CONCEPTUAL STUDY OF KARNANADA IN AYURVEDA AND MODERN OTOLOGY

Shalakya Tantra describes various ear disorders under the category of Karnaroga. Karnanada is one such condition characterized by the perception of abnormal sounds in the ear without any external stimulus. In modern otology, this condition closely resembles tinnitus. Prevalence of Tinnitus is increasing due to various factors such as excessive noise exposure, stress, infections, ototoxic drugs, and degenerative auditory disorders. Ayurveda considers aggravated Vata dosha as the main pathological factor in Karnanada. Classical Ayurvedic texts mention detailed etiopathogenesis and therapeutic approaches including Nasya, Karnapoorana, Snehana, and Shamana Chikitsa. Modern medicine explains tinnitus through cochlear dysfunction and altered neural activity within auditory pathways. The present article attempts to conceptually correlate Karnanada with tinnitus and analyse Ayurvedic principles in the light of contemporary otological understanding.