Ayurvedic Disorders of the Ears
According to Susruta-Samhita,Uttara-Tantrum chapters 20-21, there are 28 disorders pertaining to the region of the ear, here we will discuss 11 of them. The most common disorders are Karnasula (ear pain) and Karnapranada (tinnitus). Both disorders are caused by the faulty movement of vayu through the ear, which is being occluded by the other two doshas pitta and/or kapha. The blocked movement of vayu causes ear pain and faulty sounds.
When vayu is accompanied by aggravated kapha it blocks the sound carrying channel and the person experiences Badhirya (deafness). When vayu is vitiated from too much strenuous activity, excess intake of dry and astringent foods, or exposure to coldness after sirovirecana therapy, it stabilizes in the sound carrying channel and produces a whistling sound in the ears. This is called Karnaksveda.
Karnakandu (itching) is caused by the accumulation of kapha in the ear. When kapha is dried up by pitta in the ear channel, excess wax is produced and is called Karnavarca. When karnavarca becomes liquefied it moves to the nasal passages and causes pain throughout the whole head, this is called Karnapratinaha.
There are several types of ear inflammation, one is caused by injury and the other is caused by vitiation of the dosas. Karnavidradhi is characterized by blood-stained discharge that is yellow reddish in color, pricking and burning pain. Karnasrava (discharge of mucus) is vata afflicting the ear channel caused from a head injury, submersion under water, or suppuration of an abscess. Karnapaka is vitiated pitta and characterized by necrosis and suppuration of the ear. When kapha is vitiated in the ear channels and becomes liquified by pitta it causes a profuse smelly thick discharge. This may occur with or without pain and is called Putikarna.
Ayurvedic Management for Ear Disorders
According to Susrut the general treatment of all ear disorders includes the oral intake of ghrita, rasayanas, avoiding physical exertion, bathing without wetting the head, refraining from intimacy, and resting the vocals.
The four vatika disorders, Karnasula, Karnapranada, Badhirya, and Karnaksveda require both internal and external oleation therapy and purgation by oily formulas. Vata suppressing formulas administered with Nadi sveda and Pinda sveda (bolus fomentation) are recommended. The recommended herbs include Bilva, Eranda, Arka, Purnarnava, Kapittha, Dhatura, Sigru, Bastagandha, Ashwagandha, Arani and Yava. All ingredients are boiled with sour gruel for the purpose of Nadi sveda. This makes an effective remedy for Karnasula caused by kapha and vata. Pinda sveda bolus made from fish, cock, batera or milk is also effective for Karnasula.
Dietary Regimen and Bala Taila
The evening meal is replaced with ghrita and at bedtime milk is taken. The 100 times cooked Bala Tailam is recommended for Shirobasti, Nasya, Shiroabhyanga, and dietary supplement.
Products Useful for Ear Disorders
Bala Oil 10ml or Bala Oil SoftGel Capsules are nourishing in nature and improve the quality of the voice. Supports many conditions like earaches, cataracts, headaches, gulma, Suryavarta, vaginal disorders and colic, Balancing for both vata and pitta dosha.
There are 50 ingredients, the main ones are:
- Taila - Sesamum indicum
- Bala - Sida cordifolia
- Chinnaruha - Tinospora cordifolia 1.944 g
- Rasna - Alpinia galanga
- Dadhi - Curd
- Mastu - Whey
- Ikshuniryasa - Saccharum officinarum
- Sukta - Vinegar
- Ajapaya - Goat’s milk
The four inflammatory disorders, Karnavidradhi, Karnapaka, Karnasrava, and Putikarna are treated with warm oil poured into the ear and nasya. Bilva is the herb most recommended for infections with discharge and loss of hearing.
Vachalasunadi Coconut Oil is an Ayurvedic herbal oil used to support the treatment of ear problems such as infection or external injury. It is used for head massages and as ear drops. Balances both vata and kapha dosha.
