because of u and this video i have not had an ear infection for 4 months!!!! which is amazing for me - i now create a nice acid ear with ear calm :D and no infections - the last one at christmas was so bad i think it went to menigitus after - stiff neck and slurring words and no balance - cause i was poking a pin in the abcess for pain relief - and then i burnt all inside my ear with hydrogen peroxide and burnt both ear drums to the point i had a hole in one and air would come out when i blew my nose - Basically thankyou my gp is useless - 4 months! :D and yes my bath water is very alkali i know from my blue berry plants :D ( they dont like my tap water) THANK YOU
so great that you found a good solution!! I think using hydrogen peroxide on irritated tissue may have been why it was a problem, when there is irritation or any broken tissue (sticking pin in abscess, ouch...not sure if that was outside the ear?) that would really require something more gentle. However on undamaged tissue, hydrogen peroxide is effective and safe, I have used for years after audiologist and ENT doctor both recommended (in the states, at 3% concentration).
I'm a 65 year old retired pharmacist. I always used stool softener gel caps that I would soak in warm water for a minute or so, then poke a hole in the gel cap and squeeze the docusate sodium into my ear; let it sit for fifteen minutes then rinse with hydrogen peroxide in a bulb syringe. Works great.
I was recently told to use liquid Colace docusate sodium for wax removal. But it's not sold that way. I did find gel capsules but didn't know if I could poke a hole and use the liquid, and the pharmacist I spoke to was clueless on this remedy. Thank you for your helpful comment! If you happen to see this - do you dilute the docusate sodium at all? And what size / amount is the capsule you're using? I'm afraid of using too much.
@@windellmcspindell3652 wow!! I’ve been trying different things for a very clogged and stubborn ear and nothing has worked. I never thought to put the peroxide in the ear syringe but the pressured delivery of the peroxide done the trick! Thank you!
Kudos to any physician who provides information that contradicts or counters the interests of the Medical Industrial Complex. Information about these potential home remedies benefits tens of thousands, if not millions of people....Thank You!
So glad I found this video. After weeks / months / years of blocked ear issues, this matches my experience - weeks of olive oil use did nothing for me. After watching this I tried sodium bicarbonate, and 1 or 2 weeks later I’m hearing everything too loud! I find it bizarre that so many ‘professionals’ are still recommending olive oil when a simple experiment shows it doesn’t do much. Thanks Vik!
It's important to note that earwax isnt identical in everyones ears, some have softer and some have harder earwax naturally due to the amount of oils and dead skin cells they produce, I personally have had no help from olive oil, but i could see someone with softer earwax would be able to get some benefits from it. It doesnt do much more than lubricate your ear canal though, allowing the earwax to slide out easier from what i gather. But it wont get past harder earwax making it effectively useless in those cases. He touches upon this in the video.
I had used ear buds every other day for all of my adult life (35 years). This summer I was using 10 a day at one point because inside my ears was so itchy all the time, it felt like i kept having fluid lining my ears and i thought this was bad and I then got an infection. Thank you for explaining the conveyor belt of the ear and I now understand how important it is not to tamper with this process. You explained it so well.
i’m my many years of watching youtube, this is the most informative video i have seen that directly affects my life, i scratch my itchy ears with a device you showed. I will no longer do that. I even watch the adverts in full to support you. Thank you doctor.
I've used Murine Ear Drops, a peroxide glycerine type, if "fresh" (active peroxide type) I found 6 to 8 drops in the ear, then leaning forwards turn the head sideways and the jaw up, making the ear canal point upwards, for 5 to twenty minutes, there is a foaming action, which mechanically expands, dislodging the wax, freeing it to be lifted out by the rush of the warm water syringe. Often big chunks come out. After flushing once, I've tried a second or third treatment, knocking less out, but sometimes productive. What you've seemed to miss, is the heat and fresh earwax somehow releasing the warm foaming action of the peroxide in loosening the wax. I'm 70 now and it doesn't seem to work so good, but when I was younger it was very productive. A treatment or two would eliminate the ear wax issue for a year or three. Again Murine ear drops, in New Jersey in the USA.
Thank you for finally explaining why we shouldn't use earbuds - I just assumed it was because people aren't careful enough to avoid pushing wax backward into the ear canal, but hearing that it's actually ruining the conveyor belt effect of the hairs (I'm guessing) makes way more sense, and will actually stop me from ever using them in my ears again.
I wore AirPods for a year and the way they accelerated the hearing loss was incredible. My ears were so blocked I literally couldn’t hear when someone was entering or leaving a room. I had to go to my gp to syringe it and the quality of hearing was insane. Hairs on the back of my neck was literally raised from the sound quality it was intense. They’re a bit blocked now so I’m using hydrogen peroxide and it actually seems to work: I have flaky wax but it’s deffo loosening/ softening it lol!
I think the restriction of air flow makes a difference, too. Never mind that some folks are allergic to the material ear buds are made from. I’v found that using Bluetooth ear hooks with tiny speakers that stay outside the ears address those issues
I assume you meant 'cotton buds' or 'Q tips' 4:45 for cleaning as explained in the video. This as opposed to Bluetooth 'Earbuds' for music etc as some are thinking here. In my experience it is entirely possible to safely use the latter regularly in moderation, even those with silicone tips. I clean my ear canal entrance regularly by removing the stuff that has reached the end of the 'conveyor belt'. All I use is a tiny amount of soap and a moist fingertip at bath time, then dry thoroughly. Again, all of this OUTside at the ear canal entrance. This also keeps silicone eartips clean, but I clean them anyway too.Then of course, take frequent breaks to let fresh air in throughout the listening period. I've had zero issues with Bluetooth Earbuds this way.
I have noticed the peroxide you are using has a yellow colouring to it and seems to be gluey and thick just like the olive oil. All the peroxides that i have ever seen and used have always been a clear liquid thinner than water and when the peroxide hits the ear wax it bubles and when you poured the peroxide into the test tube it did not bubble or react to the ear wax so the peroxide you are using may indeed be the wrong type. Also good to know we all have an ear wax escallator in our ear drums. You learn something new every day so thanks for the good video. Cheers from John in Australia
I’ve always heard using cotton swabs was bad for your ears, but did it anyway after showers since my ears feel like the have water in them. For some reason having an explanation of why it hurts the ears will motivate me to stop. SO much great info In this video!
So I stumbled across this video and it is very interesting. However, as some other comments suggest, I think there are other factors to consider. When you are using ear drops, you are not replicating this experiment here. The wax isn't floating inside your ear, but is likely attached to the ear canal. You are also not filling your ear canal with a liquid that then sits there for several days- much of it will escape (and you'll likely repeat the process). As such, while we learn which liquids dissolve wax best over days, the softening element is really important too...great vid though.
Wow. I was just searching for a vetted product and ended up texting my friend to watch this fascinating and educational video. Lovely presentation. Thank you.
