SYMPTOMS
Hearing becomes weaker, while the person thinks they are losing it. Ringing or fullness in the ears may be present.
CAUSES
Cerumen is secreted by glands in the outer ear. In this way, it cleans and moistens the outer part of the canal, and protects the inner ear, acting as a barrier against germs, moisture, dust, and insects. A large lump of cerumen in the ear can present a problem. Some people constantly experience pain until they remove the excess cerumen from the ear. It accumulates when you do not chew your food sufficiently. Through chewing food, there is less and less of it. Saturated fats stimulate the production of a greater amount of cerumen. And if there is not enough of it, the ear becomes dry and itchy. Dip a cotton swab into some quality vegetable oil and place a little of it in the outer part of the ear canal. For itchy ears, apply a few drops of apple cider vinegar, wait 30 seconds, and then shake your head and let it drain out.
NATURAL REMEDIES
- Never put anything sharp into the ear! Hairpins, paperclips, pencil tips... This can damage the eardrum.
- Do not use cotton swabs either, because they only push the cerumen further inside.
- Put something into the ear that will soften the cerumen. For example, hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, or glycerin. Put a drop or two, and then let the excess cerumen come out. The liquid inside will soften the cerumen. Do this for a few days.
- Fill a container with body-temperature water and, using a rubber bulb syringe, gently and slightly spray it into the ear while leaning over the container. Use as little pressure as possible. Turn your head and let the liquid drain out.
- Do not rub your ears to dry them. Either use a hair dryer (4–7 cm away) or put a little alcohol in both ears. Do not use this method for longer than a few months, because you need cerumen to protect your ears.
- People who often have ear problems generally have much more cerumen in them than other people. To reduce the amount of cerumen, eat fewer saturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids can be consumed. Too much saturated fat creates a problem with cerumen in the ears. Therefore, you should stop eating junk food. Most such food is packed with saturated fats. Instead, take flaxseed oil, as it contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
- This is an alternative method for removing cerumen: using a dropper, put a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide or a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm water into the ear. Wait about a minute and then expel the cerumen. Do this 2–3 times a day. If the cerumen is hard and dry, apply garlic oil for a day or two to soften it. Then rinse the ear with a moderate stream of warm water, without strong pressure. Patiently continue rinsing the ear canal and pouring warm water. The accumulated cerumen will thus come out.
- Another method is the use of "ear candles", which can be bought in health food stores. Meanwhile, someone will have to help you with them. Instructions come with those candles. Later, you might be bothered by the lack of excess cerumen in your ears, so you might need to keep cotton in your ears for a while. This method is truly successful!
- If you regularly take vitamin C (lemon juice and kiwi), there will be no excess cerumen in your ears in a few months.
