Abstract

AN AYURVEDIC APPROACH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF KARNASRAVA – CASE REPORT

Dhakate V. G. and Shubhangi Bharankar*

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Abstract

Karna srava is one of the disease entity mentioned under 28 Karna rogas[1] (ear diseases) in Ayurveda. According to Acharya sushruta, karnasrava means discharge through ear. The Samanya Hetu of Karnaroga are Avashaya or Pratishaya that is common cold, Sheeta Vihara or exposure to cold environment, Karnakandu or self-inflicted trauma by use of ear bud or pin to clean itching in ear, Shabda Shashtra Mithyayoga that is misuse of instrument or listening to high sound frequencies.[2] On the basis of the signs and symptoms, Karna srava can be correlated with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM). There are two types of CSOM, i.e., tubotympanic (mucosal) and atticoantral (squamous).[3] A 27-year-old female patient presented to the outpatient department with complaints of profuse discharge and heaviness in the right ear for 15days and moderate hearing loss, mild pain in right ear. The condition was diagnosed with tubo-tympanic type of CSOM. It was managed by Karna pramarjana (ear mopping), Karna dhoopana (Aural fumigation), and by internal medicines. The total treatment period was of 15 days with the follow-up of one month. After treatment, the patient got significant relief in ear discharge, heaviness in ear, and hearing loss was also improved.

Keywords: Karnasrava, CSOM, Ear, Discharge.