I live in America and the product that I have found has sodium bicarbonate has very good reviews on Amazon. It's called ear wax, MD. It also has glycerin and glycolic acid potassium bicarbonate benzyl alcohol. It recommends that you flush it after you leave it in for 15 minutes with warm water. Is the warm water a necessary step? Thank you so much! That was very informative video. I've been suffering with a impaction of wax since I was in my early twenties. I am now in my late '50s. The doctor recommended I go see a specialist that has the little micro vacuum but I cannot afford the copay and it is affecting my balance at this point
Clear and helpful. After GP nurse advice to use olive oil a week before syringing, (no longer available) I use olive oil every day in an attempt to keep the wax soft and enable it to pass out naturally. After a couple of months my ears become totally blocked and I resort to home syringing with warm water in desperation. I have used sodium bicarbonate before with some success. Will now try the distilled water on a regular basis.
I love and appreciate that instead of just blindingly recommending stuff, you took the time to make an experiment and determine what works from there. Now when I decide to clean my ears, I can now make an informed choice, and be able to take care of them without damaging them. Thank you so much!
Very interesting with the experiment. I've used a branded drops with glycerine and urea hydrogen peroxide previously. After a few days I used a bubble syringe and cooled boiled water to flush out the ear. After about 10-15mins of flushing a large plug of wax came out with smaller fragments. Maybe its aim is not necessarily to dissolve it but loosen it enough to allow it to be flushed out. If there is concern about the alkalinity of bicarb, couldn't the bicarb be used to get rid of the wax, then use the ear calm after to top up the acidity? I might add, the clarity of my hearing after this plug came out was incredible. I'm sure it was this which attributed to my being off balance, because that has gone too.
I bought an at home irrigating solution. Included was an empty dropper bottle. You do a 50:50 of 70% isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar to return ear canal to the correct ph.
FYI - the purpose for Hydrogen Peroxide is not to dissolve the wax, but to push it up to the surface (top of the fluidline) for easier access of removal. Your demonstration proved that this is indeed what it does! :)
So if you use a different softener first maybe you could follow that with peroxide and maybe remove more faster? Interesting thought. 🤔 Thank you for your insight.
I’m not sure I agree. With a totally blocked ear, which is why most people seek relief, the Hydrogen Peroxide can only work on the outside area of the wax blocking the ear canal. For it to ‘push’, a lot of Hydrogen Peroxide would have to penetrate the wax and push-off against something on the on the other side. I don’t believe this to be the case. Nor do I think the wax ‘floats’ in the ear as it does in a test tube. Simple mechanics says that the test tube in the video was vertical, the ear canal is horizontal and has no ‘surface’ or ‘fluidline’ as such, for the wax to float on. Besides which, a wax blockage doesn’t float anywhere... trust me, I have this problem two or three times a year. Finally, the bubbles generated by the Hydrogen Peroxide is a strong indication that the wax is in fact being dissolved - see my post above.
@@alinlimbo1851 Hydrogen peroxide decomposes organic material, from a basic chemistry standpoint. The problem with high concentrations of it, you will most certainly start eating away healthy skin. What the 50/50 solution contains is 50% water and 50% of 2% H202, so really it's 1% H202 and 99% H20. Without repeating the treatment of flushing and reapplying daily, you are right that there would be 0 effect on the earwax itself.
I accidentally stumbled on Dr Vik Veer ear wax. Although the video was nearly twenty minutes with several ads, yet I watch it wholly and attentively. I learned new details about the ear wax and the natural wax generation outwards to the outer ear. I LOVED the FIVE experimental tubes from your volunteered patients (you know who you are). Lastly, I got convinced with your Five alternative product solutions to remove the ear wax. Keep up the great work. Mah-M🙂🙂d
Years ago, I did a similar experiment on a ball of my wax, but I only used Hydrogen Peroxide 3%, water 97%. This is used for first aid and is very low cost. The Hydrogen Peroxide you show is 5%, but the other ingredients are not water. Anyway the version I used dissolved the ball in an hour, and there were many bubbles produced (O2, I assume). My doctor said it's safe for me to use, I have done now once a month for 15 years. I lay down on my side, use an eye dropper full, and lay for an hour or more to let it work. It is quite noisy though and makes me a bit dizzy. Done on a regular basis, I never get large balls of wax anymore. Perhaps there are more types of ear wax and the best remedy will be different for different people.
I just wanted to drop a comment about my own experience. I just got over a double ear infection that went on for almost 6 months. I have had problems on and off for years with my ears getting infected. I used Neem tea solution to spray in my ears and up my nose as well as some garlic water solution with pink salt. Both solutions were very helpful in the healing process, but when I finally knocked out the infections in my ears and sinuses, I was using fresh squeezed garlic juice without any added water and a cotton swab to gently swab out my ears. I can't say enough about how good the fresh squeezed garlic juice and swab worked. Now, I avoid swabbing my ears at all as I am still trying to get my ears fully healed. It was very bad and deep even affecting my inner ear, my balance and equilibrium. I don't have a doctor, so I try and take care of my own health issues as best I can. I know cotton swabs are normally not a good idea unless know how to use them gently and properly, but I used many, many cotton swabs over the last 6 months trying to swab out the infected fluids in my ears. I think I got a fungal infection from an RV that I had to clean after setting closed up for a few months. Beware of fungus. It is very hard to stop once it get's in your sinuses and ears. However, the pure garlic JUICE with a swab killed the fungus and bacterial infections in my ears like an amazing medicine. I sprayed garlic solution up nose for weeks and it helped as well. I think the Garlic juice is best thing I have found for treating my ear infections. I am much better now, almost fully healed, but I know my ears will always be sensitive and I have to be careful of exposure to fungus and bacteria infected spaces.
My late gran was hit by a car as a child. A consequence of this was a perforated eardrum. Incredibly enough, there was once a doctor who, despite having her medical notes, was going to syringe her ear! She had a problem in the perforated drum ear with a fluid build up. Every few weeks or so she had suction treatment. A doctor many years ago told me to avoid hydrogen peroxide based ear wax removers. He claimed they were potentially dangerous and certainly not suitable for a person with a history of ear infections. Thanks for the video.
The most informative video I've seen on this subject, thank you. It would be useful to repeat the experiment with the test tubes at body temperature as I think that perhaps the olive oil will be more effective. I have found that after using bicarbonate of soda for a few days if I then put in warm olive oil (to a carefully measured 30 degrees being cautious) and then later flush it out with more warm oil, this works far better than water. I think that the oil is having a lubricating effect to aid removal, rather than dissolving the wax.
I agree with your findings. At over 70yo, I have found the “elixir” of earwax control. Every month, or so, I simply let warm water flow into the canal and hold my head at an angle while cleaning to keep the water in place. Then when done, I use the 3’ rubber ball syringes to gently flush the stuff out. Works like a champ! No bad effects.
