Ear Wax - Which Ear Drops are the best?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มี.ค. 2023
- I perform an experiment where I put ear wax into 5 test tubes and then pour 10mls of different ear drops into each. I tested olive oil, hydrogen peroxide, debrox, sodium bicarbonate, and distilled water). I then watch the wax dissolve with a time lapse camera and see which drop is best for removing ear wax.
The results may surprise many people!
I hope you find this video informative.
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I found your channel out of desperation. I utilized all four methods and hands down the distilled water method worked best. I was stunned by the results. The least expensive choice was #1 in removing the wax. Thank you for publishing this, saved me a trip to the GP
@CrystalG-cu2rk Thanks for sharing your experience with distilled water. Would you clarify if you used "distilled water" or "STEAMED distilled water" which is what Dr. Veer recommended? If you used the steamed version, where do you buy it from and can it it be purchased in the U.S.?
I look forward to your response because I have been experiencing plugged ear on the right. I believe it's wax because when I tilt my head in certain positions, it opens or unplugs. I am desperate to get this resolved quickly without the need to see a professional and incur a large bill. :(
@@lizn9324 if you can't find steamed distilled water, you could make it yourself
I would suggest if you have a old but clean saucepan with lid . You could buy a plastic or rubber pipe , overall diameter about 10mm to 15 mm roughly half inch
Drill a hole to suit the pipe in the lid. Drill one size smaller than the pipe, so the pipe is a tight fit in the lid . Put the other end of the pipe in a clean container like a jam jar or whatever. This would work good if the lid is a tight fit on saucepan, and jam jar or container is lower than saucepan lid. The pipe will drip clean steamed water in jam jar.
Try to get good quality drinking water from shop. Read the ingredients, I would say the less ingredients the better.
Just a idea. Hope your ear gets well soon
@@lizn9324 The Brand of steamed distilled (meaning steamed water) was AQUILLA distilled bottled water and can be bought on the internet and shipped. I used it for a water only fast ... drank lots of it and got better. Was expensive for water but it really helped my life - so worth it.
@@lizn9324 I'm in the same boat you were in 2 months ago!!!! I hope you respond soon. My right ear is impacted so bad. It's driving me crazy. I tried dubrox and flushing it but I didn't get the deep.earwax near my eardrum. Now I'm wondering about this distilled water. Do you just let use it as drops and just let it soak for 10min then. Flush. Or just let it sit and it comes out itself?? 🤷♀️ please let me know what ended up working for you. I don't imagine your still dealing with this problem for 2 months I hope it's all resolved! 🙌
Does it have to be steam distilled or can it just be distilled? Which one did you use???
I have used hydrogen peroxide 3% since I was a child. I'm 42 now. No hearing damage. Althougth I never heard it was bad until now. Old remedy from my parents.
And your name is chinchilla 🤯💯
At least from what was mentioned, I'd imagine it would only cause damage if you had an eardrum perforation
Crap .. bc I do have perforated ear drum .. 😑
Same
My Mother used in years ago.
Me too! 🤗
Here in America, I have always been told by many doctors to use a 50/50 mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and distilled water. The distilled water apparently helps to disolve the wax and is an important component. I've used it for over 30 years with no issues.
Where do you get rhe distilled water?
@@leslielopez8330 the grocery store has distilled water near the spring water. You can get a gallon of it.
Hydrogen peroxide is typically 3% with the other 97% being distilled water. So a 50/50 mix would take it down to 1.5% hydrogen peroxide and 98.5% distilled water which is not as irritating if used several days in a row. I also use this formula or sometimes just the peroxide and it does seem to be the best. I also have an ear camera with a scoop on the end so I can get the globs that are just inside the canal.
The danger is if you have a hole in your eardrum you'll have permanent hearing loss using peroxide.
Doctors also used to recommend cigarettes in America as a well.
@@TheAgentAssassinYes, you are smart and modern otologic specialists in the U.S. are wrong and stupid because tobacco companies 75-100 years ago were paying doctors to appear in ads promoting cigarettes, and you think one in any way relates to or informs the other. Brilliant.
Very refreshing to find real thoughtful medical advice on TH-cam from a qualified practitioner. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for repeatedly clarifying that ear wax is not like candle wax. I never knew.
