A brief explanation of the Ayurveda treatment protocol of ear diseases- Karnapoorana with its indications, benefits, procedure and precautions to be followed during and after the treatment. Karnapoorana is also called as karna taila or karna tarpana. It is a type of pravicharana sneha. Though it has numerous benefits, it must not be done in case of sama dosha, ajeerna, soon after virechana, vamana, niruha basti. It requires a few instruments and equipments. Procedure includes prearation of the client, position of client, Abhyanga to kept and around ears, svedana around ears, dropping of oil and chewing movement of jaws. Duration of the procedure varies depending upon the part affected.

1. Karnapoorana
Dr. Pratima Paudel
B.A.M.S, M.S. (Ayu- Shalakya Tantra)

2. Introduction
• कर्णपूरर्म् = कर्णतैलम् (च.सू.१३/२५) = कर्णतपणर्म् (अ.हृ.सू.७/६६ – हेमाद्रिटीका)

3. Applications
• As a part of Dinacharya
तमभ्यङ्ग
ं , शीलयेदभ्यसेत् सर्वेष्वङ्ग
े षु, द्रर्वशेषान्मूर्णकर्ाणङ्घ् द्रिषु| (Hemadri. As.H.Su.2/9)
• Karnapurana is a type of vicharana-sneha
गण्ड
ू षः कर्णतैलं च नस्तःकर्माक्षितर्ाणर््।
चतुक्षविंशक्षतरित्येतमः स्नेहस्य प्रक्षवचमिणमः॥ - (cha.su.13/25)

4. INDICATIONS
Manyagraha
Hanugraha
Shirashoola
Uchhaih Shruti/
Badhirya
Karna Shoola
Vatottha Karna Roga-
Tinnitus

5. Perforated TM Cholesteatoma
CONTRAINDICATIONS
• Sama Dosha
• Taruna Jvara
• Ajirna
• Soon after Virechana, Vamana, Niruha
• Santarpana Samuttha Vyadhi
• Kaphaja Conditions – Atishaya Kapha

6. REQUIREMENTS
- Abhyanga table
- 50ml of medicated oil for abhyanga
- Stove or electric heater
- 1 feet square towel for svedana
- One liter of water or dashamula kvatha
- 5ml of medicated oil for karnapurana
- Gokarna (dropper spoon)
- Cotton, cotton buds

7. PROCEDURE
• The procedure of karnapurana includes abhyanga and svedana around ears followed by
dropping of the medicated oil.
 PREPARATION OF THE CLIENT
 POSITION OF THE CLIENT
 ABHYANGA
 SVEDANAAROUND THE EARS
 DROPPING THE OIL
 CLOSING THE EAR

8. PREPARATION and POSITION of the CLIENT
• Morning hour after the daily routines- Preferable in Healthy for Tailapoorana
• In Rogi:
• Svarasa, Mutra etc : Before food, at Day time
• Taila, etc: After Sunset (Sha. U. 11/131)
•Position:
• Parshva Shayana (Lateral)

9. ABHYANGA
• With the oil heated in water bath to luke warm.
• ABHYANGAAROUND THE EARS
• MASSAGING ANTERIOR TO THE EAR
• MASSAGING POSTERIOR TO THE EAR
• MASSAGING THE EAR PINNA

10. SVEDANAAROUND THE EARS
• A towel soaked in boiling water, excess of water in the towel is squeezed off to make it just wet.
Then heat is applied around the ears by waving, touching and pressing this towel.
Svedana is continued for about 10 minutes

11. DROPPING THE OIL
• about 3 to 5 ml of lukewarm medicated oil is dropped into the ear with the help of a dropper spoon
• Following dropping of oil, the ear is closed by placing a cotton plug, lest the oil in the ear will leak out.

12. DURATION
• Karna Roga: 100 Matrakala (2-3 min)
• Kantha Roga: 500 Matrakala (10-15 min)
• Shiroroga: 1000 matrakala (20-25 min)
• Until Disease gets pacified

13. PRECAUTIONS
• Oil used for karnapurana should be fresh and clean. Otherwise the oil in ear may precipitate
fungal infection.
• If frequent karnapurana is advised in any case, ear is cleaned before the next sitting of the
karnapurana.
• If the oil used in karnapurana contains tikshna or irritant herbs like apamarga kshara taila
then oil is kept in the ear for approximately 30 seconds and then is cleaned with ear buds.