Ear issues, sporadic plugging and/or itch?

[terrencevak]

Hello all,
I have a hearing deficit in my left ear that I've had since birth, and hear mostly out of my right ear. Unfortunately, my right ear has been plugging up lately, interspersed with a most annoying itch. It's like whenever the plug clears up, the itch starts in. Often the plug takes some while to clear. I've tried heat, those Debrox drops for wax, and, at the advice of a local friend, sambuca(SP). I'd appreciate any ideas on solutions people have found that resolve, especially, the plug issue as I really need to be able to hear to work with my clients.

Thanks,
Terrence

[Bartholomew]

Hopi Ear candles may help.

[merryb]

Hopi ear candles are wonderful at clearing wax in the ear. It is helpful to have someone to hold the candle so you can relax and enjoy the experience. Worrying about setting fire to your hair makes it hard to relax. ( It is unlikely that you would catch your hair a light.)

with blessing and light
Merryb

[Bartholomew]

I am trained in the use of Hopi Ear candles. They are not candles in actual fact but tubes of stiff cotton soaked in honey and camphor, although you do get other varieties now, containing different ingredients such as essential oils. They contain a small plastic filter about an inch from the bottom which draws matter and fluid up through it and into the candle. I would be wary of using cheap candles without the filters as there is a risk that matter could descend into the ear canal. Caution, do not use if you have an ear infection/inflammation, a perforated ear drum or grommets.
You light the candle and place it in the ear and really it would be hard to administer to yourself as you need to create a vacuum with the hands around the candle. The heat and the vacuum effect, massage the ear drum, loosening any wax and drawing it up through the filter. When the candles burn they fold over and produce a soft ash which does not burn if it comes into contact with the skin or hair, but I place towels around the head and shoulders as a safeguard anyway. You need a small bowl of water to extinguish the candle when it has burnt down to the mark recommended by the manufacturer. I then massage around the outer ear with a carrier oil such as Sweet Almond or Grapeseed and sometimes add essential oils to this. I also use pressure points and lymphatic draninage on the face and head which can help clear the sinuses as well. Although the heat from the candles will also encourage the sinuses to drain. You can open the candle along the seam afterwards and see what has been removed, gory but fascinating, I've seen some big clumps of wax and mucus in my time.
Apparently the candles were used by the Ancient Eygptians and North American Indians for spiritual cleansing as well as they thought they cleared the aura of negative energy.

[merryb]

Hi Bartholomew,

your treatment method sounds wonderful - I would sign up for treatment.

With blessings
Merryb

[terrencevak]

I always thought you pretty much had to find a practitioner for those; even if you could do it yourself, I would'n be jumping to try it solo anyway as I still haven't come up with adaptations for working with fire while not being able to see what I'm doing. I'll have to see if I can find someone who does that around here.

Thanks,
Terrence

[Bartholomew]

It would be best to find a therapist to do it for you. If you were local to me I would come and do it for you,as I am now a mobile therapist.But there's lots of us therapists around, ten a penny, so I am sure you will find a local one to help you. Anyway I hope you get some relief soon.

[Corwen]

Sounds to me like you may have a minor outer ear infection- maybe a fungal one, which would account for the itching. Go to your doctor, he'll be able to tell by having a look or maybe taking a swab. Once you know what the cause is you can think about treatments- there are lots of topical anti infection treatments like salty water and tea tree oil. Once the infection is cleared up your ear will produce less wax.

[terrencevak]

Hmm, true; I'm planning to find a naturopath as soon as I can afford to; I've lost my faith in straight-up MDs a long time ago and Medicare doesn't cover alternative methods. But every time I've approached MDs about stuff they either manage to come up with some quick fix that doesn't last, their answers just don't work, or they just plain don't have an answer. So I've just about given up on them...but that's a whole topic in and of itself. Anyway, guess I'm just stuck for the next couple weeks, eh?

[Tynan Elder Oak]

Hi there terrencevak, I am a herbalist and currently studying in my last push, so to speak to up grade to a naturopath.

As your hearing is long term compromised you should get it checked out as Corwen suggests, but may I also recommend certain things that you can do for yourself to make a difference.

