It was a challenging job for me, when I started getting various patients of different varieties viz. cancer, chronic renal failure, heart disease. ITP, multiple sclerosis, diabetic gangrene, live cirrhosis, AIDS, Spondylosis etc. Ayurveda is really very great ! Even in these deadly ad death-threatening disease of this era The Ayurvedic treatment worked magically at least in a few remarkable cases.

Here are a few glimpses:
1. Cancer:
A male at the age of 72 was referred to me. He was having jaundice and on ultra sound examination, was found to be having obstruction. He was explored for the same and was found to be having cauliflower like growth arising from Gall bladder and spreading to liver and intestines. His abdomen was just sutured  back and he was sent home with a hope of 15 days survival. We started with Ayurvedic treatment and he was kept only on milk diet. Gradually he recovered from the disease and is still alive after 25 years (in 2008).
The case was untouched by any means and that is the reason I suppose, for the success. This case fetched me so many cases of cancer, only after everything possible done in modern medicine (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation). I could only prolong the life span and improve the quality of life to some extent. Here are some cases:
a. A 30 year old male having symptoms of hyperacidity was proposed for operation of gastric ulcer. On operating the abdomen, the surgeon realized that, it's not ulcer, but cancer! 3/4 th part of the stomach was removed and a biopsy of 10 lymph nodes was taken. 5 of them proved to be malignant. The case was left by the surgeon with an expected survival of two months. This patient survived for 1and 1/2 years. The first six months, he was on only milk diet. He gained weight, had no symptoms and was working in a factory. He developed persistent vomiting without pain and I sent him back to the surgeon for surgical complication. He had adhesions, which were resected and he joined my treatment again and further lived good life of one year.
b. A woman of 72 years of age was reported to us. She originally had breast cancer, which was operated. She later on developed metastasis in lung, liver, ovary and uterus. Pleural effusion was tapped & it contained malignant cells. She was suffering from breathlessness, nausea, vomitting, pain in abdomen (pelvis), loss of appetite. On commencement of our treatment she was symptom free and lived a good life for one year, when again the symptoms got aggravated and ultimately she expired after six months.

2. ITP (Ideopathic Thrombocytopanic Purpura):
A male of 40 years of age was reported to be having ITP and was referred to us. The hematologist was about to begin with steroids, ultimately it was decided to switch over to Ayurveda instead of having steroids. The platelet count was 35,000. As treatment commenced, it went on increasing, is now stable above 1,50,000. The patient visits clinic intermittently and is still under observation after two years.
Another case, a lady of 40 years of age, took reference from the above patient and come for treatment. She had already undergone spleenectomy and was on steroids for 4 years. She is now stable with 5 mg dose of steroid in a week. We hope to relieve her from steroids in a few months.
I think, ITP is really a good area, where Ayurveda can play magic. Further enrichment of experience in this field will be beneficial.

3. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
This is another gray area, where Ayurveda would be much beneficial. I had two cases, both showing marked improvement. The first case was of a male aged 66. He was on steroids for 4 years (40 mg every day). He had edema all over the body and had gained much weight. All the movements were restricted and even sitting and walking with walker was also a difficult task. With massage, basti and internal medicine, his activities improved a lot and we could reduce the dose of the steroid. The edema disappeared totally and the overweight got reduced. Another case was not so complicated and is much better with basti and massage.

4. Asthma:
Asthma is a common disease found worldwide. The Ayurvedic approach towards this disease is different. Ayurveda pays more attention towards the causes of  kapha dosha, such as cold water, curds, ice creams, bananas, yoghurt. Cheese, sleep during day time etc. and if the accumulate kapha dosha is expelled out in spring season by the process of vamana, it gives very good results.
One male of 33 years of age was reported to me. He was suffering from Asthma since childhood (2nd year of age). He was taking broncho dilators – 6 tablets a day throughout the year, still used to get attacks and had to be hospitalized and treated with steroids and adrenaline. After first vamana, the dose of broncho-dilators got reduced to 3 tabs a day. It again increased little bit in rainy season. So we decided to conduct vamana twice a year and after 3rd vamana, he could discontinue with modern treatment. After 10 years he is having vamana only once a year. He didn't have any attach of bronchial asthma during last 15 years.

5. Liver Cirrhosis:
I have come across a number of cases of live cirrhosis. Though the modern diagnosis is liver cirrhosis only, the Ayurvedic diagnosis may differ from patient to patient varying from Raktapitta, Pandu, Grahani, Udara, etc. whatever the Ayurvedic diagnosis be, if it is within curability of that diseases, we come out with very good success. Only thing is, the diet is very strict in this particular disease (specially with ascitis- only milk diet is admissible) and if that is not observed, then there is definitely a failure. I have come across cases with hepatitis B +ve, hepatitis C +ve, alcohol and mental distress as the main causes for live cirrhosis.

6. Chronic Renal Failure (CRF):
There are increasing number of patients of this disease. Generally the patients come in a very last stage, when hem dialysis has already started. If the patients approach in albumin-urea stage, the prognosis is good. At least we are able to delay the process of kidney failure. When the patient is already on hem-dialysis, efforts can only be made to prolong the duration of two consecutive dialysis,. There is a basic need to control the diabetes or hypertension to prevent concerned nephropathy with Ayurvedic medicines. I am interested in working on Diabetic nephropathy to prevent further damage. I am treating few cases of C.R.F. who are on the verge of dialysis even today. It is observed that with urea ranging between 50 to 100 & the Serum Creatinine ranging between 1.5 to 5.0, it is possible to maintain the levels & in few cases, even to reduce them to certain extent.

7. Heart Disease:
The number of patients of heart disease is also increasing day by day and the lowest age of getting a fatal heart attacks, I have observed is just 22 years. There are a few cases under treatment, who have been advised by-pass surgery due to 3 vessel disease. Here the determination of patients mind plays an important role. If he is in a dilemma regarding surgery, the fate is grave. But if he is determined either for surgery or not for surgery, the chances of survival are more. Surgery is a mechanical device, even though opted for and executed successfully. Ultimately one has to change the lifestyle to get cured from the disease. Ayurvedic treatment does help even in high risk patients, provided the patient is willing to change the life style and most important factor is keeping off the worries. Actually worry or psychological stress is the most important factor in this disease, but the whole attention is given to cholesterol and consumption of oil and ghee and blockades in three vessels. There is a vast scope for research in this particular area and we really come out with success with Ayurvedic treatment for heart diseases.

8. AIDS:
This is yet another grave disease and is spreading very fast in India. The HIV +ve patients can be divided into two groups: 1)Dormant phase 2) Active phase.
1)Dormant phase can continue even until ten years and hence it is very difficult to keep the follow up. I have got a few cases of this variety. Here, the most important factor, that needs to be tackled is the fear about the disease. The patients are constantly under stress of getting active phase and death thereafter. If we are able to improve the general resistively of the patient, do panchakarma to maintain health, we come out with good results. I have observed rise in the CD4, CD8 count which is indicative of improvement. Unfortunately, many victims of this disease are economically very poor and cannot afford the treatment.

2)Active phase: This phase is grave. In India these cases die generally in few months due to tuberculosis. I have treated a few cases of this phase with a limited success of prolonging the death and improving the quality of life.
A long term research in this area is really the need of the hour.