I accidentally put some nasal spray in my ear instead of Otex. It doesn't seem to have harmed me, but I sure am enjoying being able to smell much better with my ears now.
Smell sounds and hear perfumes… 😂😂
😂😂😂
I am in the USA and my Dr recommends Debrox which I have used very successfully along with and a specially designed ear cleaning water syringe.
I don't think people, at least myself, thought warming up would melt the wax. But many chemical reactions are quite dependent on temperature. I have used hydrogen peroxide for years and it doesn't bubble until it warms up
Normally, when a doctor uses Peroxide to clean out the ear; they use a solution of 1 part peroxide to one part water. They are mixed in equal proportions, and a syringe is used to spray the solution into your ear. As it goes in, the wax is loosened, and forced out by back pressure. I had this procedure done many years ago when I was very young. I asked a lot of questions in order to understand the risk, and how it worked.
If you want to use suction to clean your ears, keep in mind that this is a very loud activity and there is a risk of tinnitus and hyperacusis
When I had a VERY waxed-up ear I used the hydrogen peroxide for the first time. It was amazing. Great globs of wax flowed out. I have also used earcalm which has little effect - on my current recurring problem, which is itchy ear canal, for which i use a small dab of almond oil to lubricate the outer ear.
Great tip!
Need to try this
Interestingly, I found a few years ago that antibiotic drops for ears to be very good at mushing up ear wax and it comes out really well. Maybe, that'll give an idea what might work well.
I've use Hydrogen Peroxide several times, and I have to say it works very well, especially with deep blockages. I do say, if the blockage is a natural buildup of wax, its probably safe to use. However, I would not use it if you cause the blockage with a q-tip or you've been poking around with something else in there. Its possible you've enflamed or disturbed the tissue, and using hydrogen peroxide may cause pain or discomfort. After use though, I recommend rinsing the ear out with some warm water.
You should try a drop of olive oil in immediately after you put in the peroxide. It seems to excite the peroxide more and leaves the ear feeling very moisturized afterward
My ear infection started last Tuesday and last Wednesday my GP prescribed me OTODEX. My left ear feels clogged reduced hearing. been taking the ear drops nearly a week now. Discharging has ceased but clogged feeling remains...I'll be seeing my GP tomorrow for a follow up to see what else can be done to speed up the process. It usually happens to me twice a year
I'm an American who has been using hydrogen peroxide to get rid of ear wax for over 2 decades. I've never experienced loss of hearing by using it. If it did cause any amount of hearing loss, it wouldn't be such a popular solution. It's very effective, it works just as well as ear drops, and it's significantly cheaper to buy.
Can isn't the same as does. Also, some people can smoke their entire lives without getting lung cancer. That doesn't mean smoking doesn't cause cancer.
Did you actually listen to the video? The danger of using peroxide is that people with small holes or perforations in the ear drum can suffer hearing loss. There is a risk. Now it's likely you do not have holes in your eardrum but some people do.
Doctors in America recommended cigarettes too in magazines.
4 out of 5 doctors prefer Camel over other brands. The science agrees.
Very informative video. As most people start researching after having problems, it was good to listen to the background and see the results of the experiments so that we can make an informed choice. Thank you.
Debrox is my go to and often foams and dissolves my ear wax.
Thanks so much for this video - I found it quite helpful for my practice!
I've used peroxide my whole life n im 41 never had problems no hearing loss at all. My daughter was born with hearing loss connected to her kidney problem n she wears hearing aids. Since she uses them more than 8hrs a day her ears build up a lot of wax. I use debrox for her it's the only thing that works. I let it sit then use an ear spray bottle to loosen up the wax after n let it fall into a catch cup/tray. Debrox feels like a concentrated but gentler solution for ears. I do this twice in both ears for her here n there. Her ears have gotten so bad they clogged n she couldn't hear even with hearing aids but she doesn't like to tell us because she hates cleaning them so it's a guessing game. I highly recommend the Debrox drops but I suppose I use them slightly different than directed to n get different results. I don't like hearing about people suffering so I thought I'd share my experience.
No idea if it works any better but, when I were a lad some 60 years ago, or so, the standard family remedy for ear wax (North East Coast), was warmed Almond Oil. I had the dubious pleasure of having that poured into my lugholes many times. Quite warm and pleasant, in fact, if a bit oily. No idea where you'd get Almond Oil from now, but assume it's a culinary oil of some sort, such as for making cakes or biscuits. There, that's 30 seconds you won't get back.
