Otorrhea Ayurvedic Treatment

Otorrhea means the discharge from ear/s. It is often caused by infections (middle or external ear), trapped foreign body, or diseases of ear. Most of the time, the ear drum is perforated due to infection causing discharge of fluid from middle ear. Five types of discharges occur in otorrhea- pus, serum, mucous, blood or clear fluid.

Otorrhea Signs and symptoms

The common symptoms and signs of otorrhea are oozing from ear (with or without bad smell; colourless/ yellowish/ bloody; thin or thick), ear pain, itching in ear and tinnitus (ringing or hissing sound in ear). In severe cases, fever, reddish discolouration around ear, loss of hearing, vertigo, difficulty to speak/ swallow etc may occur.

Otorrhea Ayurvedic Analysis

Karnasrava (oozing from ear) is a disease of ears with or without pooya (pus) and krimi (infection). Pootikarna is another condition characterised by thick pustular discharge with or without pain.

Otorrhea Causative Factors (Ayurveda)

Karnasrava is caused by vitiated kapha. It may occur due to infection or injury in ear/ head. Pootikarna develops when pitta and kapha are vitiated.

Possible Complications of Otorrhea Disease

Otorrhea (due to infections) if left untreated, often affects surrounding body parts (eg: inner ear, brain etc). Other major complications include hearing loss, vertigo, nerve damage etc.

Other systemic diseases and precautions to be taken

Consider other health issues like diabetes, hypertension, head trauma etc before planning the treatment.

Otorrhea Disease Management with Ayurveda Treatment

The management of karnasrava depends on its cause. Internal medications along with karnadhavana (cleaning of ear canal), karnadhoopana (fumigation of ear canal), karnapoorana (retention of suitable oil in ear), gandusha (gargling with medicines) etc are provided.

Diet

Take more semi-solid/ liquid diet which is easy to digest. Drink plenty of water.

Exercise

Avoid exercise when there is oozing from ear canal.

Otorrhea Preventive Aspects in Ayurveda

Otorrhea is not preventable easily. But we can take care of ear canal by avoiding swimming in polluted water, maintaining hygiene of ear, using protective measures in ears while travelling/ listening to loud sounds etc. It is good to instil suitable medicinal oil in ear canal on a daily basis, and applying oil on head.

Importance of Diet

Take food and drinks that reduce vitiation of kapha and pitta. Avoid cold/ spicy/ heavy to digest food. Include more bitter/ astringent tasted food, soup of horse gram/ bitter gourd etc in diet.

Lifestyle

Take adequate rest and consume healthy nutritious diet. Avoid day-sleep, head bath, cold food and drinks, exposure to cold wind/ dust etc. Use protective measures in ear canal while travelling/ listening to loud sound.