Karnapoorana, Karnaprakshalana and Karnadhupana are the procedures which are done widely for the ear, throat, mandible and head diseases.

1. KARNAPOORANA, KARNAPRAKSHALANA
AND KARNADHOOPANA
Presented by: Dr. Shraddha Joshi
Guided by: Dr. D.B. Vaghela
Shalakya Tantra Department
ITRA, Jamnagar

2. KARNAPOORANA
(Filling the ears with
oil)
Dr. Shraddha Joshi 2

3.  Karnapoorana is made up of two words Karna and Poorana.
 Karna= ears
 Purana= filling, completing, satisfying, effecting
 So it is a process in which the ear is filled with medicated Taila, Mutra and Swarasa,
etc. for the treatment of various Vyadhis.
 Types:- Though not mentioned clearly, Karnapoorana can be classified in this
manner, according to use:
 A - As Daily Procedure (Dincharya)
 B - In Pathological condition
Dr. Shraddha Joshi 3

4. INDICATIONS
Earache
(Vataja Karnashula)
Tinnitus
Deafness
Headache
Mandible
stiffness
Neck
stiffness
Pain in
mandible
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5. Other indications:
 Ear congestion
 Earwax blockage
 Meniere’s disease
 Swimmer ear
 Depression
 Vertigo
 Acoustic nerve weakness
**Generally, Ayurvedic practitioner use Karnapoorana therapy for
purifying the ear canal and ear structures.
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6. CONTRAINDICATIONS
Perforated tympanic
membrane
CSOM
Cholesteatoma
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7.  Pacifies Vata in the head
 Sesame oil possess warm, unctuous, heavy properties balance
Vata and help “ground” a reactive nervous system.
BENIFITS
 Nourishes nerves and bone tissue in ears:
 Oil= food for nervous system.
 Nerves are covered by layer of fatty insulation (myelin sheath).
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8.  Optimizes hearing function.
 Strengthen voice, jaw and head.
 Cleans ear
 Ears are always open=> easy for dirt and dust to enter.
 Helpful for:
 Tinnitus
 Excessive earwax
 Hearing loss
 Lock jaw/ TMJ
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9. TIME OF KARNAPOORANA
 If performed with Sneha Dravya (Oil preparation) than it is
performed after after Suryasta (after Sunset).
 When Swarasa and Mutra are to be used then it is performed in
the morning before taking meal.
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10. DOSAGE & DURATION OF
KARNAPOORANA
 100 Matrakala (2-3 min) in Karna Roga (Diseases of Ears)
 500 Matrakala (7-8 min) in Kantha Roga (Diseases of throat)
 1000 Matrakala (15-16 min) in Shiroroga (Diseases of Head)
 In painful conditions duration is until pain resides.
 Quantity of Dravya not mentioned specifically –but it should be
the quantity which fills the external auditory canal without
overflowing.
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11. PROCEDURE OF KARNAPOORANA
 Person should be made to lie down on lateral side and hand of
that side should be beneath head and other hand should be
resting on trunk of that side.
 Gentle massage should be done with lukewarm medicated oil
around the ear and pinna for a short duration of time
(Approx.5-7 min.). Massage should also cover lateral portion
of neck inferior to ear.
 After this heat is applied around ear with towel soaked in
boiling water by waving, touching and pressing for some time
(Approx.10 min.).
Purvakarma
(Pre-operative procedure)
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12. PURVAKARMA IN KARNAPOORANA
Abhyanga Swedana
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13.  The medicated liquid (oil) should be heated in water bath to
make lukewarm.
 The external auditory canal should be straightened by pulling
the pinna backward, and upwards.
 The liquid (oil) should be poured in drops till the ear canal is
filled up to the base of concha.
 The root of ear should be gently massaged in order to
potentiate the action of the drug.
 The medicated oil should be retained in same position for
prescribed time limit.
PRADHANA KARMA (MAIN PROCEDURE)
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14. Dr. Shraddha Joshi 14

