Zingiber officinale and cholesteatoma

ABSTRACT

Cholesteatoma is a potentially dangerous chronic inflammatory ear disease characterized by discharge, deafness and is liable to produce severe complications like facial paralysis labyrinthitis and brain abscess. Ginger is a vegetable which is known to have medicinal uses since ancient of times Recent researches have proved it to be an anti-inflammatory agent which inhibits enzymatic pathways of inflammation in chronic inflammatory diseases. When Ginger was used in 25 patients who have recurrence of cholesteatoma after surgery, locally by insufflation of powder or drops it was found effective in drying up the cholesteatoma and making it loose so that it can be removed easily thus making the cavity dry. There was eradication of cholesteatoma in 15 patients [P<0.001] and reductions of cholesteatoma in 10 patients. There was recurrence of cholesteatoma in four patients within a follow up period of 3 months. The usage has definite indication in those patients who are medically unfit for anaesthesia Further analysis of this drug with clinical and experimental studies are needed in cholesteatomatous disease of middle ear for which no medicinal treatment is known