Ear Wax Removal

There are several suggested home remedies for ear wax removal, but some of them are quite dangerous. Follow my instructions for a safe and effective earwax removal.

Earwax

Ear wax is produced by glands in the ear canal and its job is to clean, moisten and protect the canal. Studies have found that earwax has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Usually, ear wax is produced in small quantities and emerges naturally from the ear. If wax is produced in larger than normal quantities, it may cause a blockage with feeling of blockage, itchiness, pain and sometimes hearing loss.

Since the ear canal is a self-cleansing organ, under normal circumstances it needs no special attention, no daily ear cleaning is necessary.

If you have a need for cleaning the ear canal regularly,

Drop anything in the ear canal ONLY if your ear drum is healthy and intact. If you have a hole in the eardrum (punctured ear drum) you MUST NOT try any home remedy, nor should you allow a physician to irrigate your ear. Earwax home remedies are only for people with a healthy eardrum.

People with a history of any ear disease should go to an ENT specialist for wax problems and not try treating the problem themselves.

Ear Wax Removal Home Remedies

Use home remedy for earwax removal only if you are sure your eardrum is healthy.

NEVER use a cotton bud, hair grip or finger for ear cleaning or to remove wax from your ear. Cotton swabs (Q-Tips) simply compact the wax, making it hard and solid and just push the earwax further into the ear canal. Read more about ear care ...

Ear wax dissolving with PARAFFIN OIL (or other mineral oil) in combination with warm water-vinegar irrigation

Steps of ear wax removal:

The first step is to soften or to dissolve the wax by using mineral oil. Mineral oils are better, then organic oils because they are quite thin.

Obtain paraffin oil (or other mineral oil).
Warm about 2-3 tablespoons (e.g.over a candle) a little above body temperature.
Fill an eye dropper with the warm oil.
Lie on your side, with the ear to be de-waxed up.
Drop a few drops of warm oil into the ear.
Lie still for about 5-10 minutes.
Get up and empty oil into the sink.

Do this procedure the following 4-5 days. This will soften the wax, may even dissolve it completely.

The second step is (if earwax is still present) syringing or irrigating the ear canal with warm water and vinegar solution. I prefer the water-vinegar mixture since it helps to prevent secondary infections. (The pH of the healthy ear canal is relatively low, slightly acidic.) The best is using Apple Cider Vinegar with acidity concentration around 5%. Sure it is safer if you ask for help doing the ear rinse.

Obtain a bulb syringe.
Make the irrigation solution, 1:1 water-apple cider vinegar solution.
Now warm the water-vinegar solution just above body temperature (38C) and check with a thermometer. If the temperature of the solution is lower or higher it may cause dizziness for sensitive people.
Fill the bulb syringe with the warm solution.
Tilt your head above the sink.
Pull the external ear up and back in order to straighten the ear canal.
Aim the nozzle of the syringe slightly upwards and backwards so that the warm solution flows as a cascade along the roof of the canal.
Flush your ear gently with warm water-vinegar solution, this will bring out the undissolved wax.
Irrigation may need to be repeated several times.
After the wax is removed the ear can be dried with a hair dryer set on low.

Be careful not to irrigate too hard!

Perhaps you have heard about using Hydrogen Peroxide for dissolving earwax plugs. It can be very dangerous if you have a sensitive ear canal or punctured eardrum. H2O2 is a very strong substance may be too strong to put in contact with the highly delicate ear drum. So, I don't recommend it for home usage. Consult this problem with an ENT specialist.

If the home method for ear wax removal was unsuccessful definitely visit a doctor!

Other interesting pages:

Ear Infection Symptoms
Ear infection symptom mostly depends on the cause of the ear pain.

Home Remedy for Ear Infection
Haven't find an appropriate home remedy for ear infection yet? Are you interested in more home and herbal remedies for earache?

Ear Care
A few simple steps of ear care can keep you from having to worry about aching ears or swimmers ear.

Ear Pain
Here you can find more home remedies for ear pain, especially my favorites the homeopathic remedies for earache.