Purpose-The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the quality of life produced by Herbomineral Rasayana therapy in advanced stage cancer patients.

Methods–In this observational study we evaluated the effect of HerbomineralRasayana therapy in 30 advanced cancer patients, who were not receiving any conventional anticancer treatment. Quality of Life was measured thrice by self-assessment with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale (FACT-VERSION-4) at the beginning of Rasayana, after 3 months and at the end of the 6 months. During this phase all these patients were orally consuming herbomineral rasayana formulations once daily with honey.

Results- Three months after starting rasayana therapy( n=30),these patients showed significant improvement in physical wellbeing (from 18.69 to 22.68,p < 0.01 ) ,emotional well being (from 16 to 19.7 ,p<0.05 ) and functional wellbeing subscale ( from 17.94 to 23.3 ,p <0.01) . Significant improvement was also seen in FACT –G score (from 71.33 to 84.6 ,p< 0.01) .Scores of social wellbeing subscale remained unchanged .Improvement in Quality of life sustained even after six months ( n=25) in physical wellbeing subscale(from 18.69 to 22.79,p < 0.05 ) functional wellbeing subscale ( from 17.94 to 24.3 ,p <0.01) and FACT –G Score (from 71.33 to 85.8 ,p < 0.05 ).

Conclusion- These results points towards significant improvement due to Rasayana therapy in physical, functional and emotional components of QoLin advanced stage cancer patients.Rasayana therapy can be considered as important palliative care approach for improving QoL in advanced stage cancer patients.

Key Message- Rasayana therapy shows therapeutic potential to improve HRQoL in advanced stage cancer patients. It can be considered important palliative treatment option in advance stage of cancer patients.

Yogesh N Bendale