Fungal Ear Infection (Krimikarna)

कफाच्छिरोहनुग्रीवागौरवं मन्दतारुजः।
कराडूःश्वयथुरुष्णेच्छापाकाच्छ्वेतघनस्रुतिः ।।

Fungal Ear Infection - Krimikarna

Fungal ear infection or Otomycosis, a fungal infection of the ear canal often due to Candida and Aspergillus is a very common disease, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Even though it is a rare possibility that otomycosis can lead to as severe complication as deafness, the symptoms of the disease like itching, discharge and pain makes the patient quite irritated and hence the quality of life is at stake. There can be lack of concentration due to these symptoms which may result into ‘loss of work hours’. Also the disease exhibits peculiar nature of recurrence, which extends the period of suffering in the patient.

Fungal ear infection cannot be directly correlated with a particular disease mentioned in Ayurvedic classics. Rather different stages of this disease depict different diseases from the texts. On the basis of clinical features, different stages of otomycosis can be included under Karnakandu, Kaphaja Karnashoola, Karnasrava and Krimikarna.

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Causes of Fungal Ear Infection

Etiological factors of Fungal ear infection include:-

Scratching of the ear
Water entry in ear
Long standing use of topical antibiotic

Ayurvedic Reference of Fungal Ear Infection - Krimikarna

Symptoms of Fungal Ear Infection

Symptoms: The Usual clinical trial of symptoms is earache, itching and otorrhoea.

Deafness and tinnitus etc. are the other associated symptoms.

Signs:-

Cotton-like growth
Wet blotting paper-like mass
Swelling
Discharge: Colourless, blackish or brownish and scanty discharge may be present.
Tenderness: Movement of pinna is tender; there is tenderness below and in front of (tragus) the ear.

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Ayurvedic Allergy Specialist
CEO & Founder of IAFA®

Diet Management in Fungal Ear Infection

Do’s (Pathya) in Fungal Ear Infection

Regular cleaning of ear canal in an interval of 2-3 days till the prohibition of fresh fungal growth is an essential factor for quick relief of the disease

Pathya ahara includes godhuma (wheat), shali (red rice), mugda (green gram), yava (barley)

Don’ts (Apathya) in Fungal Ear Infection

Hot & Humid atmosphere
water entry in the ear
scratching of the ear by unsterile instrument such as, Matchstick, hair pin, key & finger nail etc
Ahara dravyas predominant in guru guna and which leads to increase in kapha should be avoided.
Head bath, vigorous brushing of teeth, physical exertion

Yoga Therapy for Fungal Ear Infection

Postures include,

Pavanamukthasana

Setubandhasana

Vrukshasana

Virbhadrasana

Trikonasana

Ardhachandrasana

Ayurvedic Treatment for Fungal Ear Infection

Acharya Susruta gives a generalized treatment protocol for Karnasrava, Putikarna and Krimikarna. Sirovirecana (purgative therapy), Karna-Dhoopana (fumigation), Karnapurana (drug instillation), Karna-Pramarjana (wiping), Karna-Dhavana (cleansing), and Karna-Prakshalana (washing) are the therapeutic procedures to be adopted according to different stages of these conditions.

Internal Medicines for Fungal Ear Infection

Balahadadi thailam
Kayunnyadi thailam
Vacha lasunadi thailam
Kshara thailam

Karpuradi thailam
Pathyasadangam kashayam
Surasadi choornam
Guggulupanchapala choorna

Local therapeutic procedures like dhoopana (fumigation) gain much importance in otomycosis. Dhoopana with drugs like surasa, haridra, nimba etc and Vartaka dhooma which have krimihara properties are found effective in otomycosis.

Single herbs used in Fungal ear infection

Nimba (Azadirachta indica)
Suraya (Ocimum sanctum)

Haridra (Curcuma longa)
Vilwa (Aegle marmelos)

References

Ashtanga Hridaya Uttara Sthana, Karnaroga Vijnaneeya, Chapter 16, Shloka 5. Sushruta, Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, 20/3-5, Nibandhasangraha Commentary of Shri Dalhanacharya. Edited by Jadavji Trikamji Acharaya. 7 th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2002.
Agnivesha. Charak Samhita – Sutra 26. Ayurveda Dipika Commentary of Chakarpanidutta. Edited by Vaidya Jadavji Trikamji Acharaya. Re-print edition, Varanasi, India: Chaukhambha Surbharati Prakashan; 2008.
Sahil Gupta, Ayurvedic Aspects of Allergies and Fungal Infections, Edition 2021, Fungal Ear Infection Chapter 43, Page No. 272-276.
Child Health and Ayurveda, Edition 2021, by Sahil Gupta, Ear Infection Chapter 23, Page No. 98-102.

Article Written By: Dr. Sahil Gupta (B.A.M.S., M.H.A.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is Fungal Ear Infection?

Answer: Fungal ear infection is the acute, sub-acute or chronic infection produced by fungi that affect the external auditory canal.

Question: What are the causes of Fungal ear infection?

Answer: There are many predisposing factors of otomycosis like, chronic infection of the ear, use of oils, ear-drops, steroids, swimming, evidence of fungal infection somewhere else in the body like hair, scalp, nails, vagina, skin etc.

Question: What is the Ayurvedic treatment for Fungal ear infection?

Answer: Local therapeutic procedures and internal medications gives better result in fungal infections of ear.

Question: How Ayurveda treats Fungal Ear Infection?

Answer: The general Ayurvedic treatment of fungal ear infection includes Dhupana, Karnapurana, Dhaavana, Prakshaalana etc. Further topical herbal medications are applied which are anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, disinfectant in nature.

Question: What is the cause of Fungal Ear Infection according to Ayurveda?

Answer: By assessing the symptoms of fungal ear infection, it can be said that Kapha Aavrita Vata dosha is responsible for the manifestation of clinical features such as: itching, discharge, pain etc.

Question: What is the Ayurvedic line of treatment for Fungal Ear Infection?

Answer: It is treated on the line of Dushtavrana. In Uttaratantra, Master Sushruta considered Karnasrava as Sadhyaroga. The herbs and herbal remedies having Katu and Tikta Rasa, Tikshana, Snigdha and Ushna Veerya have mainly Kapha-Vata shamak properties.