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Most doctors in Ireland won't perform an ear-wax syringe these days. According to mine, the reason is that the high-pressure water jet can actually damage certain structures and make your hearing even worse. Warm olive oil in the affected ear for 10-15 minutes three times a day is better than any of the commercial products. Only problem is having to lie down on your side so it doesn't just spill out.

Kind regards.

I had the high-pressure water jet thing a couple of times and it really freaked me out.
I'll be looking for an alternative next time.

Babz wrote:Sounds like it could be Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. I went through this. Couldn't hear (in both ears) for 2 weeks. I made an appt. w/ a specialist, but then while waiting I did some googling. The cure (are you ready for this) is to hold your nose and blow out. I couldn't believe it. It was like "pop" I could hear again! I still kept the appt. with the specialist. She said there was an official term for this technique (The ______ Maneuver ... can't remember; it was someone's name). Do some googling on eustachian tube.

Hope this helps.

Babz

Politzer maneuver -- I believe that's what my doctor called it. Anyway, in my case no decongestants, etc. made any difference, because it is not fluid that is trapped in the ear, it's air. The eustachian tube collapses and air gets trapped in there. Blowing out with nose and mouth plugged (Politzer Maneuver) pops it back open.

Babz

Dave Bourke wrote:Most doctors in Ireland won't perform an ear-wax syringe these days. According to mine, the reason is that the high-pressure water jet can actually damage certain structures and make your hearing even worse. Warm olive oil in the affected ear for 10-15 minutes three times a day is better than any of the commercial products. Only problem is having to lie down on your side so it doesn't just spill out.

Kind regards.

Thanks for the insight, DB. I will take that advice to heart for sure. Now that you say that, I do remember my doctor telling me to never try this at home referring to flushing the ear out.

Can't see myself laying down three times a day, though.

Schweats wrote:In a pinch , there is also the hydrogen peroxide irrigation method.
Lay your head on it's side and with a dropper, fill your ear with some HP… let it bubble up and then drain, and flush with water.

HTH - Schweats

That's my remedy. In fact, Once a week or so I'll soak the ends of Q-tips in HP and clean away. Since I've been doing that - no blockage.
I do think that it may be eating away at my brain though.

Careful... Peroxide can dry your ear canal out.

May be you could try this 'ear pressure equalizer'.
http://www.proidee.co.uk/shop/SID_B7qMB ... sicht_bild

HCMarkus wrote:Careful... Peroxide can dry your ear canal out.

Maybe canned air...?

1. Remove ear from housing
2. Soak in mineral oil for 12 hours
3. Rinse and dry thoroughly
4. Reattach ear assembly, don't over-tighten screws
5. Test for clarity, absence of maniacal inner voices, negative thoughts, etc.

I don't eat/drink any dairy (30 years) or indeed animal products (25 years) and other mucous-producing foods (such as refined flour etc). Clear as a bell... until I (usually inadvertently) ingest some dairy in the form of a mouthful of bread or something on a special occasion, such as at Christmas meals. Within an hour I can scrape a fresh layer of mucous off.

Kids who experience ear infections a lot, regardless of whether or not they swim, in fact have blocked eustachian tubes. They're also more prone to car sickness and balance problems due to this phenomenon. I blame dairy as the #1 cuplrit here, followed a little way back by processed (read: kids' favourite) foods of all kinds. Just like when you sprinkled salt on a snail as a kid (you did do that, didn't you?), the body reacts to acid-producing foods my attempting stop-gap insulation as an almost-instant measure. Ever noticed how just a few sips of milk can produce sooo much mucous in one's throat? Of course, the dairy industry would like you to treat it as an essential food category and consume at least five serves a day. Let's see... that feeds the cheese, milk (including flavoured), yoghurt, cream and butter aspects of the industry quite well. Just not you. How convenient - 5 serves and 5 categories. Oh well. What would I know?

The day a thousand apples produces a fraction of the amount of mucous triggered by a single mouthful of milk, I'll go out and start suckling buffalo. LOL

mmmm...cheese....

Fire crackers work good.

No I had a blocked ear cannal and wax build not long ago, they had to flush and use a pick to get the wax out and decongestents to unblock the ear.

I second Dave Bourke's suggestion and add another. Chop a large onion and dry fry it for a few minutes until it is just starting to cook then wrap it up in a handkerchief, let it cool to a comfortable warmth and then hold it on the affected ear. It should be kept over the ear for quite a while so probably not something to do in the studio when you've got a client coming (he'd probably smell the onion off your ear anyway). A cut onion next to the bed at night will also help clear sinuses and throat ailments. Your ears are very well designed but delicate and should NEVER be prodded or poked. Wear earmuffs in cold wind and earplugs when swimming. Breathe through your nose at all times to keep your sinuses clear and working (read up about Buteyko for further info on this). And do remember that if the doctor intervenes (or the pharmacist) with some chemical solution then the likelyhood is that you will need a similiar intervention in future, whereas if you deal with it benignly and yourself then you are one step closer to a real solution.

I agree with MM to much dairy is not good.
I wonder about the Olive Oil cure they seam to use that for everything I might try that one and put some vinegar in the other ear then snort some oregano.

Witchcraft!!! On behalf of all that is sacred and pharmaceutical, I implore you to desist.

I've never had a blocked ear, but I'm a big fan of Q-Tips (the brand matters!), which my doctor friend has recently taken off his Top 10 list of recommendations for ear care. I think "Mineral Oil" is probably the more traditional holistic choice whenever there is a blockage. I know that there was a lot of hype about "ear candling" in the 90's, don't know how that panned out or whether it was just another fad --- like the economy.