I enjoyed your comment. To add my twopenneth - in the uk, almond oil can be bought in the form of 'carrier oils' in health food shops.
Can typically find Almond oil in health/beauty area in stores. That is where I buy it from in the US.
I was a regular customer at my local surgery for ear wax removal. Before covid they used warm tap water heated via a kettle and using a pulsated water pressure bath to remove the softened wax. I found the whole thing very relaxing. Of course not a pleasant job for the nurse which is why I was glad in a way when they stopped doing this type of wax removal after covid. Now I am exploring their method but at home. Again a small receptacle with warm water and a cordless hand pump that forced water into the ear with three settings including pulse. I guess that if it worked before then it should do so again. As a precaution, I will use ear calm after.
For those that might be interested I did buy a machine that helps to remove softened ear wax. However, it worked too well and removed all the wax and irritated the inside of my ears. Typical me, I went over the top in my zeal to do a thorough job. So, for a few days, my ears hurt a little but ear calm did calm them down. My advice to others wishing to do the same is don't put the machine on full.
What's the name of the machine? I haven't gone since COVID.
A warning about using water...they did that at my doctor's office while I had a cold which actually pushed and trapped water into my middle ear which started as intense hearing loss and now months later my hearing is still impaired(slowly improving) due to the trapped water behind ear canal!
@@lve1258 Thanks for sharing this. I've watched a few videos by audiologists and GP's who do not recommend putting water in your ear. You would think doctor's office would know this and use a more safe method. I am experience a plugged ear but not sure if it is earwax. I have a strong hunch it is. I would hate to go through a doctor which can be expensive to remove it. That's why I am searching online but there aren't many non-professional videos showing and sharing the process.
@@lve1258 water trapped can cause bacteria infection in the ear
I used Debrox (I’m from the US) after an ear infection. You can hear it foaming in your ear. It worked for me in as much as loosening up the discharge/ear wax from the infection.
I woke up one morning to find I lost my hearing temporarily in one ear because of ear wax. Wasn't life or death and I had to get to work. Someone there suggested warm water and dish soap, which made sense. That night I threw a quarter cup in the microwave for 30 seconds, added a drop or two of dish soap, then dropped the mixture into my ear. I think it helped, that and my probably not too smart method of cleaning got my hearing back and then some (meaning I heard better out of that ear than my other one).
Like Dawn?
@@anneonnamouse5496 Dawn is not a 'soap' it is a detergent.
I have used Debrox for years. If your ears are clogged with wax, you can often hear the solution fizzing in your ear. The syringe bulb works well. Typically I will use bottled water which I slightly warm to close to body temperature to irrigate the ear following the ear drop application.
Fascinating video Vic, do you think the industry is missing a trick by not trialling steam distilled water drops? Ive often considered branding my own ear drops as there needs to be more competition to Earol and Cl-ear in my opinion, I wonder if the water could help if it was in a spray? Interested to hear your thoughts, thanks.
I used baby oil. Worked very well.
If hydrogen peroxide is toxic in the middle ear, this is irrelevant as long as there is no perforation of the ear drum. The hydrogen peroxide will be isolated to the external ear. You should have made this clear.
Fantastic info in all your videos and it's comforting to see how many people have the same waxy problems, I'm the only person I know out of colleagues and family with such a problem - a lifelong one at that 🤷🏻♀️
I have had my ears syringed regularly over the years, due to me having had noisy neighbours and using earplugs too much. I used a hydrogen peroxide spray, but the nurse
commented on the fact that my ear canal was slightly red and irritated, which made me wary of using this . A channel on TH-cam recommends using it at a lower concentration than that normally used in ear drops, ( 5% is the usual one used).
I’m having same issue for same reason, use a fan in room for white noise instead of ear plugs
Great Video, thank you. Just wondering if you could use normal distilled water, slightly warmed, and add a bit of vinegar to it to bring the acidity up?
I have heard no pun intended is if you use Hydrogen peroxide put a drop or two of mineral oil in the ear after to keep it lubricated and help soften the wax.
