Cure tinnitus hearing problems with yoga therapy and treatment

(September 5, 2010)

My mother is suffering from Tinnitus (the auditory nerve of left ear has been diagnosed as dead).Please advise if there is any cure for this (yoga or mudras)?

Yoga for tinnitus
Tinnitus refers to a condition, where a person hears noise or a ringing sound in the ears. It is quite a common problem, which can be found in 20% of the people across the United States. In most cases, tinnitus is not really a condition, but more like a symptom of an underlying condition, such as circulatory system disorders, hearing loss due to progressing age or an ear injury. Whatever the cause, the use of yoga for tinnitus can offer some relief. Although tinnitus can be a bit bothersome, it is seldom serious and can be treated, with then help of certain medication and procedures. However, there are a lot of people who have discovered the benefits of yoga for hearing loss and tinnitus related problems. The use of the Pranayama, which is a breathing technique, can even cure the condition. To maximize the effects of Pranayama, it should be practiced twice a day, - once in the morning and once in the evening, on an empty stomach. There have been several reported cases of people getting cured from tinnitus and other hearting problems, through yoga, which may explain the popularity of yoga for tinnitus.

Yoga for Meniere’s disease
Meniere’s disease refers to a disorder of the inner ear, which can lead to sudden bouts of vertigo. During a spell of vertigo, a person normally feels dizzy and suffers from hearing loss or tinnitus, along with pressure in the ears at times. This condition usually affects only one ear and people in their 40s or 50s are more prone to it. There are several treatment options that can alleviate the symptoms of this disease, reducing the impact that it has on a person’s lifestyle. With the help of yoga vertigo, tinnitus and other symptoms associated with meniere’s disease can be alleviated to a great extent. Yoga poses like Malasana (Garland Pose), Savasana (Corpse Pose), Halasana (Plough Pose) and Sanmukhi Mudra (Six faced Gesture) can help reduce the problem and should be included in any session of yoga for tinnitus or meniere’s disease.

Do keep in mind that hearing loss can very often be serious and should not be neglected or self treated. If the condition does not respond to your initial efforts or is present for an extended period then make it a point to seek medical care immediately. Delaying or self treating hearing loss can at times cost you dearly, as what may have simply been a case of temporary hearing loss, could progress to permanent hearing loss.

Submitted by A on September 5, 2010 at 06:07

If the auditory nerve of your mother’s left ear has been diagnosed as clinically dead, I’m afraid there is nothing Yoga can do to revive it. Yoga can, at best, restore impaired nerves, muscles and cellular structures not revive dead ones. Still, it is not too late to take up Yoga practice.

You shouldn’t restrict the Yoga practices only to the region of the face and head, for Yoga is a complete, holistic science and art of living that takes into account all aspects and factors of health. Moreover, all the practices are designed to affect and treat each and every, minutest cell of the body. Furthermore, Yogic practices are designed to soothe and calm the mind and heart and heart as well, for Yoga believes that is where all vyadhis (diseases and ailments) originate.

True you would have to give most importance to certain Kriyas (cleansing techniques) such as:

1. Karana Randhra Dhauti (cleansing the auditory cavities)
2. Vaman Dhauti (cleansing the stomach by vomiting clear water on an empty stomach)
3. Jala Neti (cleansing the nasal passages with saline water)
4. Sutra Neti (cleansing the nasal passages with a rubber catheter)

Remember, at all stages of the practices, to exercise the utmost care and caution, since the person’s condition is already delicate. Your mother must learn the art of doing all the above kriyas from a specialized, qualified and experienced Yoga instructor, preferably in a Yoga institute of repute.

She can also do the following asanas (Yoga poses) in all the following positions:

Standing

• Tadasana (Palm Tree pose)
• Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
• Padangusthasana (Toe to hand pose)
• Parvatasana (Mountain pose)

Sitting

• Gomukhasana (Cow face pose)
• Marichyasana (Pose dedicated to the sage Marichi)
• Simhasana (Lion pose – please do more of this pose than any other)
• Ushtrasana (Camel pose)

Supine

• Single Leg and Double Leg Raises
• Matsyasana (Fish pose)
• Navasana (Boat pose)
• Pawanmuktasana (Wind relieving pose)

Prostrate

• Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog pose)
• Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)

Inverted

• Viparita Karani (Legs against the wall pose)
• Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)

Balancing

• Kakasana (Crow pose)
• Vrikshasana (Tree pose)

Pranayamas (breathing exercises)

1. Kapalabhatti (Skull cleansing)
2. Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
3. Ujjayi (Ocean breath)
4. Suryabhedana (Right Nostril breathing)

Yogic diet

Yoga – and Ayurveda – believes that physical ailments are largely the result of wrong lifestyle, stress and tension but, largely, also on account of improper diet. These physical indispositions are further aggravated by wrong diet. Hence, it would help your mother, a great deal to stick to a Yogic diet, one that is Sattvic (light and predominantly vegetarian). She should also have lots of salads and fruit and fewer cooked foods as natural foods help decontaminate and detoxify the system faster. She must also have plenty of curd (yoghurt) and buttermilk, but avoid milk and milk products like butter and cheese. Likewise she should also avoid all confectionery products, junk / fast foods and above all, spicy foods (they’ll only worsen her problem), cigarettes and all forms of intoxication, no matter how light, including wine, beer and alcopops.

Submitted by A on February 24, 2009 at 02:51

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