"The ear is the avenue to the heart."
-Voltaire
Oiling the Ears for Better Sleep and a Calm Mind
Ayurveda recommends using an ear oil as part of your daily dinacharya, or morning self-care routine. It can also be beneficial to integrate Ayurvedic ear oil into your nighttime ritual, as well.
This is a deeply relaxing practice that is especially beneficial for vata dosha, and helps to calm the body-mind.
Performed daily, this self-care ritual works as preventative medicine to maintain optimal health of the ears and jaw.
Ayurvedic ear cleaning can also be done in a more therapeutic sense to pacify certain imbalances often caused by excess vata accumulation and aggravation brought on by cold and windy weather, overstimulation and travel.
The benefits of this practice include:
balancing vata in the body-mind
calming anxiety
improving sleep
balancing the 5 senses
reducing dryness or itching in the ears
preventing ear infections
reducing tinnitus or ringing in the ears
reducing tension in the neck and jaw
relieving headaches
assisting in reducing vertigo
reducing congestion from wax or yeast overgrowth in the ears
What oil?
Traditionally, sesame oil is used in this practice for its warming, nourishing, anti-microbial and moisturizing effects.
Instructions:
1.Please make sure you start with clean ear passages. If you’re worried about ear infections or have any ear issues, it is recommended you consult with an Ayurvedic physician.
2. Start with sesame oil in a dropper bottle. To warm the oil, submerge the glass bottle in hot water for 5 minutes. Make sure the oil is not too hot prior to administering.
3. Variations for practice:
DAILY: Gently massage 1-2 drops of warm sesame oil into each ear canal.
SEASONAL / WEEKLY USE: Lie down and rest on your side. Place 5-8 drops of warm sesame oil into the exposed ear. Relax and let the oil absorb for 5 minutes. Roll over, and place your ear on a tissue, and allow the excess oil from the earto release onto the tissue. Repeat on the opposite side.
Enjoy the blissful effects of this simple practice!
*Note: This is a traditional Ayurvedic practice that is considered safe for most people.
About the Author
Briya Freeman has been creating spaces for healing and spiritual awakening since 2011. She is passionate about exploring the potentials of human consciousness in a way that unites and transcends global culture. Her background includes 20+ years of study and practice in hatha yoga, Ayurveda, Breathontology, meditation, bioenergetics and shamanism.
As a teacher, she is known for an approach that is down-to-earth, intuitive and deeply seated. She can be reached at hello@briyafreeman.com
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