A Randomized Clinical Trial of Karnapichu with Gandhaka Taila, Karnadhupana, and Rasnadi Guggulu in the Management of Karnasrava W. S. R. to Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Abstract

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (C.S.O.M.) is a chronic inflammation of the middle ear, which is the result of an initial episode of acute otitis media and characterized by the recurrent discharge from the middle ear through a tympanic perforation. In Ayurveda, C.S.O.M. can be correlated with Karnasrava. According to Acharya Sushruta, Karnasrava is "discharge of pus from a Vata affected ear which may result from a head injury or due to immersion in water or else due to suppuration or bursting of an abscess." In modern science, most of the approaches for the treatment of C.S.O.M. have been surgical, which are often expensive, complicated, and do not provide satisfactory hearing improvement; also these are inaccessible in many developing countries. Considering all these points, there is a need to search for an effective, preventive, and safe treatment. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Karnapichu and Karnadhupana along with Rasnadi Guggulu on Karnasrava. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients with signs and symptoms of Karnasrava (C.S.O.M.) were registered and randomly divided into two groups: Group A: 15 patients were treated with Gandhaka Taila Karnapichu (8–16 drops) along with Rasnadi Guggulu orally for 30 days and Group B: 15 patients were treated with Karnadhupana locally and Rasnadi Guggulu orally for 30 days. Results: Both the groups showed highly significant results in the subjective parameters and nonsignificant results in the objective parameters of Karnasrava. Conclusion: Gandhaka Taila Karnapichu, Rasnadi Guggulu, and Karnadhupana are effective in the management of Karnasrava (C.S.O.M.).

Keywords

• chronic suppurative otitis media
• gandhaka taila
• karnadhupana
• karnapichu
• karnasrava
• rasnadi guggulu