Abstract

A CLINICAL STUDY ON THE EFFICACY OF VARTAKA DHOOMA IN OTOMYCOSIS

*Singh Daya Shankar and Dr. C. Sindhu

Abstract

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. Hence it is the need of the society that medical science contributes, through research, to the treatment of otomycosis which will be cost effective and efficient enough to prevent recurrence. In Ayurveda, various stages of the disease can be correlated to different diseases mentioned by our pioneer scholars under Karnarogas. Out of various procedures told in Ayurvedic classical texts which are highly effective in treatment of various karnarogas, Karnadhoopana is best suited to otomycosis. Amongst many medicated Dhooma, Vartaka dhooma is a yoga indicated for karnadhoopana by Acharya Susruta. This particular study was undertaken in order to find out the efficacy of Vartaka dhooma in otomycosis.

Keywords: Otomycosis, Vatraka dhooma, Karnadhoopana, Karnakandu.