I use Hydrogen Peroxide and it really releases all the wax from the ear.
it save? no more complicate?
I've switched mostly to recommending bicarb now and suction is easier. I tried the earcalm softening approach after your last experiment but didn't quite have the same success as bicarb. Excellent vid!
Thanks for sharing!
I tend to get my patients to use olive for a few nights before their appointment, just to make the microsuction easier?
How much sodium bicarbonate (powder) in how much distilled water do you use? Thanks.
if they are coming for microsuction anyway - then oil does help.
I had microsuction last year. I found it incredibly noisy and deeply uncomfortable. It also took two sessions a week apart. An unpleasant experience all round.
i hate ear wax but i only have olive oil in the house, it takes so long to do anything and the oil just makes the ear more blocked
Preparation H is what they used on me at the emergency room. They shot it in with a syringe, let it sit & draw up the wax then they use H2O to float the wax out. Worked great!
Last time I had my ear wax removed my doctor told me to apply a few drops of olive oil for 3 days and it works much better than the pharmaceutical treatment.
I use hydrogen peroxide often for softening and removing wax from my ears. But, if it creates more problems, I may buy some special liquid for ear wax removal at CVS Pharmacy, Walgreen's, or elsewhere similar.
This was really helpful. Just been prescribed olive oil drops by an NHS ENT consultant which is interesting
Hearing lost first diagnosed in 1966. Since then I have worn at least one hearing aid. I now wear two. Throughout those years, have used hydrogen peroxide. I can verify that pieces break loose and float to the surface. You can hear it break their pieces loose. It can also get quite warm. Didn't know about the middle ear danger. Because of the hearing aid, my ears frequently itch about where the hearing aid cone stops. Because I have something blocking my ear all the time, wax sometimes has trouble getting out.
I don’t have hearing aid but I wear earbuds 80 percent of my life that’s probably why my ears itch extremely bad all the time
At I enquire how you apply the HP, please? Thank you, David. I too wear hearing aids and get very itchy ears.
Hydrogen peroxide causes excoriation of external auditory skin and inflammation of TM ! Seen many cases with aggarevating symptoms after its usage !
Thank you - I don't know anything about it's use - i'm still surprised you can get it in the USA
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon There would be riots if it were outlawed. It's a very common household item, used for cleaning purposes or as a disinfectant as one would use rubbing alcohol for minor scrapes or cuts. I used to favor it over rubbing alcohol as it is painless, but then learned it is painless because it is killing your skin cells! The sting of the rubbing alcohol is worth keeping living tissue.
I'm jealous that y'all have ibuprofen available as a cream; we only have pills in the US.
@@MM-jf1me rubbing alcohol does the exact same thing, the appropriate method for cleaning minor wounds is water and mild soap.
It's great for cleaning ear buds though 😅
That’s interesting. I’ve used hydrogen peroxide since I was a kid and never had problems and felt great after. Maybe my family was lucky
I wear earplugs all the time. My job and hobbies are both high volume. Is there anything I can do to keep from packing more and more wax in? The places I go I need the earplugs plus ear muffs because of high volume. I wish I could use only ear muffs but not the case here.
Thanks Vik, this video has really helped me
. How would I apply it the distill steam water. Do I just boil it than let it cool down and add some drops to my ear? Thanks
Great video. I would imagine that injection water would be just as good if not even safer than bottled steam distilled water?
Morning Mr, Vik ,
For the first time in these two days Passed ( starting on Sunday and Monday until now ) I sprayed my nose only one ☝️ time before bed ( Triophon spray it’s like otrivin ) but since five years ago I was spraying my nose 👃 every four hours ,,
I decided to quit this bad and not healthy habit since I noticed that my pressure blood is getting higher in the night ,
I saw all ur videos talking about nasal spray ,
Thank u for all infos and advice ,
For me , it’s a big progressive to spray one time in 24 hours ,after being spray every four hours for more then five years ,,
But till now I am afraid to sleep without spraying,I am afraid maybe 🤔 If I don’t spray before bed I would never sleep good ,
I start using the alternative spray those that we can use for one month or more like nasonex ,
of course always with saline ( fusiomere ) ,maybe I will try to sleep one night without spraying my nose 👃 to see what will happen but till now I am afraid ,
Thank u again , I will pass later my experience to everyone who wanna know how to quit those ugly drugs (nasal spray ) thank u 🙏
Would sparkling water work instead of vapor distilled water? It's carbonized and thus has a comparable pH.
