Ayurvedic Treatment For Tinnitus

TINNITUS

Tinnitus is a physical condition, experienced as noises or ringing in the ears or head when no such external physical noise is present. Patient describes it as roaring, hissing, swishing, rustling, or clicking type of noise. Tinnitus isn’t a condition itself — it’s a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing disorder, ear injury and a cardiovascular system disorder.

It is correlated to Karna Nada in ayurveda. Karna nada is a disease where vitiated vata gets lodged in srotas (minute channels) thereby causing different types of sounds in the ear.

CAUSES

The exact cause of tinnitus is not known, but however, several likely sources, which trigger or worsen tinnitus are:

Exposure to loud Noise
Wax in the ear canal.
Ear or sinus infections.
Temporomandibular joint misalignment.
Cardiovascular disease
Tumors occurring on auditory, vestibular, or facial nerves.
Medications like aspirin, quinine and some antibiotics.
Injury to Head and neck.

SYMPTOMS

Tinnitus symptoms may include these kinds of noises in your ears:

Ringing
Buzzing
Roaring
Clicking
Hissing
Humming

The phantom noise may vary in pitch from a low to a high squeal, and you may hear it in just one or both ears. In some severe cases, the sound can be so loud it can interfere with your ability to concentrate or hear external sound. Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it may come and go.

CLASSIFICATION:

Subjective: which can only be heard by the patient.

Objective: which can even be heard by the examiner with the use of medical equipment. Subjective tinnitus is due to otologic and non-otologic factors

Otologic factors are Impacted wax, Fluid in the middle ear, Acute & Chronic otitis media, Abnormally patent Eustachian tube, Meniere’s Disease, Otosclerosis, Presbyacusis, Noise trauma, Ototoxic drugs and Tumours of VIII nerve.

Non otologic factors are Diseases of CNS, Anaemia, Arteriosclerosis, Hypertension, Hypotension, Hypoglycaemia, Epilepsy, Migraine and Drugs

COMPLICATIONS

Tinnitus in the long run may lead to hearing loss (karna badhirya) but it is seen in a very small number of cases. Some patients might feel intense pain along with concentration problems, sleeping problems, irritability and a tendency toward annoyance, hypersensitivity to sounds, or increased sensitivity to other sensorial stimuli. This eventually leads to despair, frustration and depression.

TREATMENT AT AYUR HEALTHCARE

Ayurveda tinnitus treatment is wide-ranging and adaptive to individual circumstances. Our experienced practitioners adapt treatments to deal with patient’s each symptom and overall well-being.

Ayur healthcare focus on Panchakarma treatment which helps in treating and preventing tinnitus which are as follows:

Nasya: Nasya, has a powerful effect in balancing the vata. Nasya nourishes the senses and eliminates excess vata from senses.
Massage, head massage and foot massage normalises the vata.
Karnapooran: (Ear drops) reduces the vata in the ears.
Kawala & Gandush: Kawala (Gargling) of medicated oils or certain liquids and Gandush is withholding medicated oils or certain liquids in the mouth for a certain period of time, strengthens the nerves near to eyes and ears and pacifies aggravated vata. So, Vata balancing therapies and herbs that reduce vata are beneficial as tinnitus is a vata disorder.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR TINNITUS MANAGEMENT

Avoid travelling and walking in cold or windy climates and bathe in excessively cold climates. Avoid suppressing natural urges like sneezing, coughing, seeping, elimination, etc.
Excess television watching, excess use of computers, or sleeping near an electrical appliance should be avoided.
Avoid exposure to loud noises, music, speakers, and activities involving high frequency sounds.