Management of Badhirya (hearing impairment) through Ayurvedic approaches: A case report

Abstract

Hearing impairment is a complete or partial loss of ability to hear from one or both ears. It can be congenital or acquired and the clinical features closely resemble to Badhirya explained in Ayurveda. Hearing impairment in the schoolgoing children is a serious problem affecting their education, skills, and social relationship with others, etc., This case report presents an 11-year-old girl with hearing impairment in the left ear since childhood. Audiometry report showed profound hearing loss in the left ear. Treatment was done with Marsha nasya by Anu taila for three days and Karnapurana (~putting oil in ears) with Asanabilwadi taila and Shiropichu (~placing cotton pad overhead soaked in medicated oil) with Ksheerabala taila for seven days each, along with Ashwagandhadi lehyam, Arogya vardhini vati, Sarivadyasava, and Trivrit churna as internal medicines for 22 weeks. After that, audiometry results improved from profound to moderate hearing loss in the left ear. Decreased hearing may be due to vitiated Vata alone or Vata and Kapha dosha, which can be managed with the help of Marsha nasya, Karnapurana, and Shiropichu along with Vata shamana and Rasayana therapy.