The pharmacist recommended debrox, and it clogged up my ear so severely that my ear started hurting and i had nonstop pressure and ringing in my ear, then i had to go see an ear specialist to have my ears professionally cleaned, after getting the debrox and earwax removed from my ear, My ear still felt very clogged up and muffled and the doctor said it is because the debrox melted the wax and coated the eardrum with a thin sticky layer of wax, so he said that it could possibly get better within a few days, if i would have known that debrox would of caused all of these serious issues i would have never bought it at my local pharmacy, i wish i would have just gone first to the ear specialist instead of buying this bad product. Do not use debrox it is not safe at all.
Just used debrox for last 2 days and I wish I had seen this comment earlier haha its like the stuff worked but just made the wax spread out all over, maybe flushing the ear with water will help now I hope
Did it get better after a few days though? I think im experiencing the same thing but with waxsol 😞 stupid ringing in my ears leaves me with no sleep at all
wish i read this earlier i felt like i didnt let it drain out correctly
@abrokeATM my case turned into a serious chronic ear infection and is now better and healed but it took 3 months to recover
Same here. Not a fan of Debrox.
I’ve seen videos of the damage hydrogen peroxide can do if it wet e to get behind the ear drum and it’s not pretty. I’ve always been curious about the difference between hydrogen peroxide and debrox (which is what I use). This video is really informative and I wonder why more people don’t use debrox (in the United States) since it seems safer.
It depends on the strength of the peroxide. 3% is very low and suitable, and I've been using it for years for earwax removal, and it works well.
Watching audiologists on TH-cam doing suctioning, many have said that peroxide and sodium bicarb make a slurry as it dissolves the ear wax and makes it difficult to remove by suction where olive oil slightly softens the front end of the wax and lubricates the canal which leads to a better suction grip and more chance of removing the blockage as one piece. Curious what your thoughts are on this practice?
If you are going for microsuction anyway - then I guess it is a little easier for us - my video however is hoping to help people to sort out their ear wax without having to wait to see a doctor.
Most people use drops to get rid of ear wax rather than make doctor's lives easier. I personally don't find the other drops make it harder to microsuction but I don't speak for everyone.
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon Thank you. What do you suggest for DIY at home. I plugged my ears with my finger while in shower to avoid ears getting water in them, but when out of the shower I noticed that it felt like something was in my left ear, so I did try to use my baby finger to see if any wax, nothing, then used a Qtip and nothing. It's Monday and since then my head feels so full and hearing is reduced immesely, like maybe less 90% so I think I impacted some wax? I've tried to get appt with an ENT but they are book until November... Urgent Cares can do a lavage, with water and peroxide but that's about all I found out. I'm really perplexed on what to do, as I feel very off balance with hearing basically only in my right ear :( Thank you for any suggestions ...
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon BTW: I've never really cleaned inside my ears my entire life, always had good ear health and heard that some wax is good and protective. I did have some wax drop out of my other ear this past month (not even knowing I had any) So this is all very new to me. I'm 60ish and definitely don't want to lose my hearing ... but if a bit of HYDROGEN PEROX would clean the ear out and not use regularly then would that be good or do you have a better 'at home' solution? Again, thank you so much for your informative videos!
@@mahimagabriel3798 i have the same problem, got some wax lodged in too far when I was trying to clean my ears with my finger. Im on the edge of using the 6.5% carbamide peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is available in the UK with Otex kit. I've recently used it after buying some from Boots. Very effective.
I used that preparation in my old video. it works similar to Debrox in this video.
Hi Vik.
Thanks for this really useful video.
How do you suggest applying the steamed distilled water?
With a dropper into the ear!
Thanks for the update on this video Vik, was nice to meet you last month!
Was just wondering when we have our next appointment could I have the turbinate reduction/Balloon sinuplasty then Septoplasty later on(or might have it done same day not sure)?
Also when you did myringotomy, I could still hear sounds high pitched sounds but felt pressure had gone down but after 4 days pressure was back again!
I forgot to say while I was there that I can hear my heartbeat in my ears which come + go on a day to day basis esp my left ear-which is Pulsatile Tinnitus right(that may be due to my low Iron). + sometimes when I breath through my nose there is a whistling sound.
