Nature has its way of looking after our ears. There are small glands in the ear canal that produce wax. This wax entraps dust and foreign bodies, so as to leave a clear passage for the sound waves. The movements of the jaw while eating extrude the wax without our even being aware of it. Normally, cleaning the ears while bathing suffices to maintain a normal amount of wax.
Causes and symptoms of ear wax
However, sometimes there is an excessive secretion, and the wax blocks the opening of the external ear canal, causing either pain or a ringing sensation in the ear, or even the sensation of not being able to hear well. Ear wax can cause hearing loss, pain, and cough.
Ear wax buildup symptoms may include
- Partial hearing loss, may be progressive.
- Tinnitus, noises in the ear.
- Earache.
- Fullness in the ear or a sensation the ear is plugged.
Home Remedies to Remove Earwax
- To remove impacted wax, put warm olive (or any other edible oil) into the ear, which will not solidify on cooling. Do this for 2-3 nights. The wax will soften and be easily removed with a ear bud.
- A vinegar-water-peroxide solution (1:1:2) can be warmed to body temperature and applied to the ear canal to soften wax.
- A drop of baby oil can be placed in each ear canal on a regular basis (typically, once or twice per week) to soften hard, painful wax.
Useful References
- https://www.medicinenet.com/ear_wax/article.htm
- http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0194599816671491
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full