Abstract

ARBUDA (AYURVEDA TUMOR): CLASSICAL NOSOLOGY AND MODERN ONCOLOGIC CONCORDANCE

Dr. Neha Arya*, Prof. Dr. Vidushi Tyagi

Abstract

Arbuda, described in Ayurveda as a deep-rooted, gradually enlarging, and non-suppurative swelling, represents one of the earliest conceptualizations of tumor pathology. This review explores the classical nosology of Arbuda as delineated by ancient Ayurvedic authorities and examines its concordance with modern oncologic understanding. Drawing upon primary Ayurvedic sources including the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hrudaya, and Madhava Nidana, along with contemporary oncology literature, the study highlights that Arbuda is a Tridosha disorder with predominant Vata–Kapha involvement, which primarily affects Mamsa, Rakta, and Meda Dhatu. The characteristic features—fixity, chronic progression, and lack of suppuration—closely correspond to the clinical behavior of both benign and malignant neoplasm. The Ayurvedic concept of Shad Kriyakala offers an interpretive parallel to the sequential stages of carcinogenesis and metastasis recognized in modern pathology. The study concludes that the classical Ayurvedic framework of Arbuda provides a coherent pathophysiological model that can inform integrative cancer prevention, diagnosis, and management strategies.

Keywords: Arbuda, Ayurveda, Integrative Oncology, Tridosha, Tumor.