Could we have out next appointment around the same time as last time late morning. I'm having my next Iron blood test done in mid May.
Many Thanks
Mike
The fact that your pressure dropped for a few days is a good sign, probably worth doing something about your Eustachian tube I think. Also good that the pressure returned in 4 days as it means your ear drum has healed (roughly the time it takes to heal).
Let's catch up and talk about it. Talk to my secretary about it. Vik Veer
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon Ok, how long does Eustachian Tube Dilation take? Keep reading different/people say different times like 10 mins to 18 mins etc??
Yea def, will ring your secretary later today 👍
Here in holland/belgium they say use oil for 3 days prior to the appointment to soften the earwax so its easyer to spray it out when you come to the docter. Not to make it come out by itsself. Atleast thats what the docters have always told me.
Same advice here in Canada.
Thank you for making this video. I'd be interested in your thoughts on what could be added to the Sodium Bicarbonate solution to inhibit bacteria growth. Do you think a few drops of colloidal silver added to the solution would be of benefit?
Are you able to try limonene in a future test ?
Fantastic news, i have a distiller and use it daily for my drinking water anyway. Now it has another use - thanks very much.
Same! 🥰
The olive oil works slowly over the course of a couple weeks. You have to put in drops twice a day for 2 to 4 weeks, I believe, and it will slowly come out on its own. Or so they say.... lol
I've had olive oil recommended to use before going in to the doctor to have the build up removed. It's supposed to help soften it up if you're in dry and dusty environments. So the doctor tells me
Excellent video dr Veer. Looking forward to more!
More to come!
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon any chance we can see videos on barbed suture palatopharyngoplasty perhaps ? 😉😅😅
It is so hard to get a video - difficult access (hard to show it clearly) and most people don't want to give consent for these operations. I do have a video on my list to do where I will talk about why / when and how good the operation is. etc.
Ive used higher concentrations of peroxide and havent lost any hearing.
My hearing only gets worse because according to an ENT i went to who did an ear irrigation on me, i have some of the deepest ear canals they ever had seen. So with too much ear wax, my hearing drops.
After an ear irrigation i can hear the craziest sounds i couldnt before.
I thought a warmed solution was better, in theory, to prevent dizziness as can occur when inner ear currents are induced by the temperature differential if cold solutions are used.
Can you try other liquids? Such as vinegar, soda, alcohol, something like that just curious
Thanks a lot dear for such a invaluable video 🙏🙏
Thanks for liking
Boots in the UK now sell a kit with a syringe and Carbamide Peroxide 6.5%, it seems to have reasonably good reviews.
it is absolutely recommended here in London. Went to my local Boots and the chemist recommended Otex which contains hydrogen peroxide, first thing. They have them behind the counter in every Boots store.
I’ve had to use ear wax remover a number of times, it can beat up your ear canal if used repeatedly, but it does eventually work. The first time I had a dime sized chunk fall out of my ear I couldn’t believe it, how long was it in there!? 😂
This is a wonderfully informative video; thank you for going through the trouble of conducting these experiments and sharing your results with us.
Is steam distilled water different from distilled water? (I'm unsure if this is a difference in language as I live in the US or if y'all have both -- I've thought all distilled water was created by collecting steam, but perhaps not?)
I think your video description is inaccurate. If you delete the parts about wax types and surgeries it should be accurate.
Thanks again!
Thanks for asking the excellent question about the difference in steamed distilled and distilled water. Unfortunately, he hasn't replied which isn't helpful. The challenge with Influencer videos outside the U.S. is the language difference.
I am not a Dr., But I do live in the southern US. My best guess is that steam distilled and distilled are one and the same. Mainly because any liquor distillery, legal or otherwise, has always used steam distillation. What I would like to know is what exactly are they distilling out of the water? Distilleries are distilling a more valuable asset out of the mixture of yeast, sugar, and fruit. Namely alcohol. So what more costly liquid is being distilled from water? I'll have to research it.
