The ancient Indian practice of piercing babies’ ears (karna vedha) is done for health benefits. Read the ‘How’ and ‘Why’ of ear piercing health benefits.
Karna vedha (ear piercing ceremony) is an ancient Indian practice that is well explained in Ayurveda and is practiced even now.
It is mentioned as one among the 16 samskaras or sacraments, sacrifices, and rituals done to mark the various stages of human life and to signify cultural heritage and proper upbringing.
Though Karna Vedha is done to facilitate the wearing of ornaments, this ancient practice is said to improve the health of the intestines and cure the swelling of testicles in males, a condition that affects 1 in 10 baby boys.
When I planned to pierce my daughter’s ears at six months of age, I got a lot of questions regarding the pros and cons of this procedure at such an early age. Here’s some information on Karna Vedha.
When Should One Get Their Ears Pierced?
Karna vedha should be done either on the 10th, 12th, or 16th day; or in the 6th, 7th, or 8th month, or in odd years from the year of childbirth.
Is There A Specific Way To Get Karna Vedha?
According to the ancient Ayurvedic text Susruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana chapter 16, 3rd verse, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are considered auspicious days for this procedure.
It’s also mentioned that for male children karna vedha should be started with the right ear first and then the left. In females, the left ear should be pierced first and then the right.
While the custom looks like a terrible process to put your child through, there are some health benefits mentioned in Ayurveda that correlate with Chinese acupressure.
If you’d like to learn more about Ayurveda and how you can incorporate it into your daily life, check out Cate Stillman’s course below.
Ear Piercing Health Benefits For Children
Reproductive Health
Acharya Sushruta, the ancient Ayurvedic scholar, explains that the lobe of the ear possesses an important marma point found right in the middle of the lobe.
This point is regarded as one of the most important areas for the health of one’s reproductive organs. For this same reason, Sushruta believed that piercing the ear also maintains a healthy menstrual cycle in females.
Brain Health
The concept of early piercing in children also ensures proper brain development according to Sushruta.
The ear lobes contain meridian points that connect to the left and the right hemispheres of the human brain. When this point is pierced it helps activate these parts of the brain.
This theory can also be found in the principles of acupressure therapy, which states that when these meridian points are stimulated, it helps in the quick and healthy development of the brain and enhances memory.1
Energy
Ayurveda also believes a flow of energy will be maintained if one wears earrings. Almost everything in Indian culture and traditions is majorly based on Ayurveda.
Please consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before trying the recommendations mentioned in this article.
About the Author
Arya Krishna is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, educator, and speaker. She completed her Bachelors in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) from Amrita School of Ayurveda, Kerala, India. She is registered as an Ayurveda doctor (Reg No: 14664) under the Indian Medical Council. She received a Fellowship in Orthopedic Rehabilitation from Apollo group of Institutions, Hyderabad. An editor with the International Ayurvedic Medical Journal, she previously served as the associate editor of the American Ayurvedic Journal of Health. Before moving to the US in 2015, she was Resident Medical Officer (Ayurveda) in AyurVAID hospital, Bangalore and has knowledge and experience in precision and evidence-based Ayurveda. She was an Ayurveda Domain expert with Health Connect 24 – a unique platform to bring together Ayurveda, Yoga and swadeshi. She is efficient in performing all Panchakarma procedures (purification therapies) and has knowledge of Marma Therapy. Other areas of expertise include Ayurveda diet and lifestyle, women’s health, and rasayana (rejuvenation). She works for the promotion and propagation of Ayurveda by offering lectures, webinars and contributing to various journals. She is a resource person for the Council of Ayurveda Research (CAR) and is an Ayurvedic blogger with Mother Earth Living. Currently, she is residing in Danville, Pennsylvania and is listed as a BAMS doctor with AAPNA (Association of Ayurveda Practitioners of North America). She is an Ayurveda Consultant and Educational coordinator with Be Mind Body Skin, New Jersey and Subject Matter Expert at At Home with Ayurveda, UK.
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