UNDERSTANDING TINNITUS THROUGH THE CONCEPT OF KARNA NĀDA: AN AYURVEDIC AND SCIENTIFIC REVIEW

Tinnitus is a prevalent auditory disorder characterized by the perception of sound in the absence of an external acoustic stimulus. Ayurveda describes a comparable condition known as Karna Nāda, classified under Karna Roga, predominantly caused by vitiation of Vāta dosha. Classical Ayurvedic texts describe abnormal sound perception in the ear and advocate therapeutic interventions such as Nasya and Karnapurana. Modern scientific literature attributes Tinnitus to cochlear hair cell damage, altered neural firing, and maladaptive neuroplastic changes in auditory pathways. This review aims to critically analyze the Ayurvedic concept of Karna Nāda and correlate it with contemporary scientific understanding of Tinnitus. Classical Ayurvedic treatises and modern biomedical research articles were reviewed to identify similarities in etiopathogenesis, clinical features, and therapeutic approaches. Significant conceptual parallels were observed between Karna Nāda and Tinnitus, indicating the potential role of Ayurvedic therapies as complementary management strategies. However, further well-designed clinical trials are required to establish scientific validation.