Thankyou very much for this video, I started noticing that my ear was getting blocked and wanted to find a safe way of getting rid of it and I am pleased to say if I haven't gotten rid of all of it the vast majority of the blocking ear wax is gone after a few days of waking up to my ear covered in loose wax I have clear ears again and I greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for that valuable information. I am 80 tears old and I use audífonos. Every day. What do I do to keep my ear wax from accumulating in the ear piece and does this push the wax further into the ear tube?
As everyone else has said, an excellent video. You’re a wonderful teacher with your calm demeanor and your wealth of information that you present in a easy to understand format. One issue that you did not review is how to use the eardrops properly. My experience has been placing it in the ear waiting five minutes And having it run out. How do you tell your patience do use whatever you recommend to them. Thank you again
I experienced having difficulty putting the eardrop inside my ears I did everything but still the eardrop didn't go Inside,any advice I tilted I even pull up and down the earlier and even find a good position where I can feel the eardrop going inside but still not working
Interesting video - I sometimes get ear wax problems once every few months or a year or so. I'm another Otex hydrogen peroxide user - Lay on my side until it stops "fizzing" and use a tissue to gently mop up what comes out. It normally takes between 3 and 6 days of repeated treatment twice a day until it works, then it's fine for several months. I wonder why it did nothing in your test tube. As others have said, maybe it's because the conditions of the eardrum are different? Perhaps ear wax needs to be partially exposed to the air for hydrogen peroxide to work on it, rather than the wax being completely immersed in it. Or hydrogen peroxide somehow speeds up the "conveyor belt" inside the ear canal in some strange way.
What an excellent video. Thank you. I have occasional episodes of wax build up. For many years I've used olive oil for about a week (thinking that it would soften the wax) and then used an irrigator to flush out the wax debris. It's worked as the wax comes out in 2 to 3 mm long flat flakes with the occasional larger lump. When I've squeezed the larger lumps with my fingers it seems very soft. I guess that it might be tricky to collect sufficient ear wax, but I wonder if a follow-up experiment might be useful. How about leaving ear wax in oil for different lengths of time and estimating the firmness/integrity (in arbitrary units!) of the wax after soaking. I wouldn't expect the wax to dissolve (as the experiment showed it didn't) but I would expect the wax to soften and maybe become more crumbly and thus be easier to remove by irrigation. The advantage of irrigation is that it can be done by individuals at home with very little danger of injury.
Very informative. I'd say you should test more remedies for the ear wax. One criticism is that hydrogen peroxide you have, that's nothing like what we have in the US. Here it is mostly water with a little bit of peroxide (3%), so it is runny just like water. When you put it on skin it bubbles profusely, I think how it works is it does not dissolve the wax, but that bubbling in the skin disturbs and dislodges the wax and it comes right out in little pieces. I've also heard of carbamide peroxide being an option in some OTC ear wax remedies.
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon - What is the difference between Hydrogen Peroxide in the UK and Hydrogen Peroxide in the US - why is it not the same? I had LOTS of problems as a child - ear infections and high fever several times a year, but my parents could not afford tubes or tonsilectomy [ the evaluation was almost always identical - swollen tonsils, ear infection and 104 F degree fever ] .. my doctor always prescribed Hydrogen Peroxide 2 -3 x daily and anti-biotics - I would usually miss 2 - 3 days of school til the fever broke - .. I grew out of it when I hit puberty around 13 and was never sick for about 35 or so years .. then started having itching in my ears about 5 -7 years ago .. I self admin [US] Hydrogen Peroxide nearly every night but the itching comes back every day .. drives me bonkers ..I'm constantly working my jaw trying to "scratch" the inside of my ear .. I also "croak" - it's a trick a taught myself when I was young .. the vibrations from my throat "scratch" or send vibrations through the inner ear .. I've tried all of the ear drops available but none of them seem to do any good ..
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon(From Non fact checked memory) In the USA we have a limit of 3% ( First Aid Antiseptic) Over The Counter limit for Hydrogen Peroxide. I am not sure but i think there is a much lower 0.1% in the UK. The teeth whitening (10% USA / 6% UK) and other uses may have higher percentages. Plus the version we have is H20/H2O2 mix with no gelling agent. -- Keep up the good work on the videos.
@@shadowwalker23901 I thought his hydrogen peroxide looked strange. There was definitely an oily consistency to it before the wax had a chance to break down.
I have worked in pediatric emergency departments in the US for over 2 decades. We use Colace (docusate sodium), a stool softener, to dissolve ear wax before gentle irrigation. Place liquid Colace into the ear canal and let it soak for 10-15 min, then let it drain followed by gentle irrigation with warm water using a syringe. I would be curious to hear your opinion and if that is common in the UK.
I've had olive oil work for me. It would also be prescribed as a preparation before syringing. I think it works well to loosen the wax rather than dissolve it.
@Someone called Rob, yes I feel your analysis on olive oil 'loosening' rather than dissolving maybe correct. The ear spray I'm using at the moment, recommended by the ENT specialist, ingredient says squalene derived from Olive oil, spearmint oil , paraffin - light mineral oil.. it's name clean ears made by biorevive.
Ive recently bought some olive oil ear drops and they recommend using it for 2-3 weeks. Perhaps it works but just slower than the others. It would have been interesting to see the affects over this longer time period.
Hi, enjoyed this vid, you confirmed what I have beieved for a long time that olive oil does nothing. I have very sticky oil and often get build up,I occasionally go for cleaning with the micro suction method. i dont drink, dont smoke but have a lot of ear wax. I also have a serious issue with equalizing my ears, I used to Scuba dive, but found the crackling and poping in my ear for a week or 2 after diving just too irritating, so I have stopped diving. I even sometimes experience the same from flying or even a casual swim in the Pool. My ears will crackle and pop for a week or 2. (predominantly my left ear) When diving I practice early and often equalizing before diving, and dont have too many issues while diving. But seem to have more issues with the assent. I did have my ears checked 20 years ago by an ENT. he said my ears were normal and could see no reason for any issues. I have also in the past 5 years had mild hearing loss, and now suffer from Tinnitis, but I am able to ignore this in most part. Do you have any suggestions or thoughts as to why my ears pop and crackle after diving or flying/swimming?
For everyone saying the olive oil doesn't do anything, do you heat it before applying? I had wax up against my eardrum and it takes months to get an appointment for microsuction. Very warm olive oil helped dislodge the build up.
Something I noticed about the test. You appear to have conducted it at room temperature, whereas these remedies will be applied in the ear, where I guess it is about 37^C . Wax softens or melts with heat, so it might make a difference.
