Oil treatments are an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine. In this article, we introduce you to one of these oil treatments: Karna Purana, the filling of the outer ear canal with hand-warm oil. Learn what you need and when and how you can perform Karna Purana at home.
The Most Important Points at a Glance
- Karna Purana is soothing for tension in the head and face area.
- The eardrum must be intact before use.
- The treatment is especially suitable for Vata disorders.
- The oil application should be performed by a second person.
- Evening is a good time for the application.
Karna Purana is Used for Vata Disorders and Tension
The treatment of the outer ear canal with hand-warm oil is very soothing for all tension in the head and face area. The warmth can help relieve uncomfortable tension. Depending on which medicated oil is used, the active ingredients of the herbs it contains penetrate deep into the tissue layers.
It is usually Vata disorders that are treated with Karna Purana. These include, for example: all types of paralysis, especially in the face (facial palsy), tinnitus, teeth grinding, headaches, migraines, and tension in the neck and facial muscles (for example, after a long dental appointment).
Is the Eardrum Intact? Always Check Before Using Karna Purana Oil Treatment!
Before any Ayurvedic oil treatment of the ear canal, you must always check whether the eardrum is intact. Ear pain, hearing loss, or impacted earwax can be early signs of eardrum damage. An Ayurveda practitioner and an ear doctor use an otoscope for this examination, which allows you to see well into the ear canal.
You can also easily test yourself whether you might have a hole in your eardrum: hold your nose closed and try to gently push air through your nose. (You may know this exercise as "pressure equalization" from air travel or from high mountain passes.) Since the nasal opening is closed, the air finds another way. If the eardrum is intact, you will feel the pressure of the air as it pushes the eardrum outward. However, if air escapes through your ear, it could mean that your eardrum is damaged. Your ear must not be treated with oil under any circumstances – it could penetrate deeper than intended. See a specialist as soon as possible and have your eardrum examined.
Additionally: Karna Purana should not be performed in cases of acute inflammation and abscesses in the ear canal.
How to Perform the Ayurvedic Oil Bath Karna Purana Yourself
If your eardrum is in good condition, you can get started. First of all, you should work with a partner. It makes sense not to perform the treatment on yourself, as it is much more relaxing if the person being treated can simply lie down and enjoy the oil bath. Plus, there is less spillage.
Good to know: Both ears are always treated, even if the symptoms occur on only one side.
What You Need
- Sesame oil or a Vata-reducing oil such as Narayana tailam – it should be hand-warm. You need no more than about 2 ml per ear.
- A comfortable mat / folded towel under the head
- Paper towels
- Some cotton wool
- A tablespoon or a 2 ml syringe
Step by Step
- The person being treated lies comfortably on their side.
- The helper slowly fills the warm oil into the ear canal using the syringe or a spoon over their own finger until the ear is filled.
- Syringe variation: Make sure to press the oil out of the syringe very slowly and carefully.
- It is particularly pleasant if the helper then places their hand over the ear or on the crown of the head. This quiet time and the shielding from the outside world contribute significantly to relaxation. Once you are familiar with it, you can also gently massage the marma points around the filled ear and at the jaw in a clockwise direction.
- The oil remains in the ear for 5-10 minutes. Then hold a paper tissue to the ear and turn your head to the other side. Now the other ear can be filled.
- Finally, gently place some cotton wool in the front area of the ear canal for both ears to catch the dripping oil and retain some in the ear.
Frequency and the Best Time for the Ayurvedic Oil Bath
A good time for Karna Purana is in the evening, so you can then enjoy the relaxation or go to bed early.
The Ayurvedic oil treatment can be performed daily for acute Vata disorders, otherwise every 2-3 days, until the symptoms subside.
If the symptoms do not improve after one to two weeks, seek the expert advice of a practitioner!
