Physiology of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Our body consists of a fluid tissue called blood and lymph. Blood consists of Red blood cells/ erythrocytes/ RBC that is responsible for the oxygen supply to the entire body and gives blood its red color; white blood cells/ leukocytes/ WBC are responsible for immunity in the body and platelets (thrombocytes) that help in clotting of the blood. Lymphatic tissue mainly deals with the body’s immune reaction comprises mainly of lymphocytes that is a type of WBC, there are 2 types of lymphocytes B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.
B lymphocytes protect the body against bacteria and viruses by producing a protein called antibody, T lymphocyte destroys these bacteria, virus or any other abnormal cells in the body.
NHL is cancer that that can develop from B or T lymphocyte.
Lymphoid organs in the body are spleen, lymph node, thymus, tonsil, bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract.
Stages of NHL
Staging of cancer is important to plan the treatment and access the prognosis
Stage I: cancer limited to one regional lymph node or a group of nearby lymph node
Stage II: cancer involves two regional lymph node or has invaded one organ and a nearby lymph node. Cancer limited to a section of a body either above the diaphragm or below the diaphragm.
Stage III: cancer involves lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm
Stage IV: cancer cells affect one or more organs and are not limited to lymph nodes.
This is an advanced stage of NHL.
A: NHL not associated with significant sign and symptoms of cancer
B: NHL associated with significant sign and symptoms of cancer
A, B are used as a postfix to define the stage of cancer clearly.
Causes
- Infection caused by a virus such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), EBV Epstein Barr virus), hepatitis C and bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori have appeared to increase the risk of NHL
- Medications used to suppress body’s defense in case of organ transplant or chronic illness, the body loses its ability to fight making one more vulnerable to develop NHL
- Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren disease and celiac disease are known to increases one’s chances of suffering from NHL.
- Chemicals such as pesticides and lead are known to develop NHL
- Obesity increases one’s chance of developing NHL.
- Age is a risk factor. NHL can occur at any age but the increase in age is one of the risk factors for NHL.
Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Unexplained loss of weight
- Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin or fever persists for more than 10 days
- Painless swollen glands (lymph node) in the neck, armpit, and groin
- Abdominal pain
- Bone pain or chest pain
- Respiratory symptoms such as a cough, cough with expectoration, difficulty in breathing.
Treatment in Allopathy
Treatment is planned based on blood parameters, imaging studies, and biopsy reports.
In non-aggressive and slow progressing NHL treatment is not always necessary but regular monitoring is necessary to ensure that the disease is not progressing.
In aggressive, symptomatic NHL treatment is recommended. Various treatments are available such as chemotherapy, where drugs are given to kill the cancer cells; radiation therapy, in which high power energy beam, such as x rays and protons are directed to the affected area to kill the cancer cells; bone marrow transplant, were stem cells from one’s own body or the donor body is infused into the blood where they travel to one’s bone and rebuild the stem cells which would have been destroyed by the disease or treatment and biological therapy where certain drugs are given to strengthen body’s immune system such as rituximab and ibrutinib.
Ayurveda and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
In Ayurvedic literature lymphatic system is called as lasika and imbalance in the lasika causes granthi called as vikrit granthi known as Hodgkins and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma to the modern world. Literature also mentions that NHL occurs when ones ooj kshya (immunity) is jeopardized due to faulty eating habits, sedentary lifestyle and build up of toxins in the body.
Treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Ayurveda
Ayurvedic treatment mainly focuses on controlling the production of kapha and strengthening the immune system. Lymphatic detoxification clears the body from disease-causing factors which can be achieved by Ayurvedic medications and Panchakarma therapy
Abhyanga: It consists of herbal oil massage that deeply penetrates the skin, relaxes the body and mind and stimulates the arterial and lymphatic circulation
Gharshana: It consists of dry lymphatic skin brushing with wool or silk glove, this enhances circulation and detoxifies the body.
Swedana: herbal steam bath removes the toxins embedded in deeper tissues promoting lymphatic circulation, hence useful in the treatment of NHL
Udvartana: Udvartana is a deeply penetrating herbal lymphatic massage, expelling the toxins out of the body
Basti: Herbal enema expels the toxins from the gut helping the transportation of medicines and nutrients in diet better to the body tissues.
Shiroabhyanga Nasya: Involves massage of the head, neck, and face stimulating the lymphatic drainage and very effective in NHL.
Diet
- Colored vegetables and fruits such as carrots, broccoli, beans, beetroot, pumpkin, papaya, mango, and peaches are known to be high in antioxidants which help to prevent and treat NHL
- Green tea has phytonutrients called catechin which have anticancer properties.
- Sour and bitter food should be avoided as it increases the ama (toxin) in the body
- Preserved, artificially flavored and refined sugar should be completely avoided as these are known to be carcinogenic
- Curcumin extract from turmeric is a potent anticancer agent and is known to kill human lymphoma cells
- Mistletoe extract is known to be an immune modulator and is widely used in the anti-cancer treatment
Ayurvedic herbs used to treat NHL
These herbs are used in combination or alone in the treatment of NHL
- Kachnaar (mountain ebony): It is very useful in treating inflammations and disorders of the lymphatic system.
