Cholesteatoma is a
noncancerous growth which can occur in the middle ear canal. This usually results from keratinizing
squamous epithelium in the middle ear and/or mastoid process. Though this is
not a cancerous growth, it can cause considerable destruction of the inner and
middle ear and surrounding regions. It
can therefore cause deafness, giddiness, ear discharge, pain and irritation of
the facial nerve, and rarely cause infection and damage to the brain. A chronic and persistent ear discharge
accompanied by deafness is usually taken to be due to cholesteatoma unless
proved otherwise. Physicians need to be
very alert in order to diagnose this condition in a timely manner. Modern management of this condition is by
surgery; however the surgery itself can cause permanent damage and hearing
loss.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment
for cholesteatoma is aimed at treating the growth aggressively so as to cause a
complete remission at the earliest and prevent damage to the middle and inner
ear structures as well as surrounding organs and brain. Herbal medicines which reduce tumor growth as
well as act specifically on the ear are used in high doses. There are several medicines and herbal
combinations which have a specific action on different diseases of the external
and internal ear organs. A combination
of these medicines is used in order to treat and cure the disease. Ayurvedic herbal treatment may be required
for periods ranging from three to six months; however, regular assessment is
important in order to ensure that the disease is responding to treatment so as
to prevent risk of life and other complications.
The writer, Dr. A. A.
Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
