| Sensori-neural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common | | | | to boost the immune status of the body. This helps in |
| disorder which is caused by a dysfunction of the | | | | early improvement in SNHL, and prevents further |
| components of the inner ear, which mainly include the | | | | deterioration of this condition. |
| cochlea and the auditory nerve. Impaired hearing may | | | | It is also important to take into consideration other |
| result from biochemical, metabolic, vascular, | | | | associated abnormalities in the body. In such situations, |
| hematologic or endocrine causes. Hearing loss may | | | | the treatment is aimed at healing the body tissues. |
| also be genetically acquired, and may be associated | | | | More commonly, medicines which act on the "Rakta", |
| with other abnormalities in the body. | | | | "Mansa" and "Meda" dhatus (tissues) are used. These |
| The Ayurvedic treatment of SNHL is aimed at treating | | | | medicines include Patol (Trichosanthe dioica), Patha |
| the known cause of the condition, and improving the | | | | (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), |
| structural and functional integrity of the inner ear and | | | | Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Triphala (Three Fruits), |
| the central nervous system. Medicines like Saarivadi- | | | | Draksha (Vitis vinifera) and Kutaj (Holarrhina |
| Vati, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, | | | | antidysentrica). Correction of abnormalities in the body |
| and Maha-Rasnadi-Guggulu are used for symptomatic | | | | tissues indirectly helps in improvement in hearing by |
| treatment of the inner ear. Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, | | | | reducing the dysfunction of the inner ear. |
| Saarivasav, Arogya-Vardhini, Punarnavadi-Mandur, | | | | Patients affected with SNHL often present with no |
| Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Chandraprabha-Vati and | | | | obvious cause for the condition, or may give a |
| Dashmoolarishta are used to treat the various causes | | | | confusing history. A typical case history will adequately |
| of this condition. Herbal medicines like Gokshur (Tribulus | | | | drive home this point. A thirty-six year old female |
| terrestris), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Guduchi | | | | came for treatment of SNHL of both ears, with more |
| (Tinospora cordifolia), Pippali (Piper longum), Marich | | | | hearing deficit of the left ear. She reported that this |
| (Piper nigrum), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Punarnava | | | | problem started after coming back from her native |
| (Boerhaavia diffusa), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), | | | | place, where she had an episode of influenza, and had |
| Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia) and Saariva (Hemidesmus | | | | also received a minor injury on the left side of her |
| indicus) are also very useful for this purpose. | | | | face, to which she attributed her symptoms. She was |
| Medicines like Tapyadi-Loh, Ekangveer-Ras, | | | | treated for her hearing deficit, keeping these obvious |
| Vat-Gajankush-Ras, Maha-Vat-Vidhvans-Ras, | | | | causes in mind. However, when she did not report any |
| Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Abhrak-Bhasma, | | | | benefit even after 6 weeks of treatment, a more |
| Trivang-Bhasma, Kaishor-Guggulu and | | | | detailed history was taken, with direct questioning for |
| Sinhanaad-Guggulu are used to strengthen and | | | | any other possible causes for her condition. She then |
| improve the functioning of the auditory nerve and the | | | | reported that she had worked for some time with a |
| central nervous system. Herbal medicines like | | | | construction company, where a large amount of drilling |
| Yashtimadhuk (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Mandukparni | | | | work was in progress. Unable to withstand the noise, |
| (Centella asiatica), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Rasna | | | | she had left the job in two weeks. She was then given |
| (Pluchea lanceolata), Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) and | | | | different treatment in the light of this new knowledge |
| Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are used to heal | | | | and she recovered completely with four months of |
| and regenerate damaged nerve-cells, thus improving | | | | treatment. |
| nerve function. | | | | Surgery, hearing aids, and speech and language |
| Immunomodulatory medicines like Suvarna-Bhasma, | | | | therapy are the currently accepted interventions in the |
| Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Abhrak-Bhasma, Bhrungraj | | | | management of SNHL. Ayurvedic herbal treatment |
| (Eclipta alba), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Brahmi (Bacopa | | | | can be used as an alternative or supportive |
| monnieri), and Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) are | | | | therapeutic modality to give better, quicker, or additional |
| used to reduce the deleterious effects of stress and | | | | benefits to individuals affected with SNHL. |