Earwax is also known as cerumen, a wax-like substance produced by sweat glands. Earwax is a yellowish waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and other mammals. Earwax is made up of different substances that help stop the skin that lines your ear canal from drying and cracking. Earwax protects the skin of the human ear canal, assists in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection from bacteria, fungi, insects, and water. Earwax ranges in color from light to dark brown or orange. Earwax is continuously released to prevent dirt from entering the inner parts of the ear. Earwax cleans and lubricates the inner lining of the ear. So, without earwax, your ear can easily become dirt infested, infected, sore, and dry. Earwax usually doesn’t cause problems as long as it produces in sufficient amounts.
Symptoms of earwax include:
➤ Ringing in the ear
➤ Noises in the ear(tinnitus)
➤ Decreased hearing
➤ Earache
➤ Discharge or odor coming from the ear
➤ Temporary hearing loss
➤ Itching or drainage from the ear canal
➤ Dizziness
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR TREATING EARWAX:
While excessive earwax may be irritating, the good news is that there are many natural home remedies to tackle this problem. There are many simple natural remedies to unblock and remove hardened earwax from your ears. With any of these home remedies, you may need to repeat them several times depending on the extent of the wax accumulation.
WARM WATER
Flushing your ear with warm water will also help get rid of excess earwax. Fill a rubber- bulb syringe with slightly warm water. Tilt your head upright and pull the outer ear to straighten the ear canal. Use the syringe to put a small amount of water into the ear canal. Leave it for a minute and then drain it out by tilting your head to the opposite side. Clean away the water and earwax that has come out of the ear with a clean cloth. Be sure to use only clean and filtered water.
BAKING SODA
It is an excellent home remedy for removing hard and excess wax. Mix baking soda with water and pour inside your ear, it will help you soften the wax. Use a dropper to put many drops of solution in the affected area. Relax for 10 minutes and then flush water gently into the ear. Clean your outer ear with a soft and clean cloth. Repeat this several times for better and effective results.
OLIVE OIL
One of the best ways to remove the ear wax is olive oil as it softens the earwax, thus making it easier to come out from the ear. Olive oil has antibacterial properties that will protect you from ear infections. Slightly warm some olive oil. Put 2-3 drops of olive oil into the ear, affected by the excessive blockage. Allow it to settle for about 10 minutes so that the earwax becomes soft. Tilt your head sideways and remove the oil and the wax with earbuds. Repeat it continuously for 3-4 days. Earwax removal through olive oil is an effective way as it softens the earwax, thereby making it easier to remove.
BABY OIL
To soften earwax and facilitate its removal, you can also use baby oil. Fill an ear dropper with baby oil. Tilt the affected ear toward the sky and put 2-5 drops of the bay oil into the ear. Place a cotton ball at the ear opening to prevent oil from oozing out. Leave it for several minutes. Remove the cotton ball and tilt your head in the opposite direction to drain out the extra oil. Clean the ear opening with a soft cloth.
SALINE SOLUTION
Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in around half a cup of warm water until it dissolves completely. Then soak a cotton ball in the saline solution and squeeze few drops of the solution into the affected ear by slightly tilting your head upwards. Maintain the same position for a few minutes so that the saline solution properly gets inside your ear and dislodges the earwax. Then tilt your head in the opposite direction so that you can drain out the solution from your ear. This is one of the best earwax removal solutions that you can use to get rid of this problem at home.
COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil helps remove hardened ax inside the ear. It contains natural antimicrobial agents, which is harmless thus reducing the risk of your ear getting infected. It is used to kill several harmful microorganisms that cause wax buildup. Fill a dropper with coconut oil, tilt your head to one side and put a few drops of coconut oil into your ear. Stay in this position for several minutes. Finally, tilt your head towards the other side to let the earwax and coconut oil to drain off.
TIPS TO KEEP EARWAX BLOCKAGE AWAY:
➥Use baby oil at home from time to time if your body has the tendency to build up wax on your ears.
➥Do always clean your ear after applying a remedy.
➥Do not use hot water to wash your ears.
➥Don’t use sharp objects to clean out the wax.
➥Do not use hairpins, matchsticks, or safety pins to get rid of the earwax.
➥You must never use cotton swabs in the ears.
➥Don’t use Q-tips for cleaning ears; they only push the wax in further.
➥Do not spray anything in the ear.
➥Don’t overuse earphones and earplugs.
➥Never use ear candles. They do not work.
Apart from this you can do consult a physician for some tips on how to take care of and maintain the health of your ears. Seek immediate medical help if you feel that your ears are getting stuffy by day.