I’m amazed with your findings Vik and thank you for this helpful video. I’m currently going through a frustrating time of not being able to hear in Right ear so I’ve used the commercial olive oil drops before attending ear wax removal appointment at Specsavers. The practitioner said I had absolutely no wax at all (so did the olive oil worked??) but I have a blockage behind the ear drum. So I’ve seen my GP, completed antibiotics treatment, used Baconease drops, steamed as well….still not better. Now I’m doing nasal sinus rinses but all that happened so far is that I’ve added stuffed nose feeling. The tinnitus, nausea, pressure in head and sinuses, poor sense of taste, smell and bad hearing is still there. Trying it all atm and watching your videos to get educated. It is quite debilitating but hopefully there’s a solution waiting and the problems will go away soon. I’m very hopeful 🤞🤞 Thanks for your educational and informative content :)
One of the common substances used back in times was diluted boric acid, that would be interesting to test it too. Speaking of sodium bicarbonate - the effects are quite predictable - it is hygroscopic and has strong degreasing properties, so it removes oil from the skin and keeps it dry.
Thanks for sharing this information! I've only had blockages for the past handful of years and it's only in my right ear. Fortunately it may only happen once a year and tends to clear within 2 weeks. This time it's been 4 weeks so I'm looking for remedy. I've tried olive oil (which I wish I'd watched this before!) and also alcohol/apple cider vinegar but no relief. I think I'll give sodium bicarb a try to see if it shifts. Many thanks and have a wonderful day!
Great explanation thank you! I scuba dived for over 20 years and we used a solution of half isopropyl alcohol and half white vinegar to prevent swimmers ear. I guess it worked, never got it.
Interesting--I'm an American and all of our ear drops are indeed some kind of peroxide. It fizzes satisfyingly as if it is working, but for me, it always seems to do absolutely nothing but clog my ear further with wax and water. Our drops in America, Debrox, have never once unclogged a clogged ear for me, no matter how long I try. So when I learned that the Brits use sodium bicarbonate, I ordered some Otex. Day 2 and not a lot seems to be happening, so I will wait until Day 5. Excruciating to wait that long when you have clogged ears, but this shows that it will indeed work in a few days. In desperation, I just tried the American Debrox that I already had, and an ear syringe with warm water--these home remedies never work for me, and I always have to visit the doctor when my ears clog. Good thing I saw this before I tried the olive oil, because I was on my way to try that next. But now I know I just have to wait for the Otex to work. Thank you!
So EarCalm is vinegar (acetic acid)? And baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) dissolves earwax (bc earwax is acidic, presumably)? How about using baking soda (dissolved in hydrogen peroxide, perhaps) to remove excess earwax, and then vinegar to disinfect (of bacterial and fungus), and restore the acidic pH?
Thanks Dr. . I was using ear drops with a glycerin. I then flushed with a syringe with warm water. I now have water and maybe oil trapped. My hearing in that ear is very poor. I was trying hydrogen peroxide past day. No luck. I will use a sodium bicarbonate solution.
I have recurring ear wax problems, probably due to aging as you explained. I use olive oil as instructed by my doctor and that works very well. The secret is to warm some up and pout as much into the ear as possible, hold your head on one side for a short while, then straighten up and let it run out. Repeat this flushing several times a day for a couple of days and whola, clear ears.
In the US we have a product that is carbamide peroxide. It is over the counter and inexpensive. I won’t mention the brand name. When placed in the ear sometimes the person can hear a crackling like bubbles from a carbonated beverage. Follow with a bulb syringe of clean water and sometimes whole globs of wax will come out.
Thanks for the excellent video n demonstration of all remedies. Can I use freshly made distilled water from a water distiller used in dentistry? My GP recommended olive oil, used it for a week with no improvement. They have offered me microsuction if olive oil fails to clear the wax. About 12 yrs ago, a consultant in Colombia recommended bicarbonate of soda drops for my daughter who used to suffer from glue ear. I will most likely try the steam distilled water. How do one prevent ear wax from building?
Very interesting..I never had issues with my ears feeling clogged until I turned 55. Now I have to go to my ENT every 9 mos to have my ears vacuumed or they pull the sticky wax out. I am so paranoid now that I don't get any water in my ears. Very frustrating. I'd like to be able to clean my own ears....Really enjoyed your video. Thanks.
I'm in my mid 40's and for the last 2 years, every 6 months I have to get the micro-suction procedure done, as my ears get clogged with ear wax. Apparantely my ear canals are very narrow and hairy! This vid was very informative! Thank you Dr.
@@bkhan1741 Underlying health issues result in the excess production of wax, if you can fix the internal inflammatory stressors then you may well be able to reduce excessive problematic ear wax buildup. Possibly invest in an ear irrigation kit too.
Same here. I try ear irrigation, pumping warm water with 20% paroxide, but it's to much work hehe. Now I just master the way of using a ear pick that has a build in light. Head tiled and slowly insert in, dig and scope. It's more satisfying seeing chunk of your excessive ear wax got scoop out like ice cream
I've noticed a liquid soap called "Dr. Bronner's" really removes wax in the outer ear (while showering). My flavor is spearmint so I have been reluctant to put it into the ear canal, but a more benign "flavoring" may be a good option. The hydrogen peroxide drops cause a fizzing in my ear- similar to 7-up bubbles (carbonation). I always thought it was dissolving the wax, but in reality it probably isn't! Thx.
Sodium bicarbonate is absolutely bloody fantastic for degreasing kitchen stuff, it was how I regularly cleaned the kitchen fan filter before we got a dishwasher machine. You put the filter in hot water with enough sodium bicarbonate, and the hot solution would basically do your work for you, unlike e.g. hand dishwasher detergent in hot water.
Execelent video. I would like to ask about the distilled water. What does it contain, and does one need to warm it first, how much to put in . I would like more information ..Thank you!
I'm so happy I found this video . I have 7 bottles of not inexpensive ear drops and the one I didn't really fancy was the best one . Thank you so much .
Great explanation -always wondered why my ear canal itched so much and then felt damaged after rubbing with a cotton but. Now I have a clear understandable reason why I should leave it alone! Scientific medical info is such a wonderful thing.
Mr Veer. How’s it going? This came up on my recommended. So I thought I would watch it. People. This man is a great surgeon and a really great guy. I work with him at Queens.
The reason I ended up here viewing your excellent video was because our recently-acquired toy poodle puppies (7 months, brother sister littermates) have had ear infections recently and I was searching for information on veterinary otoscopes to check on their ears (my wife is a medical specialist intensive care doctor and I am a medical student (sorta)). I just thought I would tell you :-) (someone may have useful information on my issue). Cheers.
Hi. Thank you for all your videos on ear problems. I have had tinnitus in my left ear for about 12 years. I am 46 years of age. In the last few days I have notice hearing loss in my right ear and it is not tinnitus. Could it be an ear infection and what should I do? Should I try cleaning my ear out before seeing my GP? I am in Watford UK.
