cancer

Symptoms of the brain tumour depend on the size of the tumour and its location in the brain. Some brain tumours can cause pressure on the surroundings of the brain while some tumours cause great damage by directly invading the brain tissue. Headache is the most common symptom of brain tumour. A person suffering from brain cancer may experience:

• Worse headaches in the morning.

• Headaches while sleeping.

• Severe headaches while coughing, sneezing or exercising.

Other symptoms of brain cancer include:

• Blurred vision.

• Confusion.

• A change in mental functioning.

• Clumsiness.

• Loss of memory.

• Difficulty in writing or reading.

• Changes in the ability to hear, taste, or smell.

• Difficulty in swallowing.

• Loss of balance.

• Loss of bowel control.

• Hand tremors.

• Numbness.

• Trouble in speaking and understanding.

• Difficulty in walking.

• Weakness in the muscles of face, arms, or legs.

Persons suffering from pituitary tumours experience the following symptoms:

• Galactorrhea or nipple discharge.

• Lack of menstruation in women.

• Gynecomastia. It is the development of breast tissue in males.

• Enlargement of feet and hands.

• Sensitivity to heat and cold.

• Increase in the amount of body hair.

• Low blood pressure or hypotension.

• Obesity.

• Changes in vision. The affected person may experience blurred or tunnel vision.

Diagnosis of Brain cancer

The diagnosis of brain cancer starts with a physical exam. First of all, the doctor looks at your medical history. Then the doctor starts a physical exam. He looks inside your eyes with the help of an instrument called an ophthalmoscope. The instrument allows the doctor to look directly inside your eyes so that he can check whether there is any swelling in the optic nerve or not. The increase in the pressure inside the skull causes changes in the optic nerve. In the physical exam, the doctor also analyzes your muscle strength, memory, coordination, ability to do mathematical calculations, etc.

After the completion of the physical exam, the doctor conducts some tests.

CT Scan

CT scan generates a more detailed image of the brain. These imagings allow the doctor to analyze the different parts of your brain deeply.

MRI

MRI is different from the CT scan. Unlike a CT scan, this test does not involve the use of radiation. MRI scan produces more detailed imaging than the CT scan.

Angiography

This test involves the injection of a dye into your arteries, especially of your groin area. The dye then travels to the arteries of your brain. It helps your doctors to analyze the blood supply to the tumours.

Skull X Rays

Brain tumours can cause damage to the bones of the skull. Therefore, X Rays are required.

Biopsy

A biopsy is done to detect the nature of the tumour, i.e, whether it is benign or malignant. In this process, a small piece of the tumour is obtained and analysed by a neuropathologist.

Treatment of Brain Cancer

There are many ways available in medical science for the treatment of brain cancer. Here, we will discuss Ayurvedic treatment of brain cancer.

Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass helps in increasing the oxygen capacity of the blood. Since the brain needs an abundant supply of oxygen, wheatgrass is an effective herb for brain tumours. Wheatgrass capsules are available in the market. You can buy them from any anti-cancer medicine manufacturers.

Ashwagandha

This herb has amazing healing power. It plays a major role in strengthening the immune system of our body. The Ayurvedic supplements of ashwagandha help in improving the function of the brain and minimizes the effects of radiation.

Summary

What we have learnt?

• What brain cancer is.

• The different types of brain cancer.

• Risk factors associated with brain cancer.

• How brain cancer is diagnosed.

• Ayurvedic treatment of brain cancer.