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CLAIM:
A widely viewed YouTube video claims that cancer, including throat cancer, can be cured solely through ayurvedic treatment if “proper procedures” are followed. The video features anecdotal testimonies from individuals who say they recovered from cancer after taking ayurvedic medicines and questions the need for allopathic treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.
FACT:
The claim that ayurveda can cure cancer is not supported by scientific evidence. Multiple peer-reviewed studies and authoritative cancer research bodies explicitly state that ayurvedic medicine is not a substitute for evidence-based cancer treatment and that there is no reliable proof it can cure cancer.
In a widely shared YouTube video, an ayurvedic practitioner, Kamal Kant, claims that cancer — including throat cancer — can be cured exclusively through ayurveda if the treatment is followed “properly” and strictly according to ayurvedic principles.
So does ayurveda cure cancer?
A 2022 review examined ayurvedic concepts and research on commonly cited herbs such as curcumin, ashwagandha, and triphala. While the authors explored how ayurvedic approaches may support cancer care, they clearly caution against interpreting this as curative evidence.
The review states: “ayurvedic modalities are not intended as a substitute for allopathic treatments of cancer but as an integrative component for prevention and restoration of strength and immunity.”
Importantly, the review highlights that most existing evidence is preclinical or exploratory, not clinical proof of cancer cure in humans.
A second review, written from the perspective of a western-trained biomedical scientist, reinforces this limitation. While acknowledging ayurveda’s long history and potential role in wellness, the authors note a fundamental gap in proof: “There is a lack of evidence-based research to demonstrate its efficacy and potential.”
The review further underlines that ayurvedic approaches are meant to complement — not replace — conventional cancer treatment: “The use of ayurvedic modalities is not intended to substitute for allopathic cancer treatments but as an integrative component for prevention and restoration of strength and immunity post treatment.”
Authoritative cancer bodies echo these conclusions. Cancer Research UK, one of the world’s leading cancer research organisations, states unequivocally: “There is no scientific evidence to prove that ayurvedic medicine can treat or cure cancer.”
The organisation further clarifies that while some ayurvedic practices may help with symptom management or wellbeing, “ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for cancer is not backed up by research,” and warns that some treatments may carry serious side effects.
When prominent people suggest unscientific cancer cures
Misinformation related to cancer is one of the most prevalent kinds of false health-related claims online in India, according to our own research shared in our report “Health Misinformation Vectors in India.” From unscientific cures to dangerous DIY treatments, this kind of misinformation can have real-world consequences—from people delaying life-saving treatment to even costing lives. Unfortunately, nobody is immune to such misinformation.
We saw this when medical experts strongly rejected former cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu’s claims that his wife recovered from stage-4 cancer within 40 days through a diet and lifestyle regimen that included turmeric, neem water, apple cider vinegar, lemon water, intermittent fasting, and avoidance of sugar and carbohydrates. Sidhu suggested that these measures helped “defeat” cancer and questioned the need for expensive medical treatment, saying doctors had given his wife little chance of survival. The claim gained wide traction on social media, with several users portraying it as a low-cost “miracle cure” for cancer.
Doctors came down strongly against these claims and warned that they lack scientific evidence and risk misleading patients. The Tata Memorial Hospital Alumni (TMHA), representing over 260 oncologists, issued a statement cautioning that suggestions such as ‘starving cancer’ by avoiding sugar or consuming turmeric and neem have ‘no high-quality evidence’ to support them as cancer cures. While research is ongoing on some natural compounds, TMHA stressed that there is currently “no clinical data to recommend their use as anti-cancer agents,” and urged patients not to delay proven treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Several doctors also pointed out that Sidhu’s wife had, in fact, undergone standard cancer treatment, making his claims misleading. Public health expert Dr Urvashi Prasad said there is “no evidence that any particular diet cures cancer,” noting that lifestyle measures can only play a supportive role. Experts reiterated that while healthy diet and lifestyle choices are beneficial, they are not miracle cures for cancer.
Why are such claims misleading?
The video here relies on anecdotal recovery stories, which are not a substitute for controlled clinical trials. It does not provide medical records, cancer staging details, pathology reports, or evidence showing that patients avoided conventional treatment altogether. In medical science, personal testimonies — however compelling— cannot establish cause and effect, particularly for complex diseases like cancer.
Scientific research to date consistently shows that while certain ayurvedic herbs are being studied for potential biological activity, no rigorous clinical trials demonstrate that ayurveda alone can cure cancer.
Given the seriousness of the disease and the video’s large online reach, these claims require careful scrutiny against available scientific and clinical evidence.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.