I'm very pleased with your presentation but want to add to it. Me and my cat have had problems but hydrogen peroxide had an almost immediate breakup of debris. I had apparently gotten an ear mite from her and the wax production exploded and hurt. I had mine cleaned out with diluted hydrogen peroxide and warm water and an ear tool somewhat like a dental pick. It hurled wax all over the room floor and probably the mite, too. I've done cat's ears with 3 % hydrogen peroxide and it threw out clots and blackened wax and prepared her for Bactine, the only thing I know to use. Hydrogen peroxide also works when a black fanged white spider gets in my ear. If they don't come out in an hour or two, they die. Warm water might work , but I use the peroxide.
Many thanks for this, interesting. The drops I use these days are something slightly different again: Glycerina Carbonada, which seems to be a mixture of Glycerine with Sodium Carbonate (washing soda). I apply them warmed overnight then, after a few days use a rubber ball syringe to expel the ear wax in a large plug. Seems to work well enough: syringing before the drops achieves no expulsion.
I have really fully blocked ears since March 20, have tried Otex but useless and rang Spec Savers and a Hearing place but they charge £70 to remove the wax and being a pensioner that was impossible to afford. So thank you Mr Veer, I will try the Sodium Carbonate and if that doesn't work I will try the Ear Calm. I certainly hope one of them work as I am going mad due to a lot of noise in my ears and not being able to hear clearly.
Very Informative. I worked in Audiology and often get asked about ear wax, this video covers so many questions i get. Now i will tell them to watch this. Thank you Vik.
You didn't mention the effects of hearing aids which seem to drive wax inward, similar to a cotton swab. I never had an issue with ear wax until being forced to get hearing aids. My doctor recommended Debrox available here in the states which states the active ingredient as Carbanide Peroxide followed by after several days with a shot of water from a pump type bottle. From your description this may not have been the best solution (no pun intended). What do you recommend to you patients who use hearing aids which effectively seal the ear canal while worn?
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon and perhaps isopropyl alcohol mixed with white vinegar? Some doctors recommend it. I have an ear pain and I believe I have an infection but don't have means to visit a doctor now, I'm using hydrogen peroxide starting from today but now doubting after your tests. Thanks a lot, will see what I can do
I used olive oil for many years, but it never occurred to me to use it cold. I use it slightly warmer than 'lukewarm' (if that makes sense!) - always being super careful about the temperature because of the delicacy of the ear canal. It always worked.
My Mother in law would use it warm with a Plant from Mexico. High up in the Mountains. We call it “Stinky “ plant with little yellow flowers. And you cook it with the Olive Oil. And when the flower Pops. It’s ready. Worked for us every tine ! Info my brother in-law ripped it out and into the trash 🤔🙄
I am so glad you made and published this experiment! The only change which I would make - I would put these beakers on a hot plate and would keep them at 37 C. You see, solubility of wax in mild solvents is very temperature dependent. For example, I am totally not surprised that nothing got dissolved in olive oil at room temperature. However, at body temperature, one can dissolve about 10% of wax (by weight) in oil (measured by volume, i.e., in 10 ml of oil one can dissolve 1 g of wax. This is how salves are made - and I made a few in my aromatherapy and herbalism journey! It is hard to say if oil would dissolve a hard wax, but bees wax would definitely dissolve in oil within 5 mins at 37 C, but probably would not dissolve at all at room temperature. Similar logic applies to any solvent, temperature is a huge factor in solubility and dissolution rate. When we put drops of liquid into the ear, it quickly heats up to body temperature in the ear, and this can make a difference.
Clicked for the title. Stayed for the lapel pin. In all seriousness, this was extremely informative, helpful, and much appreciated. Thank you so much for your thorough experimentation and insight. Also, should you ever tire of being a surgeon,, might I suggest a career in audiobook narration? I feel like I’ve just left a spa treatment…minus the hefty price tag and adding in the newfound knowledge I retained while staring, transfixed, at that pin. Brilliant!
hahaha! the pins are kinda a thing for me. just bought some more, so I guess they will make an appearance at some point. I went on TV and all anyone talked about was my Pokémon pin 😂 perhaps if I ever finish my book I'll do an audible version🥺
Hi Vik, THANK YOU!!! you are solely responsive for me breaking the cotton-bud poking habit of a lifetime(37yrs)!!! I had never heard about the ‘conveyor belt’ action of the ear canal before and how easily it can be disrupted. It’s been about 6 weeks now and i can tell the system is back in action, every so often nice little bits of wax fall out. This is actually more satisfying to me than when I used to have a good twizzling session with a bud. Thank you very much!! Awesome informative to-the-point videos👍👍👍✌️
Watched all the way through. Very informative and interesting. Would you believe 5 weeks to see a professional FOC . After big kick up a nurse will look in 4 days. Thank you
I use hydrogen peroxide & an eye dropper & it’s always worked very well (it bubbles & fizzes when it’s working). I only need to get rid of ear wax maybe once or twice a year & usually in just one ear.
A very informative video that I found very helpfulmhaving had ear problems for the last 20 years or so. I have had some success with olive oil, which I normally used before having my ears syringed (when it was done via the NHS). However, I always warmed the oil in hot water to bring it up to a comfortable temperature and it did work. I have very dry ear canals with flaky skin apparently. Thank you for a great video. I'm just about to watch your video on tinnitus, something I've suffered with for the last 25 years.
I can't believe that I just watched this entire video and it was fantastic. Really informative. I will definitely be changing what I do! Thank you! Sometimes, the truth is a bit boring!
Hey Doc, I have a hole on my right ear and there is blockage in my right ear , wet liquid and smelly wax comes out of my ear every time. Then i start researching and found out your video. I found your channel insightful and i had gone through this video comment section too and got to know that hydrogen peroxide is good for remove/dissolve earwax and get rid of earwax. Then i googled it and it showed that hydrogen peroxide is not for the people who have perforated eardrum problem. So what do you suggest? And for perforated eardrum problem my doctor gaves me ear drop named CIPLOX (3-3-3) in a day and then CANDID ear drop (2-2-2) after using 10 minutes of ciplox. So what do you think is this good? You wanna say something on this???
After being deaf for several weeks and being told to use oil then otex I tried sodium bicarbonate 24 hrs later I can hear thank you so much for the video!
I was wearing earphones once and after I took them out I just felt this small sensation in my ear of something dropping and then my ear started ringing for some reason. Now I've got ear pressure. Always have wax problems in my left ear but never my right ear haha. Sodium bicarbonate always seems to do the trick
I should also note that I never see the wax coming out of my ear from the sodium bicarbonate, only the ear pressure slowly disappearing over a few days
Thank you so much for this video!! I'm pretty sure I have the fudgey type of wax and have had chronic issues dealing with my wax since I was born, but despite my history I still haven't found a good solution and have continued to use cotton as a last resort when my wax builds up and muffles my hearing. Even after taking a hearing science class, however, I still didn't understand that cotton swabs can damage the skin in the ear canal and interrupt the process of it growing back!!! Thank you so much for this clear and thorough explanation 💗
Very interesting but you never describe how the various products are introduced into the ear??? Do you use a bulb syringe. Also how long is it left in the ear and do you need to flush it out?
