Everything You Need To Know About Karana Purana (Ear Oiling) ~ An Ayurvedic Treatment Profile
Karana means ear & Purana means to fill up.
Also, sometimes confusingly, this therapy is called Karnpoorna, Karna Poorana, Karn Purn and Karna Pratisaranam.
Our orifices (holes in the body) are the first points of contact we have with our external world - the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and genitals. We need to support, cleanse and/or nourish these senses. In fact, Ayurveda would say that it’s integral to do so everyday!
Why on earth would we fill up the ears? With what? Good questions!
Providing nourishment to the ears with warm oil can balance the flow of prana vayu, enabling us to feel calmer and stay balanced at a deeper level.
Our five senses also relate to the five major elements in Ayurveda, and the health of our senses in a huge way, demonstrates the health of your-self. This is why detoxification and cleansing is given such a special preference in Ayurveda - to support our sense organs and maintain their efficiency and health.
Whilst deeper cleansing practices may be needed annually (panchakarma), our daily habits and practices can greatly support our health and safeguard our senses!
What is Karana Purana?
In simple terms, it is the filling up of each ear - not at the same time - with warm, medicated oil.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, this therapeutic treatment has profound effects, because of the connection between the ear and the Vata dosha, which pertains to the ether and air element we all have, within.
From a physiological perspective, the small bones in the inner ear, called ossicles, stimulate nerve endings, transmitting signals to the brain. If these inner bones dry out, it compromises the functionality of the sense of hearing.
Ayurveda has understood for thousands of years the connection between hearing loss and an accelerated brain atrophy. Yes you read that correctly - age-related hearing loss leads to cognitive decline. Karana Purana nourishes the acoustic nerve and improves signal quality to the brain, whilst enhancing the interpretation of sounds by the hearing center in the brain.
Benefits of Karana Purana
Do you suffer from recurring ear infections, ear pain from dry wind, or tinnitus?
Are you experiencing ongoing vertigo, body-balancing issues or recurring migraine headaches?
Do you tend to get blocked ears after swimming, diving or general earaches and sinus infections?
When we oil our ears regularly, we are supporting certain tissues in the body that correspond specifically to our bones and nervous tissue, as well as supporting our mental well-being by calming the mind.
Dry winds, summer season and cold / dry environments plus urban lifestyle and other noise pollutants cause severe stress on our ears which leads to uneasiness and sometimes loss of hearing. This is where Karana Purana can help! Other benefits include;
Absent-mindedness & forgetfulness
Nervousness & neurological disorders
Neck or jaw pain, general body aches
Stress & Anxiety
Depression & Insomnia
Ringing of the ear (tinnitus) / hard of hearing
Airplane pressure / blockages after travel
Earache / Pain in the ear (for whatever reason)
Ear infection / Inflammation
Diving / Swimmers ear / Water in the ears
Supports the healthy balance of all three doshas (tridoshic)
What to expect from a Karana Purana Treatment?
It’s like the quiet bliss of being underwater.. except with the ability to breathe normally! Karana Purana is deeply relaxing & has a calming effect on your mind and nervous system.
There are two different ways to practice Karana Purana;
- one at home, and
- one received by a qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner or Therapist, usually administered as a series of treatments to treat some of the conditions mentioned above
If you’re experiencing hearing loss, unprecedented build up of wax in the ear/s, tinnitus or acute ear infections, please book in for an Ayurveda Consultation or Complimentary Call as further investigation or a longer-term Ayurvedic protocol may be better suited to your condition.
During a Karana Purana treatment you will receive a head or facial abhyanga (massage) with oil, working gently to stimulate the marma points (vital, energetic points on the face, neck and around the ears), followed by a facial steam if that’s indicated. This depends on your symptoms and cause of your ear troubles, however massage is an important precursor to the treatment in order to open any blockages in the head and forehead region & ensures efficient absorption and passage of nutrients from the medicated oil.
Then, laying down on the massage table on your back, you will turn your head to one side and receive the warm, especially chosen or custom-made herbal oil in one ear. The other ear is then treated and at the end some time is allowed to rest on the side of the body for any remaining oil to naturally drain out. Some specific oils that may be used by your qualified Ayurveda Practitioner - but not to be used at home - are; Vacha Lasuna Oil, Nirgundi Oil, Bilva Oil, Ksheer Oil.
Contraindications of Karana Purana
Not for babies and children under the age of five. Never put oil in the ear when sitting or standing, only when lying on the side. Never practice Karana Purana at home if there’s any blood oozing out of your ears! Also do not practice at home directly after a shower or swimming (oil and water do not mix well)!
Karana Purana is also contraindicated in the case of eardrum rupture, injury to the ear, cuts or wounds on or inside the ear or for burns that affect the ears.
If you experience itching, tickling or discomfort in the ear after the therapy, please note that this can be a normal response and will stop after some time.
How to Practice Karana Purana at Home & Recipe
Please, seek guidance from a qualified Ayurveda Practitioner if you’re not sure, or not getting positive results. The treatment should not cause any pain or discomfort or adverse effects (or exacerbate symptoms of pain or discomfort if you are experiencing prior to treatment).
Ideally, we clean and oil our ears at least once a week to promote health & longevity of our sense of hearing.
Always treat both ears.
You can use different types of oil, however mustard oil is the best - maximum one tablespoon per ear. You can alternatively use quality organic, cold-pressed sesame oil.
Temperature is also very important for the oil, it needs to be warm, but definitely not hot! Please err on the side of caution as the inner ear is very sensitive - body temperature is good.
Frequency of practice will depend on your condition, so please book in for an Ayurveda Consultation to learn what’s best for your situation.
Practice before bed in the evening for a calming and grounding effect to benefit insomnia.
Karana Purana Home Oil Recipe
2 tbsp Mustard seed oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
¼ tsp turmeric
2 cloves (optional, no need to crush)
How to Prepare Karana Purana Oil Recipe
Heat up mustard oil
Add garlic until browns
Add turmeric and clove
Turn off heat
Sieve and cool down until comfortable to touch the bottom of the pot (remember - the ear is very sensitive!)
* Needs to be made fresh each time
How To Practice Karana Purana At Home
Have the oil ready and at the right temperature
Lay down on your side with a towel over a pillow, resting your head
Have some tissues or paper towel within arms reach
Gently pour a small amount of oil (max 1 Tbsp or 5-8 drops) of oil into one ear (it helps to use a dropper or syringe, readily available from most chemists)
Leave 5-10 minutes
Use tissue or paper towel over the ear and roll directly onto the other side, allowing oil to come out
Repeat steps 4-6, ensuring you then lay on the opposite side for minimum 5 minutes to allow oil to drain from second ear
Optional to massage yourself a little bit around your ears
Optional wet & warm towel used on the temples is a beautiful completion to this treatment
I recommend this Ayurvedic Treatment as part of series to treat specific conditions such as Tinnitus, Vertigo & Insomnia as these more chronic or long-term conditions are usually best treated in conjunction with an Ayurvedic protocol that also addresses diet & lifestyle factors. This may also work in conjunction with your at-home treatment with specifically prescribed oils for your condition. Please get in touch to learn more, or start the process to healing by booking an Initial Ayurveda Consultation below.