Ingredients:
- Kerataila - Cocos nucifera
- Bilva - Aegle marmelos
- Vacha - Acorus calamus
- Lasuna - Allium sativum
- Dosha - Curcuma longa
Pathyakshadhatryadi Kashayam an effective remedy for headaches and especially for ear- ache, hemicrania, hemialgia, toothache, different eye disorders including short sight, night blindness and cataract.
Ingredients:
- Pathya - Terminalia chebula
- Aksha - Terminalia bellirica
- Dhathri - Phyllanthus emblica
- Bhunimba - Swertia chirayita
- Nisa - Curcuma longa
- Nimba - Azadirachta indica
- Amrita - Tinospora cordifolia
Ayurvedic Disorders of the Nose
According to Susruta-Samhita, Uttara-Tantrum chapters 22-24, there are 31disorders pertaining to the region of the nose, here we will discuss 8 of them. One of the most common disorders related to the nose is called Apinasa and occurs when vata kaphaja obstructs the nasal passages, there is a loss of taste and smell. This disorder is also associated with Pratisyaya (allergies or cold).
When vata is afflicting both the throat and nasal passages and has a foul order that discharges from the nose and throat it is called Putinasya. And when pitta afflicts the nasal passages, boils and suppurations develop that are accompanied with a slimy discharge and sloughing of the nasal tissues, this is called Nasapaka.
When kapha accumulates in the head and is liquified by the heat of pitta, a thick salty discharge flows through the nose, this is known as Bramsathu. And when a accompanied by a severe burning sensation that feels like fiery fumes it is known as Dipta.
When udana vayu is occluded by kapha and a thick discharge gets stuck in its own channel blocking the nasal passages it is known as Nasapratnaha and when the discharge is colorless, clear, and watery this is known as Nasaparisrava.
Ayurvedic Management for Nose Disorders
Apinasa and Putinasya are both managed with oleation, sudation, emesis, and purging therapies. The diet should be light, pungent, and lesser quantity, along with warm water and smoking.
For Nasapaka and Dipta all pitta suppressive measures should be taken along with cold and sweet diet, sirovirecana made from animal milk. And for Bramsathu both powder errhines and sirovirecana therapies are recommended.
For treatment of Nasapratnaha and Nasaparisrava snuffing with powders and strong juices (Anu Oil), along with inhalation with herbs like Devadaru (cedar) and Citraka are recommended.
Products Useful for Nose Disorders
Anu Oil is an herbal Ayurvedic oil used for purificatory, pacificatory and rejuvenative purposes. When practicing Nasya, a few drops of Anu Oil are inserted into each nostril to support the healing of various disorders affecting the head, eyes, nose, ears, and throat. It balances all three doshas.
There are 28 ingredients, the main ones are:
- Tailam - Sesamum indicum
- Ajadugda - Goat’s Milk
- Jivanti - Leptadenia reticulata
- Jala - Plectranthus vettiveroides
- Devadaru - Cedrus deodara
- Jalada - Cyperus rotundus
Kshirabala (101) and Kshirabala (101) SoftGel Capsule
There are only 3 ingredients:
- Tailam - Sesamum indicum
- Balamulam - Sida cordifolia
- Ksiram - Cow’s milk
The factors known to cause Pratisyaya (cold or allergies) are excessive sexual activity, headache, smoke, dust, excess cold or heat, suppressing the natural urges to urinate or defecate. All three doshas either singly or together will cause Pratisyaya.
All types of Pratisyaya should be treated with ghrita, sveda, vamana, nasal errhines from squeezed juices. The intake of warm sour foods, along with ginger taken with milk will help process the immature morbid doshas. Once the doshas are mature they should be expelled by administering sirovirecana, virecana, smoking and gargling depending on the doshas involved.
Products Useful for Pratisyaya
Nostricap inhalation capsules help to clear the nasal tract during colds, allergies, rhinitis, congestion, coryza, and bronchitis. An ideal remedy for stuffy nose, irritated nose, and congestion, for both children and adults.
