Traditional Medicine for Hearing Disorders

Ayurvedic and other Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) systems are gaining significant policy-level momentum for integration into mainstream healthcare. The recent Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, culminating in the Delhi Declaration, has solidified a global commitment to evidence-informed, safe, and effective integration of these practices. A new collection of 33 peer-reviewed articles provides a concrete look at this movement, demonstrating a wide scope of TCIM applications, from digital education to clinical research in chronic and supportive care.

Global Policy Shifts Towards Integrative Health

The World Health Organization’s Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, held in December 2025, marks a decisive step. The resulting Delhi Declaration commits to integrating traditional medicine into national health systems. This policy builds on foundations of evidence, safety, and effectiveness. It calls for more research and regulatory policies that respect the different knowledge systems behind practices like Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine. This formal recognition addresses a practical reality: primary healthcare systems worldwide are under strain from chronic lifestyle disorders, ageing populations, and complex post-infectious conditions. TCIM, with its person-centred and often preventive focus, is seen as a potential partner in managing this burden.

A Research Volume Demonstrating Practical Application

The theoretical policy shift is given substance by a new collection of 33 studies curated by researchers Rammanohar Puthiyedath, Anand Dhruva, and Pathirage Kamal Perera. The volume includes work on Ayurvedic, Chinese, Korean, and Kampo Medicine, as well as acupuncture and mind-body practices. What stands out is the methodological range. The studies are not just theoretical reviews; they include randomized controlled trials, analyses of real-world patient data, and systematic reviews. This reflects a concerted effort to engage with contemporary evidence-based frameworks without abandoning the core principles of the traditional systems themselves.

Ayurvedic Research: From Supportive Care to Biological Mechanisms

Several studies in the collection highlight Ayurveda’s role in supportive oncology care, an area of great relevance for patients experiencing treatment side effects that can affect quality of life. One randomized controlled trial tested an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation for patients with radiotherapy-induced dry mouth. While objective measures of saliva production saw limited short-term change, the patients themselves reported significant improvements in feelings of dryness and overall symptom burden. Another exploratory study found that an Ayurvedic add-on protocol helped reduce pain and improve quality of life for patients with chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome, without interfering with their cancer treatment.

Other research connects classical Ayurvedic procedures to measurable biological changes. An exploratory clinical study on Sirāvyadha (venesection) for varicose veins found the procedure reduced levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6, alongside patient-reported symptomatic improvement. A separate observational study recorded significant reductions in tongue microbial load following traditional Dīpana-Pācana digestive therapy. These studies move beyond anecdote, aiming to link traditional diagnostic and treatment methods with objective physiological outcomes.

Implications for Hearing and Sound Sensitivity Disorders

This integrative, whole-person model of care has direct relevance for the management of chronic auditory conditions like tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia. These are often complex disorders with significant lifestyle and psychological components, much like the chronic conditions driving global interest in TCIM. The person-centred approach of TCIM—considering diet, digestion, stress, and individual constitution—aligns with the multifaceted management strategies often required for sound sensitivity disorders. For instance, the observed reduction in inflammatory markers from an Ayurvedic procedure suggests a research pathway for investigating inflammation’s role in auditory disorders. Furthermore, mind-body practices featured in the research collection, which are known to modulate stress and autonomic nervous system response, are already considered useful tools in managing the distress associated with misophonia and hyperacusis.

The focus on supportive care in oncology also parallels the needs in hearing health. Patients dealing with the relentless stress of tinnitus or the anticipatory anxiety of misophonia may benefit from integrative supportive protocols that improve daily coping and quality of life, even if a “cure” is not yet available. This approach complements other emerging interventions, such as neuromodulation techniques or acupuncture, which is itself a key component of TCIM systems. Managing chronic conditions effectively also involves addressing sleep, a common casualty of auditory disorders. The principles of integrative lifestyle medicine highlighted in this TCIM research align with evidence-based sleep hygiene and broader behavioral strategies.

A New Chapter for Evidence-Informed Integrative Care

The work summarized by Puthiyedath and colleagues is part of a larger, irreversible trend. Traditional and complementary medicines are being scrutinized through modern research lenses not to replace them, but to understand their appropriate place in healthcare. The findings show promise in areas like supportive care and chronic disease management, where patient-reported quality of life is a critical outcome. For the hearing health community, this expanding body of research offers a broader toolkit and a more holistic framework for care. It supports a model where biomedical, psychological, and traditional approaches can work together to address the complex reality of living with chronic tinnitus, hyperacusis, or misophonia.

Source: Puthiyedath, R., Dhruva, A., & Perera, P. K. (2026). Editorial: Traditional medicine and integrative care in public health. Frontiers in Medicine, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1820234