Firstly look at your diet. Many ear problems are severely compromised by milk/dairy and wheat/glueten allergies which are tickling away sub acutely until something triggers of a reaction which then causes a flare up. The eustacion tubes are relatively small, and drain away waxy/mucal build up adequately when not understress. However if you are already dealing with excess mucal production due tio allergy or colds etc then the tubes become stressed AND inflammed and also try to deal with the excess, causing blockages so common in young children and nasal and ear discomfort in adults.

Often you can be allergic to the things you most like and would find hardest to give up.... and if when you were a child you had problems with ent and persistent coughs colds and ear aches, this could be even more likely. This is because when the body is dealing with a food allergy/reaction, it causes internal inflammation across the whole body, and particualry sensitive to this is the ears nose and throat (ENT) areas and the gut. Milk and dairy of ANY kind, particulalry during a cold/flu period INCREASES mucal production and adds further distress to the ears nose and throat. (ENT) http://www.dherbs.com/articles/dangerous-dairy-238.html Have a look at this site, and of course there are many others too.

Parsley and peppermint tea is a very good anti - phlegm tea and taken gently and regualry can make a difference. Mullein and fenurgreek tinctures may also be helpful and if you add cayenne tincture or powder to your parsley tea the warming affect is both clearing and soothing.
A regualr dose of Vit amin D daily will also help the whole system with this problem and is particulalry good for those of us in the western world who do not get enough sunshine and are known to be Vitamin D3 deficient. (Asthamtics and those with bronchial problems and those who are obese are nearly always deficient. Do look at these sites for usufal info which you can check elsewhere too.... I am a beliver in looking for lots of info!!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpQ4HMfi3gs
naimh.com/eletter-07-2009.pdf
http://medherb.com/Therapeutics/Pediatr ... ctions.htm

A gentle wash of tea tree with a flannel (NOT EAR/COTTON BUDS ) can deal with any fungal issues there may be. Just a few drops in the sink water and warm flannel is all you need. Note: More drops in the water does not mean better! A mild solution is best as ears are sensitive.

Any way, nuff said! I hope this all helps.....some of the above may not seem relevant but I feel that when one part of the body expresses dis-ease with itself, hte whole body is suffering too.... so, nothing is wasted, look at the stuff and grab hold of what resonates with you.

Hope you get some resolution for this ... blessings of light, love and laughter and WELLNESS to you. /|\

[echoe]

you can also try magnesium chloride solution via nasal spray. You'll have to make your own. You can mix 100% natural magnesium chloride (from a hardware store: de-icer or from a garden center for plants, cheap) 1/2 gallon distilled or pure water with 2/3 cup of magnesium chloride. spray into the nasal cavity. I'm sorry to say it'll sting like crazy for a few minutes, around 5 but seems a lot longer! It'll cause you to blow your nose, but it'll stop post-nasal dripping which can be a cause of stuff up ears, and it will kill any bacteria in the ears from the sinus side, it'll also unplug the ears of any hardened wax. You can also drop some drops of the liquid mixiture into your ears and hold it in that ear for several minutes before allowing it to drain.

the magnesium chloride lowers histamine levels, kills bacteria and fungus, and helps to clear the sinuses. I hate doing it, but it works so well, and I've worn hearing aids since I was 3. I've had severe hearing loss since birth. And the chronic ear infetions for about the last 7 or 8 years until I started magnesium therapy a month and a half ago. The itch could be fungus, yeast, or infections. The plugging could be wax, or liquid drainage from sinuses if you often have post nasal drip.

[pesky mystic]

Hi there,
I agree with the allergy answer. I experienced hearing loss in one ear, and went to the doctor for nausea and dizziness. She sent me for test after test and could find nothing wrong, but suspected the ears as the problem. I researched on-line and found a free, downloadable book about sulphite sensitivity and found that by removing as many sulphites as I could from my diet (homemade everything and organic when I could find it) I pretty well cleared up all the symptoms. Sulphites apparently is one of the nine most common food sensitivities in Canada, and so have to be declared on a label. However, they are under other names, such as glucose-fructose, cornstarch, soya etc. So by experimenting, I have reached a common ground with super healthy vs favorites and have improved considerably. Symptoms vary by individual and sulphite sensitivity is hard to diagnose and doctors will not test for it as it is a sensitivity not an allergy. Just to give you an idea. The worst food triggers are chocolate and candy, sweet pickles, bread, and canned anything.

[Aigeann]

Pesky Magic-

Welcome to the Board! I hope your time with us is enlightening and entertaining.

Blessings, Aigeann