Ear Wax Removal Remedies : Wax is produced in the ear canal and got scientists bewildered about its actual cause of production. No one really knows if it actually serves a purpose- apart from attracting dust and bacteria and giving them a moist and sticky medium to thrive on, thus saving the more sensitive parts of the ear like the ear drum from being attacked by them. The less known fact about ear wax is that it’s pretty unique, just like hair color or nail quality. The texture, color and amount of wax produced in an individual’s ear is determined by their genes.
Either ways, ear wax along with dust and other agents needs to be eradicated to maintain hygiene and prevent infections from developing. However, it tends to get blocked or ‘impacted’, causing an ear wax blockage. Today in HNBT, we would talk about more methods that tell us how to get rid of ear wax!
Causes of Wax Blockage:
- Wax gets clogged because of q-tips or other things like toothpicks, rolled corner of handkerchiefs, etc, that help clean out superficial wax and push down the rest of the wax, making it a dense compound.
- Frequent users of ear pieces or ear phones, and other such devices also cause the wax to thicken and get accumulated in a denser form inside the ear canal.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Ear Wax
1. Water
The first answer to most health problems is usually water. In terms of getting rid of ear wax too, hot water can help dissolve wax and gush it out of the organ.
Method:
Heat some water in a pan. The water temperature should be just warm, as we do not want to burn the sensitive insides of the ear. Take a cotton ball and soak it in the warm water. Gently drip 4-7 drops of water in your ear, while making it face upward, towards the ceiling. Hold your head in this position for about 5 – 7 minutes and then tilt your head in the opposite direction now (the side with water will now face downward). You will feel the water trickle out, taking extra wax out along with it. Repeat this method with the other side as well.
Also read : How to Unclog Ears?
2. Saline Solution to clean your ears
If the wax is too dense, you may want to use some saline water instead of regular water to get rid of wax that has been clogging within. The procedure of administering the liquid is the same as with regular water.
Method:
To prepare the saline solution, take 1 tsp of salt and add it to a half a cup of water and heat them both in a pan, until all the salt dissolves. Administer this saline solution in your ear once a month to get rid of wax build ups.
Must read : How to Get Rid of a Stuffy Nose?
3. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution (3% or less)
It is recommended that you use only Hydrogen peroxide solution which is 3 % or lesser, as a stronger solution may harm the sensitive insides of the organ.
Method:
Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide (3%) solution and water. Use the same method to administer this mix in your ear, as you did with water to get rid of wax.
Also read : Natural Remedy for Heartburn
4. Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Vinegar and alcohol mix is highly effective for problems caused to swimmers. Swimmers are usually affected by infection in the outer ear due to the water residue. Alcohol does the trick by evaporating the water, which at the same time gets rid of wax buildup.
Method:
In a container or glass, mix equal parts of rubbing or isopropyl alcohol and vinegar. Administer this fluid with the method described in point 1. As the alcohol enters the insides of the organ, it may give you a warm or slight burning sensation.
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5. Baby Oil
Baby oil can facilitate the removal of wax by softening and dislodging it. You can administer it in your ear with the help of a dropper. Add a few drops (5 – 7) of baby oil in the ear, with your ear facing up, towards the ceiling. As you straighten your head, put a cotton swab to enclose the opening of that part, preventing the baby oil from escaping or dripping out.
Wait for about 5 – 7 minutes, remove the cotton ball and tilt your head in the opposite direction. You can feel the oil slowly trickling out. Then flush your ear with saline solution (as described in point number 2). This will further help you to get rid of excessive ear wax. Just make sure to wipe the fluids and wax coming out of the ear with a clean cloth. Repeat this method with the other ear.
You can also use mineral, almond, olive or mustard oil for the same purpose. All of these oils have anti-bacterial properties that can prevent any infections from developing inside the ear.
Also read : How To Get Rid of Cystic Acne?
Some Points to keep in mind when using these remedies to get rid of ear wax:
- Always utilize these remedies only when you have some time at hand. Temperature differences or tilting of head may cause a bit of dizziness. Make sure you have some time to rest before you carry on with your everyday chores.
- Following the correct method of administering fluids is essential. In case of any oil being used, following up with saline water or regular warm water is essential to flush out any oil residues in the ear.
- In case of excessive itching, dizziness, pain, fever, coughing, hearing loss, headache, contact your practitioner before using any of these remedies, to ensure the absence of infection.
- Don’t spray or drip any fluids into the ear forcefully as it may harm it and affect hearing, sometimes permanently.
- Using of Q-tips, or the worst, ear candles are not effective methods of cleaning wax. Besides, they cause more harm than good, so it is advised to stay away from trying any such methods at home.
Must read : Home Remedies for Itchy Scalp
How did you like these remedies? Which one of these worked out for you to remove ear wax?
Do let us know in the comments section. If you liked this article, do share it with your friends too!