Great video, may I ask what strength Bicarbonate you used and just s thought that a stronger solution would be more alkaline and as such would be less likely to harbour infection.
Great video! I just wanted to share with you that my general doctor recommended to me to use Docusate sodium in the ear to dissolve the dark wax, and it works great!
As a child My parents took me to get my ears syringed even though I didn’t really need it. I then developed eczema and infections in my ears and I was on steroids for years. I then started using hemp oil and all my problems disappeared. I now just use hemp oil from time to time if I start to get any itching and it keeps the earwax soft and infections are all gone.
Hello doctor, I wonder if if it would help if the solution was warmed to body temperature to "liquefy" (at least a bit?) the earwax to aid transport down the ear canal. Also, a "home remedy" I've heard of involves using a hairdryer to heat up the earwax, while keeping the opening of the clogged ear towards the ground and holding the hairdryer at a reasonable distance (a foot or so?) from your ear. Is this a viable solution?
Here in the US, Carbamide Peroxide is the one most often used. I was a bit surprised by the results of your test, because the Carbamide Peroxide definitely works wonders on the ear wax in practice. I know it's very similar to Hydrogen Peroxide in most other ways, but perhaps the Carbamide is more effective in this case. What it's great at is going into the wax and bubbling and foaming up, and all that action breaks up the wax. It's like pouring something fizzy in your ear, and it definitely tickles. In no time, wax is oozing out of your ear and making things sticky. Depending on how bad your blockage is, it works quite fast. There was a noticable improvement even after my first dose, and I'm only on my second day of what may be a 4 day treatment. You're supposed to use it twice a day, but after more than a week of being deaf in my left ear, I'm tempted to push my luck. My kit came with a rubber bulb with which to flush the ear with warm water afterward. I'll admit I was hesitant to use it, but I did it anyway. I flushed and flushed until I got tired of flushing, and no promised wax chunk ever fell out. I think I may have expected that result too early in the treatment. Then again, I believe I have the wet, fudgey type of wax, and perhaps mine will just need to ooze out. I really don't like shooting water or anything else into my ears. It's scary and uncomfortable. I hope to not need to do that again. I'll post an update when this ordeal is over, and let you know my experience. I was thrilled to see sodium bicarbonate in the lineup, because I had wondered if it was possible to use in the ear. It seemed like it would work similarly to how it cleans drains and many other things. I'm glad to know that's an option, if I should need to try something else. This was a very helpful and interesting experiment. Thank you for posting it! And wow! Distilled water is that bad ass? Who would have thought?
It surprised me too. I think it's the glycerol in the solution. I couldn't find a pure acid solution as i think that would be perfect. I would need to look up the pH of carbamide peroxide to see if its the same as wax.
because of u and this video i have not had an ear infection for 4 months!!!! which is amazing for me - i now create a nice acid ear with ear calm :D and no infections - the last one at christmas was so bad i think it went to menigitus after - stiff neck and slurring words and no balance - cause i was poking a pin in the abcess for pain relief - and then i burnt all inside my ear with hydrogen peroxide and burnt both ear drums to the point i had a hole in one and air would come out when i blew my nose - Basically thankyou my gp is useless - 4 months! :D
and yes my bath water is very alkali i know from my blue berry plants :D ( they dont like my tap water) THANK YOU
so great that you found a good solution!! I think using hydrogen peroxide on irritated tissue may have been why it was a problem, when there is irritation or any broken tissue (sticking pin in abscess, ouch...not sure if that was outside the ear?) that would really require something more gentle. However on undamaged tissue, hydrogen peroxide is effective and safe, I have used for years after audiologist and ENT doctor both recommended (in the states, at 3% concentration).
7 months now ty ty
I'm a 65 year old retired pharmacist. I always used stool softener gel caps that I would soak in warm water for a minute or so, then poke a hole in the gel cap and squeeze the docusate sodium into my ear; let it sit for fifteen minutes then rinse with hydrogen peroxide in a bulb syringe. Works great.
I was recently told to use liquid Colace docusate sodium for wax removal. But it's not sold that way. I did find gel capsules but didn't know if I could poke a hole and use the liquid, and the pharmacist I spoke to was clueless on this remedy.
Thank you for your helpful comment!
If you happen to see this - do you dilute the docusate sodium at all?
And what size / amount is the capsule you're using?
I'm afraid of using too much.
@@windellmcspindell3652 wow!! I’ve been trying different things for a very clogged and stubborn ear and nothing has worked. I never thought to put the peroxide in the ear syringe but the pressured delivery of the peroxide done the trick!
Thank you!
Please don't say it's boring, your videos are very educational and informative!
You are very kind, thank you!
@@rasydanfitri4302 … especially for people like me, who have chronic ear wax problems.
I never in my life thought I, would be watching a presentation about ear wax, yet here I am.
Found it really interesting!
Thank you!
Interesting right..
And you don’t have ear wax??
😂😂😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉
Kudos to any physician who provides information that contradicts or counters the interests of the Medical Industrial Complex. Information about these potential home remedies benefits tens of thousands, if not millions of people....Thank You!
So glad I found this video. After weeks / months / years of blocked ear issues, this matches my experience - weeks of olive oil use did nothing for me. After watching this I tried sodium bicarbonate, and 1 or 2 weeks later I’m hearing everything too loud!
I find it bizarre that so many ‘professionals’ are still recommending olive oil when a simple experiment shows it doesn’t do much. Thanks Vik!
Opposite to my experience!
same here but chewing gum when ur putting oil in helps
Thank you Doctor. What about Ceremol drops.. How effective are these? 7
It's important to note that earwax isnt identical in everyones ears, some have softer and some have harder earwax naturally due to the amount of oils and dead skin cells they produce, I personally have had no help from olive oil, but i could see someone with softer earwax would be able to get some benefits from it. It doesnt do much more than lubricate your ear canal though, allowing the earwax to slide out easier from what i gather. But it wont get past harder earwax making it effectively useless in those cases. He touches upon this in the video.
@@casteretpollux olive oil worked for me
I had used ear buds every other day for all of my adult life (35 years). This summer I was using 10 a day at one point because inside my ears was so itchy all the time, it felt like i kept having fluid lining my ears and i thought this was bad and I then got an infection. Thank you for explaining the conveyor belt of the ear and I now understand how important it is not to tamper with this process. You explained it so well.
i’m my many years of watching youtube, this is the most informative video i have seen that directly affects my life, i scratch my itchy ears with a device you showed. I will no longer do that. I even watch the adverts in full to support you. Thank you doctor.
