Ayurveda support for cancer survivorship
Description/overview:
This 105-minute interactive pre-conference workshop explores the potential role of Ayurveda as a whole-systems framework in cancer survivorship care, addressing the growing need for personalized supportive strategies for individuals living with persistent post-treatment symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, gastrointestinal dysfunction, stress, and reduced quality of life. After a concise introduction to key Ayurvedic concepts including Prakriti (constitutional type), Vikriti (current imbalance), Agni (digestive and metabolic capacity), Ama (Metabolic burden), and Ojas (immune resilience) participants will engage directly in applied learning through guided case-based activities. A central feature of the workshop is a structured practicum in which attendees will use an Ama–Agni–Vikriti assessment model to identify symptom patterns and develop individualized supportive recommendations involving dietary guidance, daily routine, and behavioral strategies that may complement conventional survivorship care.
Learning Objectives:
Gain understanding of basic principles of Ayurveda Evidence informed relevance of Ayurveda in cancer care Understand basics of how to apply a personalized, whole person health approach to common survivorship concerns without herbs Understand role and standardization of Ayurveda in the U.S. Identify safe and evidence-informed lifestyle related opportunities for integrative care
Target Audience:
Integrative oncology clinicians, medical students, researchers, advocates, or anyone who is interested in this topic
Facilitators:
Shraddha Ravani, PhD
Dr. Shraddha Ravani currently serves as Co-Chair of the Ayurveda Special Interest Group within the Society for Integrative Oncology.
Dr. Ravani’s previous work at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory includes decades of experience in cancer biology, with a focus on the tumor microenvironment and the biological effects of radiation in carcinogenesis. Her current work centers on evidence-informed, whole-systems approaches to cancer survivorship and integrative oncology, with an emphasis on building meaningful connections between traditional knowledge systems and modern biomedical science. She holds a PhD in Physiology and Health, and master’s in Ayurveda, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to supportive cancer care. She remains committed to advancing evidence-based integrative oncology by exploring how traditional wisdom and contemporary science can inform whole system-based models of care.
Julia Arnold, PhD, MS
Dr. Arnold currently serves on the National Ayurveda Medical Association (NAMA) Board of Directors and on the NAMA Research Committee as Co chair. She also serves as a Special Volunteer with the NIH-National Cancer Institute, Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCI-OCCAM) focusing on projects in Ayurveda related to cancer.
She has 40+ years of cancer research experience in cell biology, cancer prevention and mechanisms of tissue microenvironmental regulation of cancer cells. Dr. Arnold received her PhD from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in Ayurveda from Maharishi International University (MIU). She is interested in promoting education and research in Ayurveda and increasing evidence-based preclinical and clinical research relating to cancer mechanisms and care. Dr Arnold has published 3 book chapters and over 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts including a comprehensive 2-part review on “Integrating ayurvedic medicine into cancer research programs”.
Krupali Desai, MD(Ayu), MPH
Krupali Desai has an MD in Ayurvedic Medicine from India and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Thomas Jefferson University. She is deeply passionate about integrating complementary and alternative medicine such as Ayurveda and Yoga into the evidence-based patient care. Currently, she works as a Ayurveda program lead and Project Coordinator at the Integrative Medicine and Wellness Service of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her work is focused on developing, implementing, and evaluating Ayurveda education programs for people with cancer. She is also involved, as a project coordinator, in various integrative medicine programs and research studies for symptom management among people with cancer.