Rasoushadhis are special Ayurveda pharmaceutical formulations prepared
from metals, minerals, potent herbs, and animal products. These medicines are
preferred for severe chronic illnesses which are difficult to cure and life-threatening.
Cancer is one such disease that ancient seers of Ayurveda noted. Several Rasoushadhis
with potential cytotoxic and cell growth inhibitor actions are recommended for cancer
treatment. The present chapter aims to disseminate such formulations, the basis behind
their activity, and relevant other formulations that Ayurveda practitioners use to
manage Bhaishajya Ratnavali and Rasayogasagar are two important compendia of
Ayurveda formulations. Therefore in the present work, the anti-cancer formulations
narrated in these two texts are reviewed and compiled. It can be said that the
prevalence of cancer in the ancient Indian population was far less, and this may be why
the number of anti-cancer formulations is limited. The use of metals and minerals in the
form of chelation therapy for cancer can be correlated with Ayurveda anti-cancer
Rasoushadhis. Several modern kinds of research on metals, minerals, and herbs contain
supportive evidence indicating the rightness of the classical claim of the anti-cancer
effect of herbominetal preparation. Relevant information from such research is also
presented here. This chapter may be a brief illustrator of the ancient wisdom of anti-cancer formulations.
Keywords: Anti-cancer formulations, Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Herbominetal preparations, Rasoushadhis