Glad it was helpful!
I've used Murine Ear Drops, a peroxide glycerine type, if "fresh" (active peroxide type) I found 6 to 8 drops in the ear, then leaning forwards turn the head sideways and the jaw up, making the ear canal point upwards, for 5 to twenty minutes, there is a foaming action, which mechanically expands, dislodging the wax, freeing it to be lifted out by the rush of the warm water syringe. Often big chunks come out. After flushing once, I've tried a second or third treatment, knocking less out, but sometimes productive. What you've seemed to miss, is the heat and fresh earwax somehow releasing the warm foaming action of the peroxide in loosening the wax. I'm 70 now and it doesn't seem to work so good, but when I was younger it was very productive. A treatment or two would eliminate the ear wax issue for a year or three. Again Murine ear drops, in New Jersey in the USA.
Thank you for finally explaining why we shouldn't use earbuds - I just assumed it was because people aren't careful enough to avoid pushing wax backward into the ear canal, but hearing that it's actually ruining the conveyor belt effect of the hairs (I'm guessing) makes way more sense, and will actually stop me from ever using them in my ears again.
that is probably the most important fact here, thank you
I wore AirPods for a year and the way they accelerated the hearing loss was incredible. My ears were so blocked I literally couldn’t hear when someone was entering or leaving a room. I had to go to my gp to syringe it and the quality of hearing was insane. Hairs on the back of my neck was literally raised from the sound quality it was intense. They’re a bit blocked now so I’m using hydrogen peroxide and it actually seems to work: I have flaky wax but it’s deffo loosening/ softening it lol!
I think the restriction of air flow makes a difference, too. Never mind that some folks are allergic to the material ear buds are made from. I’v found that using Bluetooth ear hooks with tiny speakers that stay outside the ears address those issues
@@carolgiffen8203 any recommended brand for the ear hooks?
I assume you meant 'cotton buds' or 'Q tips' 4:45 for cleaning as explained in the video. This as opposed to Bluetooth 'Earbuds' for music etc as some are thinking here.
In my experience it is entirely possible to safely use the latter regularly in moderation, even those with silicone tips.
I clean my ear canal entrance regularly by removing the stuff that has reached the end of the 'conveyor belt'. All I use is a tiny amount of soap and a moist fingertip at bath time, then dry thoroughly. Again, all of this OUTside at the ear canal entrance. This also keeps silicone eartips clean, but I clean them anyway too.Then of course, take frequent breaks to let fresh air in throughout the listening period.
I've had zero issues with Bluetooth Earbuds this way.
I have noticed the peroxide you are using has a yellow colouring to it and seems to be gluey and thick just like the olive oil.
All the peroxides that i have ever seen and used have always been a clear liquid thinner than water and when the peroxide hits the ear wax it bubles and when you poured the peroxide into the test tube it did not bubble or react to the ear wax so the peroxide you are using may indeed be the wrong type.
Also good to know we all have an ear wax escallator in our ear drums.
You learn something new every day so thanks for the good video.
Cheers from John in Australia
I’ve always heard using cotton swabs was bad for your ears, but did it anyway after showers since my ears feel like the have water in them. For some reason having an explanation of why it hurts the ears will motivate me to stop. SO much great info In this video!
very kind of you to say, thank you
Use cotton buds just outside your ear canal
So I stumbled across this video and it is very interesting. However, as some other comments suggest, I think there are other factors to consider. When you are using ear drops, you are not replicating this experiment here. The wax isn't floating inside your ear, but is likely attached to the ear canal. You are also not filling your ear canal with a liquid that then sits there for several days- much of it will escape (and you'll likely repeat the process). As such, while we learn which liquids dissolve wax best over days, the softening element is really important too...great vid though.
Wow. I was just searching for a vetted product and ended up texting my friend to watch this fascinating and educational video. Lovely presentation. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I live in America and the product that I have found has sodium bicarbonate has very good reviews on Amazon. It's called ear wax, MD. It also has glycerin and glycolic acid potassium bicarbonate benzyl alcohol. It recommends that you flush it after you leave it in for 15 minutes with warm water. Is the warm water a necessary step? Thank you so much! That was very informative video. I've been suffering with a impaction of wax since I was in my early twenties. I am now in my late '50s. The doctor recommended I go see a specialist that has the little micro vacuum but I cannot afford the copay and it is affecting my balance at this point
Clear and helpful.
After GP nurse advice to use olive oil a week before syringing, (no longer available) I use olive oil every day in an attempt to keep the wax soft and enable it to pass out naturally.
After a couple of months my ears become totally blocked and I resort to home syringing with warm water in desperation.
I have used sodium bicarbonate before with some success.
Will now try the distilled water on a regular basis.
I love and appreciate that instead of just blindingly recommending stuff, you took the time to make an experiment and determine what works from there. Now when I decide to clean my ears, I can now make an informed choice, and be able to take care of them without damaging them. Thank you so much!
I had to come back,did the sodium bicarbonate and in one day and two applications, I discharged huge balls of wax, and my hearing is back!!!!
@@rangeorge85051 how you mixed the baking soda with water can you tell me the amount of both?
@@Mosaweractivities 2 onzas de agua y 1/2 cucharadita de bicarbonato en agua tibia.
Very interesting with the experiment. I've used a branded drops with glycerine and urea hydrogen peroxide previously. After a few days I used a bubble syringe and cooled boiled water to flush out the ear. After about 10-15mins of flushing a large plug of wax came out with smaller fragments. Maybe its aim is not necessarily to dissolve it but loosen it enough to allow it to be flushed out. If there is concern about the alkalinity of bicarb, couldn't the bicarb be used to get rid of the wax, then use the ear calm after to top up the acidity? I might add, the clarity of my hearing after this plug came out was incredible. I'm sure it was this which attributed to my being off balance, because that has gone too.
I bought an at home irrigating solution. Included was an empty dropper bottle. You do a 50:50 of 70% isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar to return ear canal to the correct ph.
FYI - the purpose for Hydrogen Peroxide is not to dissolve the wax, but to push it up to the surface (top of the fluidline) for easier access of removal. Your demonstration proved that this is indeed what it does! :)
So if you use a different softener first maybe you could follow that with peroxide and maybe remove more faster? Interesting thought. 🤔 Thank you for your insight.
I’m not sure I agree. With a totally blocked ear, which is why most people seek relief, the Hydrogen Peroxide can only work on the outside area of the wax blocking the ear canal. For it to ‘push’, a lot of Hydrogen Peroxide would have to penetrate the wax and push-off against something on the on the other side. I don’t believe this to be the case. Nor do I think the wax ‘floats’ in the ear as it does in a test tube. Simple mechanics says that the test tube in the video was vertical, the ear canal is horizontal and has no ‘surface’ or ‘fluidline’ as such, for the wax to float on. Besides which, a wax blockage doesn’t float anywhere... trust me, I have this problem two or three times a year. Finally, the bubbles generated by the Hydrogen Peroxide is a strong indication that the wax is in fact being dissolved - see my post above.