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): The roots of this plant contains various phytochemicals and is rich in antioxidants that are used to treat lymphatic disorders and cancer.
- Curcumin (Curcumin longa): known to control the growth of cancer cells and protects the body from free radical damage, hence very useful in NHL
- Amalaki (Phyllanthus Emblica): Amalaki rich in vitamin c which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties hence eases the discomfort caused by symptomatic NHL and balances all the three doshas
- Pippali (piper longum): Pippali purifies the blood and cleanses the lymphatic system.
- Hareetaki (terminals chebula): It reduces free radical and has antioxidant property.
- Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica): promotes appetite, a mild laxative which helps absorption of nutrients better from the ingested food and is an antioxidant. This herb is widely used in the treatment of NHL.
Black pepper: Black pepper contains piperine which is known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells
Yoga and Pranayama
Pranayama such as bhastrika, Anulom Vilom, Udgeeth, and Kapalbhati increase the blood and lymphatic circulation in the body, thereby reducing inflammation, increasing oxygen supply to the tissues and expelling metabolic toxins hence found useful in NHL
Yoga asanas beneficial NHL
Marjaryasana and bitilasana (cat and cow stretch): It improves circulation of blood and lymph through the body
Supta baddha konasana (reclining butterfly pose): It relaxes the muscles of the lower back easing body and back pain due to NHL, improves breathing and thus improves oxygen content in the tissue.
Savasana (corpse pose): Savasana balances all the three doshas in the body, relaxes and rejuvenates mind and body and improves blood and lymph circulation in the body.
Ardha Surya Namaskara (half sun salutation): This asana stretches the muscles of the back and thigh and improves blood and fluid circulation
Viparita Karani (Legs up the wall): improves circulation and rejuvenates the mind
Naturopathy and NHL
Naturopathy aims at building innate immunity of the body. Detox, relaxation therapy, herbs, meditation, and yoga are known to be beneficial in coping with the disease and its side effects.
Detox
A detox is carried out to rid the body of the toxins. Fasting, enema, and colon hydrotherapy are carried out to clear the body of toxins.
Massage using essential oils such as frankincense, cypress, lemon are known to reduce inflammation improve circulation and lymphatic drainage
Diet
- An anti-inflammatory diet consisting of a major portion of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is recommended to replace meat and dairy with plant-based proteins which are rich in dietary fibre.
- Switch over to dishes prepared using whole grains rather than polished and refined ones.
- Emphasis on consuming of nuts, legumes and berries considering their nutritional benefits being rich in antioxidants
- Avoid excess of refined carbohydrate eg: added sugar, fried foods, bottled beverage and refined grains as these can cause weight gain and inflammation in body tissues.
- Emphasise on eating organic food and growing your own produce organically as it can be very relaxing and fulfilling.
Lifestyle modifications
- Stretch, Exercise and practice yoga regularly for at least 30 minutes every day to reduce stiffness due to lymphedema (accumulation of fluid/lymph)
- Adequate sleep (7-8 hours) is very important to in order to avoid flaring up of symptoms and maintaining a healthy immune system to fight against infections
- Nutritional supplements can be taken to combat nutritional deficiency and fatigue after consulting a doctor
- Substance abuse in any form oral or intravenous (injections) should be completely avoided as it lowers the immune system and contracts infections through intravenous route.
- Indulge in safe sexual practice to avoid being infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
- Keep yourself and your surrounding clean and tidy
- Expose yourself to sunlight for the direct source of vitamin D, as it is known to work against cancer-causing cells
- Acupuncture: help deal with nausea, vomiting, hot flashes due to the disease and its treatment.
Naturopathic herbs for NHL
Botanical herbs used in the treatment of NHL
- Reishi mushrooms has potent anticancer and antiproliferative property known to slow the spread of NHL in the body
- Liquorice contains various steroid-like compounds as its active ingredients that prevent the severity of NHL in the body
- Parsley contains certain inhibiting factors that protect the body and slow the spread of NHL
- Milk thistle is mainly used as a detoxifying herb which protects the body from metabolic toxins, hence useful in NHL
- Artemisinin is a bloodhound for mutated cancer cells while leaving the normal cell intact.
- Olive leaf extracts are flavonoids present in the olive leaf is very effective in protecting the body against cancer.Our body consists of a fluid tissue called blood and lymph. Blood consists of Red blood cells/ erythrocytes/ RBC that is responsible for the oxygen supply to the entire body and gives blood its red colour; white blood cells/ leukocytes/ WBC are responsible for immunity in the body and platelets (thrombocytes) that help in clotting of the blood. Lymphatic tissue mainly deals with the body’s immune reaction comprises mainly of lymphocytes that is a type of WBC, there are 2 types of lymphocytes B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.
B lymphocytes protect the body against bacteria and viruses by producing a protein called antibody, T lymphocyte destroys these bacteria, virus or any other abnormal cells in the body.
NHL is cancer that that can develop from B or T lymphocyte.
Lymphoid organs in the body are spleen, lymph node, thymus, tonsil, bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract.