Ingredients:
- Cedrus deodara (oil)
- Eucalyptus globulus (oil)
- Cinnamomum camphora (oil)
- Mentha arvensis (oil)
Directions for use:
Snip off the tip of the capsule and squeeze out contents of 1-2 capsules into half a liter of purified boiling water. Then cover head with towel or cloth to inhale the vapor deeply and freely.
Talisule Granule helps support upper respiratory tract infections, sinusitis and chronic coughing and asthma. It balances both Vata and Kapha Dosha. It soothes inflammation in the mucosal membranes and acts as an expectorant. It also helps to strengthen immunity.
Ingredients:
- Taleesapatra - Abies spectabilis leaf
- Chavika - Piper brachystachyum root
- Maricha - Piper nigrum fruit
- Krishna - Piper longum fruit
- Krishnamula - Piper longum (Wild) root
- Sunti - Zingiber officinale rhizome
- Ela - Elettaria cardamomum seed
- Tvak - Cinnamomum verum bark
- Patra - Cinnamomum tamala leaf
- Nagakesara - Mesua ferra flower
- Useera - Vetiveria zizanioides root
- Sita - Saccharum officinarum
Case Report on Reduced Hearing, From the Journal of Ayurveda & Integrative Medicine
A 75-year-old male had reduced hearing in both ears associated with occasional occurrence of tinnitus for 2 years. The patient is a known case of hypertension and is under medication. Several Ayurvedic products helped improve this patient. Read the case study here.
Common Ear and Nose Disorders Mentioned by Modern Medicine
Swimmer’s Ear - ear is an infection that people develop between the eardrum and the outer ear (the part that you can see on the side of the head). The name arose from the fact that swimmers would often develop infections while doing lengths in untreated pools.
Infections of the Middle Ear - many ear infections take root in the middle ear, the part between the eardrum and the cochlear. Many microbes cause ear infections, including bacteria and viruses. Typically, these invaders start in another part of the body. For instance, if you have a cold or flu, then you are much more likely to develop an ear infection.
Blocked Ears - our ears naturally produce wax from small glands that line the ear canal. When it functions correctly, it collects these particles and shifts them to the opening of the ear where they dry and then flake off. Sometimes, though, the body produces too much earwax. It then becomes stuck in front of the eardrum and hardens, making it tough to remove.
Patients with blocked ears experience muted and muffled sounds. They can also develop secondary infections around the blockage since the wax is no longer able to remove invading bacteria from the ear canal.
Meniere’s Disease - is a condition that results from the excess fluid build-up in the inner ear.
Otosclerosis - is an abnormal bone growth in the ear. The stapes bone is usually free to move in its pouch and transmit information further along the chain. But in people with otosclerosis, it can grow so large that it no longer moves. And when that happens, it can no longer pass on incoming sound signals to the inner ear.
Ear Infections - children are more likely than adults to get ear infections than adults. An ear infection is caused by a bacterium or virus in the middle ear. This infection often results from another illness like cold, flu or allergy that causes congestion and swelling of the nasal passages, throat and eustachian tubes.
Eustachian Tube Infections - swollen eustachian tubes can become blocked, causing fluids to build up in the middle ear. This fluid can become infected and cause the symptoms of an ear infection. In children, the eustachian tubes are narrower and more horizontal, which makes them more difficult to drain and more likely to get clogged.
Adenoid Infections - the adenoids are two small pads of tissues high in the back of the nose believed to play a role in immune system activity. Because adenoids are near the opening of the eustachian tubes, swelling of the adenoids may block the tubes. This can lead to middle ear infection. Swelling and irritation of adenoids is more likely to play a role in ear infections in children because children have larger adenoids compared to adults.
Sinusitis - is inflammation, sinuses get swollen and blocked with fluid, which can lead to infection. It is very common, and the classic symptoms include facial tenderness, constant headache, facial pain that doesn’t let you bend, sensitivity to light and sound, radiating pain in temples, cheeks, runny and blocked nose, and persistent cough. Infection can lead to fever, body ache and has an opaque yellow-greenish nasal discharge.
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