Our ears, just like every part of our body, play a vital role in our everyday life. These both flaps on both sides of our faces let us enjoy the music on our devices, help us communicate better, and understand what has been going on around us through hearing.

Unfortunately, we often neglect and overlook the functions our ears provide. We sometimes abuse it by exposing ourselves to extremely loud noises, too much stress, and daily activities. Some of us are often unaware of these damages we are causing to our ears.

Not everyone is given with this magnificent ability to hear so we must give our ears the care it deserves.

On an Ayurvedic perspective, our ears are a Vata dosha predominant. The dryness, irritation, and other issues concerning our hearing mostly occur when there are imbalances in our Vata dosha.

Ayurveda proposed some ways that we could do daily to alleviate certain hearing discomfort and provide better care to our ears.

Ear Oiling

The first one and probably the most prominent is oiling.

Ayurveda is known for using and applying oils to our body parts for healing and maintenance. Practices like Nasya (applying oil on the nasal passageways) and Abhyanga (massaging a warm oil through all parts of the body) are some of the practices included in the daily routine or dinacharya in Ayurveda. In caring for our ears, we have what we call Karna Purana which is a Sanskrit term that means ‘massaging oil to your ears.’

There are two types of ear oiling practices in Ayurveda known as the Karna Prati Saranam and Karna Purana. The first one, Karna Prati Saranam is something that you could practice daily, administering one to two drops of oil to your ears. Karna Purana on the other hand suggests three to six drops of oil that will take a ten-minute resting position and something that you could do monthly or as prescribed by your Ayurvedic physician. Make sure that the ear oil is warm enough for your body temperature but not too hot.

Alternative ear oils like sesame oil and olive oil can be used for your daily ear oiling. The sesame seed, Sesamum indicum, is used in Ayurveda for the past years mainly for oil massage. Among all of its healing properties, the oil extracted from the seeds can also help in promoting optimum health for our ears. Olive oil on one hand can help in softening the ear wax and relieve certain infections. Ear oiling is a good preventive measure against ear infections.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVYw_uqXpYs

Here is a message from Dr. Hemant Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D. Ayurveda D.N.M

One of the most common issues with relation to our ears is tinnitus. This symptom is associated with hearing loss. Tinnitus is the ringing that you could experience through your ears. Though there’s no specific cure for this, certain ayurvedic habits can somehow ease the discomfort caused by the constant buzzing.

Aside from the ear oiling, a Vata-pacifying diet could also help. Increase your consumption of warm cooked foods like soups and stews while avoid eating dry foods like crackers, cold and frozen foods. Avoid spicy and bitter meals as well.

Your ears are something that’s been there for you all through-out your life, it’s not asking for anything from you aside from a simple care so you could harmoniously work together as you age.

Now, it’s time for you to do your part and listen to your ears.

https://holisticayurveda.ca/ayurvedic-approach-to-ear-health-ear-oiling-and-tinnitus-prevention/