I don't normally have ear wax problems, but not too long ago I unknowingly rented a house that had high levels of black mold. That caused my ears to get blocked by wax. I tried the hydrogen peroxide and it'a affect was minimal. Then I came across your video from a few years ago. I tried the bicarbonate and it worked so well. What a relief to get those chunks of wax out of my ears. It only took one application and it was done. Thank you so much for sharing this info.
very good explaination
what about those ear candle things?
Resting your head and ear over a steamy humidifier helps ear infection and also moisurizes the wax to then use a syringe to squish it out with water
In the us my doctor actually advises to not use hydrogen peroxide and instead advises carbamide peroxide. It is supposed to be more stable than hydrogen peroxide and most OTC instructions have you flush the ear with water after use.
The bubbles actually do a fair amount of work, I've had large clumps of ear wax and dead skin just slip out of my ear after 3 minutes. The main issue with drops that dissolve ear wax is that they can actually cause the ear wax to settle on the TM (most box instructions advice the user to lay on their side while using the drops).
That's the problem I have now, after all the ear wax was removed by the doctor. I was told to apply earwax softener given to me for 3-4 days before the earwax removal. I had to do it again the following week because in one ear, he still couldn't remove all the earwax. I ended up with white sludge covering one of my eardrums. At one point I could tell it was putting a bit of pressure. But over a few days I could see it reduce in size and turned yellowish as the water evaporated. I tried the same earwax softener again, hoping to soften that sludge and squirt water inside to remove it, but to no avail. I'm letting nature take its course and hoping it will loosen over time and move out. I can already see a hole developing in the stuff above my eardrum (I bought one of those useful cheap otoscopes). I got Debrox on the internet but decided against using it as I might be back to square one. As long as it doesn't hurt and my hearing is perfect, I'm going to wait it out. Everything is progressing at a glacial speed. Last thing I want to do is go back to the doctor - his heavy handedness caused bleeding in my ear canal twice.
Since ear calm is mostly acetic acid, wouldn’t distilled water and normal household vinegar (3% acetic acid) 50:50 be worth considering? I would also boil the water first i think, just to be safe.
Using earol and then a bit of vinegar+isopropyl alcohol splashed in and then tilting your head with a square of toilet paper to get any drops out works great imo, no ear infections yet I assume due to the acidity of vinegar
I'm a bit confused. I use Otex in the UK which has hydrogen peroxide in it. Its abaulsbke everywhere, but the video says it's not in England. After softening, water csn then be used to rekobing using a plastic syringe.
why dont you test Docusate sodium solution ?
I was using ear plugs at work, and now I have crusting and oozing that won't go away. Is there an acidic, waxy ear drop for that. I also have allergies to processed oils and won't want to use that.
I went back and watched part 1 excited to know there was an update... but its the same test but this time with beef jerky looking wax 😢
I occasionally use hydrogen peroxide, hopefully not often enough to damage my DNA. I'm 62, and spent most of my young adult life in loud venues, waking up with ringing ears. I fear that has done more damage than the occasional few drops of peroxide.
I'll try and find some distilled water.
How about adding earwax MD to the comparison?
I wonder how well just plain water does? Or the saline solution used for contact lenses.
@VikVeerENTSurgeon - Since Steam Distilled Water is more difficult to obtain, which of the other drops would you recommend? Also, is there a brand that you would suggest?
You know you just boil distilled water right
Sodium bicarbonate then some vinegar maybe
Has anyone had any positive experience with olive oil? I tried it for a few weeks as my GP told me to, commenting that my ear wax was like 'cement'. I've had no luck. But.. as a former chemistry graduate, I loath the idea of putting any sort of chemicals in there.
If the steam distilled water works due to a CO2 solution turning into a slight acid,
isn't it enough to have a glass of warm tapwater, and breath out through a straw a few times?
I really hate to go to my physician on a regular basis to remove earwax blockings. Mine are always very hard and "dry". And with luck sometimes it feels like a wasp is pushing out the debris and I get those big chunks falling out of my ear. But that's when I am lucky. Usually it just clogs up.
Still not any wiser as to what to use. First one doesn't work, second two are not recommended, the others are not available.
You surely have access to Baking Soda. It is in your grocery store in the baking section. Apparently, in the UK it is called Sodium Bicarbonate? I don't know. But I do know that Sodium Bicarbonate is Baking Soda. Google it yourself.
