Earwax (cerumen) is secreted by glands in the outer ear. Earwax is part of the body's natural defenses. It protects the ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria. If there is not enough wax in the ear, it will be dry and itchy. The problem is when too much earwax accumulates and become too hard to wash away naturally it result in earwax blockage. Excess or impacted earwax can press against the eardrum and/or occlude the external auditory canal and impair hearing.

Symptoms:

• Hearing is becoming duller and the person suspects he may be losing his hearing.
• Feeling of fullness or ringing in the ears.

Causes:

• If you do not chew your food thoroughly, earwax can build up. The chewing tends to break it down.
• Saturated fats contribute to excess production of earwax.

Prevention:

• Do not use cotton buds, because they just ram the wax down deeper and impact it the more.
• Wear ear plugs if you work in a particularly dusty environment to avoid dirt accumulating along with wax.

Natural Remedies:

• To remove wax from your ear, place a few drops of hydrogen peroxide or mineral oil into your ear canal twice a day for two to three days. This will soften the wax. Then a gentle rinsing using a soft ear syringe filled with lukewarm water should clean out the wax.
• If the wax is hard and dry, apply garlic oil for a day or two, to soften it. Then wash out the ear with a steady stream of warm water, under no pressure. Patiently continue irrigating the ear canal, flushing with warm water. The wax buildup will come out.
• To relieve itchy ears, insert a few drops of apple cider vinegar, wait 30 seconds, then tilt head and let it run out.

• Another method is using "ear candles," available at health-food stores. Someone will have to help do this. Instructions come with the candles. Afterward, you may be bothered by the fact that an excess of wax has been eliminated. You may need to put cotton in each ear for a time. This method really works!
• Taking vitamin C (500 mg. 3 times a day) regularly, in 6 months your ears will no longer produce excess wax.

Warning:

• Removal of earwax by self treatment can lead to tearing of the eardrum and this may make the patient permanently deaf. Don't self experiment, always have someone knowledgeable to assist you.
• If earwax blockage has been present and new symptoms such as drainage from the ear, persistent or severe ear pain, fever, or continuous difficulty in hearing are present, do not delay to see the doctor.