15.  The excess oil should be taken out of the external auditory
canal by dry cotton.
 After retaining the medicated oil for the prescribed time, the
ear should be cleaned with dry cotton mopping.
 The same procedure should be repeated in the fellow ear also.
PASHCHATA KARMA
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16.  In Preoperative procedure gentle massage is done with
lukewarm medicated oil around the ear and pinna for a short
duration of time (Approx.5-7 min.). Massage also cover
lateral portion of neck inferior to ear. This causes increase of
blood circulation in ear.
 After this heat is applied around ear with towel soaked in
boiling water by waving, touching and pressing for some time
(Approx.10 min.). This cause vasodilatation and thus
increases permeability of capillaries.
MODE OFACTION
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17.  As a result of both Abhyanga and Swedana facilitates more
absorption of drug. As the efferent vasodilator nerves are
spread out on the superficial surface of the face, receives
stimulation by fomentation and it may increase blood flow to
the brain.
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18.  Instilled medicine in ear canal gets absorbed by skin lining
external auditory meatus and tympanic membrane and reaches
systemic blood flow, according to Ayurveda drugs gets
absorbed by Bhrajaka Pitta present in skin and shows its
effects on body and local tissue.
 Person is asked to do chewing movements or tragus is
gently pressed by finger 5-6 times to facilitate more drug
absorption.
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19.  The drug instilled in form of oil, urine etc. is used lukewarm it
helps in reliving inflammation thus it reduces ear ache, and by
counter effect of heat it also relives pain of nearby structures
like mandible or neck.
 Generally Tila Taila or other medicated oil is used in
Karnapoorana, Taila is having virtue of Vata Shamana but do
not aggravate Kapha. In this way Karnapoorana eliminates
disease of ear which occurs due to vitiation of Vata.
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20.  In addition to this medicine is used Luke warm so Vata is
eliminated also by Ushna Guna. These properties do not
only have beneficial effect on Vata but also removes
Aavarana of Kapha.
 As medicine for Karnapoorana is made by Snehapaka
method all fat soluble active ingredients of drug get
enclosed. Fat soluble active principle can be easily
assimilated through nerve endings. As a combine effect of
all these Karnapoorana is useful in Badhirya.
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21. There are very rare side effects with Karnapoorana. These are:
 Ear infection if the medicated oil is not preserved properly
or infected with microbes.
 Some people may experience some discomfort in the ears
after the procedure, but it will be only for a little time.
SIDEEFFECTS
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22.  The selection of different drugs for Karnapoorana leads to its
multidimensional properties thus acting on all three Dosha.
 It removes impacted wax/ debris and the cleaning of EAC. It
also provides strength by Balya property of dugs used.
 If various diseases are taken to account different drugs should
be used according to Dosha predominance.
 Thus it performs important functions with very easy
procedures.
CONCLUSION
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23. KARNAPRAKSHALANA
(AURAL SYRINGING)
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24.  It is a quick ear cleaning remedy in dry discharge, ear wax
stage or in excessive discharge stage.
 In the discharge stage of ear, by pouring a small stream of
liquid/ decoction from distance of 4-6 inches on the intact
eardrum, the discharge with excessive secretions will come
out from the ear canal.
 After ear syringing clean the ear with cotton wick/ear bud.
PROCEDURE
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25. KARNADUPANA
(AURAL FUMIGATION)
It is a technique of fumigation of ear with the smoke of anti-
infective drugs. Like Gugglu, Haridra, Nimba Churna, Sarshapbija,
Ghrita.
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26. If ear is filled with yellow and thick discharge/ fungus which is white/yellowish, thick, viscous,
profuse and foul smelling than Karnadhoopana is to be applied after cleaning the aural canal
completely .
Ear
discharge
Otomycosis
CSOM
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27. PURVAKARMA
 Firstly, ear will be cleaned with suction or dry mopping in
case of excessive discharge in the ear canal.
 The patient will be asked to sit comfortably on a chair, in a
place having sufficient light and devoid of dust.
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28.  The patient will be asked to relaxed completely on the
chair and the fumes are allowed to pass to the ear.
 Dhupana yantra tip will be used to cover the ear for the
passage of Dhooma into the ear canal.
 This dhoopana will be given for 5-7 minutes.
PRADHANAKARMA
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29. PASCHATA KARMA
 After the procedure, patient will be advised to avoid cold and
refrigerated food and drinks, cold water bath, cold wind fog to
prevent water from entering the ear.
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