Also, regarding steam distilled water: I looked online and found that all my local grocery stores stock distilled water in gallon jugs, and the labels I checked ALL claimed that the water was the result of STEAM distillation! These were stores such as Meijer, Wal-Mart and Kroger. I can't figure out why a lot of commenters are saying that there is no steam distilled water anywhere, unless they didn't really read the labels of the products in their local stores? Anyway, I'm going to give one of those a try, and then try baking soda if I don't get the desired result with the steam distilled water...
I do not like Otex formula's as they have caused me problems as well as my niece. I did have a polyp went into have it removed I was given antibiotic ear drops as I had an infection as well and it disappeared so need for surgery
Per your comments on the steam distilled water, I wonder if normal carbonated water would work even better e.g. soda stream some distilled water, or buy some sparkling water (a brand with no additives).
Soda water also has a negative PH, but also has effervescence, which may help free the wax and may also help push the wax out to the surface. At the very least I can't see it doing any harm.
Just an idea!
Sound advice 👍 Thank you.
Interesting video. I was looking at studies that suggested supposed "cerumenolytics" have little benefit over distilled water so it's good to see this in action. Doesn't freshly distilled water have a pH of around 7? I think it takes time for CO2 to be absorbed. I'm not sure there is any guarantee a sealed bottle of distilled water will have a pH of 6.
So Don't use water, but water is the best? Kind of confused me at the Steam Distilled water at 6.5 PH having the best results in removing the was but putting water in your ear leads to ear infections. ???
Murine eye drops and murine ear wax remover looked very similar and had put the ear wax one in my husbands eyes by accident once!!!!!
I only ever used a couple drops of hydrogen peroxide in my ears, never flooded my ears with it. Just enough to help it along. Doctors over here recommend mixing it with water to dilute it or whatever.
carbamide peroxide is now sold by Boots in the UK
We have clorine in our tap water in north america...wonder if itll give any issue if just used to flush out the ear once in a while
It's probably not ideal. Excess moisture in the ear isn't great and there isn't *that* much chlorine in our water.
The stuff he's using is slightly acidic because of how it's processed which makes it slightly less hospitable to bacterial or fungal growth.
You should NEVER insert liquids heated higher than body temp into your ear. Or colder. Use mineral oil drops for 2 days, syringe lightly with ear facing down, and it will all come out easily. Foot kick to clear swimmers ear. Done.
so distilled water warmed with a bit of white vinegar would do the trick. I actually use this to remove fungus from my ears using a medicine measuring stick from my kids cough syrup bottle to squirt it up there. Works a treat and the gunk just falls out
so.. which better sir?
Interesting pair of videos.
It made me think about the use of bulb irrigators. I have used one in the past with mixed results. When it works it is fine but, obviously, it does have the effect of removing protective wax from the ear canal (as well as other detritus like flaked skin). It also concerns me that the sealed bulb can draw contaminated water/detritus into it during use that can harbour bacteria between uses.
For these reasons I tend to use a mild saline solution using boiled water cooled to just above body temperature, and to internally rinse the bulb in this solution several times before use and rinse again after use.
From your video it sounds like steam distilled water, microwaved to just above body temperature, could be a good option for the actual irrigation as it would leave the canal slightly acidic.
Do you condone the use of these irrigators or have any useage advice?
I would expect there is some way you could clean the ear syringe " bulb ,"
I’m using Debrox as recommended by the nurse at my job ( I already had two bottles in my medicine cabinet. The results so far have been my tinnitus is so far MORE PRONOUNCED than b4 I started using it and also I’m experiencing some pain in that ear , I’m assuming perhaps it’s working the wax out of the ear canal ( at least I HOPE THAT’S what’s happening ) … I’ve used it 3 times thus far ( I believe the box says use for 4 days ) as recommended twice a day 2 times b4 work and so far once after I it off … I’ll refer back after completing the instructions.
Same bro, same. The debrox ain’t debroxing
@@jacksondusenlol damn debrox me either. Has anything worked for you??? I want to do the distilled water but I can't find steam distilled anywhere??
@@theresag.4188 I looked online and found that all my local grocery stores stock distilled water in gallon jugs, and the labels ALL claimed that the water was the result of STEAM distillation! These were stores such as Meijer, Wal-Mart and Kroger. I can't figure out why everyone is saying that there is no steam distilled water anywhere?