Earwax is bothersome, and ear infections can be a painful experience and one that you would hope to eliminate from your future health concerns.
Fortunately, some people have had great success with a home remedy with only two natural, safe ingredients that can help reduce the likelihood of ear infections and also remove ear wax buildup.
You most likely already have these two ingredients in your home, so there is no need to go out and buy anything. You’ll probably find these two products in your bathroom and kitchen. Here’s a simple home remedy with only two ingredients that can eliminate earwax buildup and prevent ear infections.
THESE TWO INGREDIENTS CAN ELIMINATE EARWAX AND EAR INFECTIONS
For our ear health recipe, mix equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol together. Start with a small amount, about a teaspoon of each. Mix them in a small bowl or measuring cup. You can make a larger amount and store it for next time, but try it first to see how it works for you.
When the two ingredients are mixed, use a clean eye dropper to put about half of the mixture into one ear while you tilt your head to the side. Keep your head tilted and allow the mixture to sit in your ear for one minute. After a minute, tilt your head over the sink to allow the solution to drip out.
Repeat the process with the other half of the healthy ear mixture in your other ear and again allow it to sit in your ear for one minute. Then tilt your head and drain it out.
Audiologist Dr. Robert L. Martin says that alcohol can dry out the ear, which can cause the skin to crack and bleed. This treatment should be used for those who need to dry out an ear that has been exposed to moisture, not those that are in a dry environment.
Dr. Martin suggests this treatment twice a day for four days when you know that your ears have been exposed to moisture, for example after swimming. The ear health remedy can be used twice a week for several months if you have chronically moist ears or are exposed to a high humidity environment.
EARWAX PREVENTION
This prevention tool is highly recommended for those who frequently suffer from swimmer’s ear problems or sinus infections that can spread to the ear. The remedy should be used before problems occur, not on an already infected ear.
Conditions that make ear infections more likely include:
- Higher outside temperatures
- Higher humidity
- Exposure to moisture for long periods
Swimmers, those who often get water in their ears during showers or baths, and people who live in hot, humid climates are more likely to develop infections. These warm, moist environments are breeding grounds for fungi and bacteria.
As much as possible, keep your ears dry inside by wearing earplugs when swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving. Avoid tilting your head to let the shower water run into your ear. If water does get into your ear, dry the outer ear with a towel, tilt your head to let the water drain out, and carefully use a cotton swab to absorb additional moisture.
SYMPTOMS OF AN EAR INFECTION
Both bacteria and fungus can live in a moist ear. Either of these microbes can be responsible for the pain of an earache and infection. If these symptoms are present, see a medical professional rather than using the vinegar and alcohol treatment. Again, the two-ingredient remedy is meant to be used for preventing ear problems, not treating them. Signs of ear infection include:
- Itching
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Hearing loss
- A feeling of the ear being plugged
- A feeling of the ear having fluid in it
EARWAX PROBLEMS
A buildup of wax inside the ear should not happen naturally because the ear is naturally self-cleaning. What can happen is that by our efforts to clean the ear, we push earwax into the ear canal with a cotton swab rather than removing it. Symptoms of an earwax buildup are similar to those for an infection and include the following:
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ear
- Itching
- Drainage
- Decreased hearing
- Feeling of a plugged ear
- Itchiness
- Pain
HEALTHY EARS
Dr. Martin says that the natural ear is self-cleaning so we should never wash inside the ear canal with soap or water. He says that ear wax is not something that you can dissolve with water anyway, so cleaning with water will not be effective.
The symptoms of an ear infection and earwax buildup are similar, so don’t diagnose yourself. If you are experiencing symptoms, it is probably too late for the ear problem prevention recipe.
Protect your hearing and consult with an audiologist or otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat doctor) at the first sign of a problem.
Conventional medicine may need to provide a cure before you can use vinegar and alcohol on your ears. To prevent future ear health problems, ear plugs can be used for swimmers to keep the ear canal dry.