@@alinlimbo1851 Hydrogen peroxide decomposes organic material, from a basic chemistry standpoint. The problem with high concentrations of it, you will most certainly start eating away healthy skin. What the 50/50 solution contains is 50% water and 50% of 2% H202, so really it's 1% H202 and 99% H20. Without repeating the treatment of flushing and reapplying daily, you are right that there would be 0 effect on the earwax itself.
I accidentally stumbled on Dr Vik Veer ear wax. Although the video was nearly twenty minutes with several ads, yet I watch it wholly and attentively.
I learned new details about the ear wax and the natural wax generation outwards to the outer ear.
I LOVED the FIVE experimental tubes from your volunteered patients (you know who you are).
Lastly, I got convinced with your Five alternative product solutions to remove the ear wax.
Keep up the great work.
Mah-M🙂🙂d
very kind of you to comment. thank you
Years ago, I did a similar experiment on a ball of my wax, but I only used Hydrogen Peroxide 3%, water 97%. This is used for first aid and is very low cost. The Hydrogen Peroxide you show is 5%, but the other ingredients are not water. Anyway the version I used dissolved the ball in an hour, and there were many bubbles produced (O2, I assume). My doctor said it's safe for me to use, I have done now once a month for 15 years. I lay down on my side, use an eye dropper full, and lay for an hour or more to let it work. It is quite noisy though and makes me a bit dizzy. Done on a regular basis, I never get large balls of wax anymore. Perhaps there are more types of ear wax and the best remedy will be different for different people.
do you dilute the peroxide or use it directly out of the bottle?
I don't know if this a silly question but could you use the sodium bicarbonate and then spray earcalm on top of that to prevent infection? Thanks.
I just wanted to drop a comment about my own experience. I just got over a double ear infection that went on for almost 6 months. I have had problems on and off for years with my ears getting infected. I used Neem tea solution to spray in my ears and up my nose as well as some garlic water solution with pink salt. Both solutions were very helpful in the healing process, but when I finally knocked out the infections in my ears and sinuses, I was using fresh squeezed garlic juice without any added water and a cotton swab to gently swab out my ears. I can't say enough about how good the fresh squeezed garlic juice and swab worked. Now, I avoid swabbing my ears at all as I am still trying to get my ears fully healed. It was very bad and deep even affecting my inner ear, my balance and equilibrium. I don't have a doctor, so I try and take care of my own health issues as best I can.
I know cotton swabs are normally not a good idea unless know how to use them gently and properly, but I used many, many cotton swabs over the last 6 months trying to swab out the infected fluids in my ears. I think I got a fungal infection from an RV that I had to clean after setting closed up for a few months. Beware of fungus. It is very hard to stop once it get's in your sinuses and ears. However, the pure garlic JUICE with a swab killed the fungus and bacterial infections in my ears like an amazing medicine. I sprayed garlic solution up nose for weeks and it helped as well.
I think the Garlic juice is best thing I have found for treating my ear infections. I am much better now, almost fully healed, but I know my ears will always be sensitive and I have to be careful of exposure to fungus and bacteria infected spaces.
My late gran was hit by a car as a child. A consequence of this was a perforated eardrum. Incredibly enough, there was once a doctor who, despite having her medical notes, was going to syringe her ear! She had a problem in the perforated drum ear with a fluid build up. Every few weeks or so she had suction treatment. A doctor many years ago told me to avoid hydrogen peroxide based ear wax removers. He claimed they were potentially dangerous and certainly not suitable for a person with a history of ear infections. Thanks for the video.
The most informative video I've seen on this subject, thank you. It would be useful to repeat the experiment with the test tubes at body temperature as I think that perhaps the olive oil will be more effective. I have found that after using bicarbonate of soda for a few days if I then put in warm olive oil (to a carefully measured 30 degrees being cautious) and then later flush it out with more warm oil, this works far better than water. I think that the oil is having a lubricating effect to aid removal, rather than dissolving the wax.
Never thought ear wax would fascinate me for 20 mins. Love your videos and your presentation style. Thank you
I agree with your findings. At over 70yo, I have found the “elixir” of earwax control. Every month, or so, I simply let warm water flow into the canal and hold my head at an angle while cleaning to keep the water in place. Then when done, I use the 3’ rubber ball syringes to gently flush the stuff out. Works like a champ! No bad effects.
Sounds simple, but
I always found a warm bath with the ears under water for 5-10minutes helped me.
the distilled water may be a safer version of that...
Thankyou very much for this video, I started noticing that my ear was getting blocked and wanted to find a safe way of getting rid of it and I am pleased to say if I haven't gotten rid of all of it the vast majority of the blocking ear wax is gone after a few days of waking up to my ear covered in loose wax I have clear ears again and I greatly appreciate it.
One of the most interesting & educational health related videos I`ve seen on YT! Thanks so very much for sharing your knowledge!
Thank you for that valuable information. I am 80 tears old and I use audífonos. Every day. What do
I do to keep my ear wax from accumulating in the ear piece and does this push the wax further into the ear tube?
As everyone else has said, an excellent video. You’re a wonderful teacher with your calm demeanor and your wealth of information that you present in a easy to understand format. One issue that you did not review is how to use the eardrops properly. My experience has been placing it in the ear waiting five minutes And having it run out. How do you tell your patience do use whatever you recommend to them. Thank you again
I experienced having difficulty putting the eardrop inside my ears I did everything but still the eardrop didn't go Inside,any advice I tilted I even pull up and down the earlier and even find a good position where I can feel the eardrop going inside but still not working
When there's something strange in your ear canal, who you gonna call, *Dr Vik Veer* 🤓😊 thanks for the knowledge
😃
loving the lapel pin! great and very informative, thank you for allowing us to access your knowledge and expertise on a public forum
Tell me sir which one is best
Interesting video - I sometimes get ear wax problems once every few months or a year or so. I'm another Otex hydrogen peroxide user - Lay on my side until it stops "fizzing" and use a tissue to gently mop up what comes out. It normally takes between 3 and 6 days of repeated treatment twice a day until it works, then it's fine for several months.
I wonder why it did nothing in your test tube. As others have said, maybe it's because the conditions of the eardrum are different? Perhaps ear wax needs to be partially exposed to the air for hydrogen peroxide to work on it, rather than the wax being completely immersed in it. Or hydrogen peroxide somehow speeds up the "conveyor belt" inside the ear canal in some strange way.
He didn't use a water based peroxide apparently.
What an excellent video. Thank you.
I have occasional episodes of wax build up. For many years I've used olive oil for about a week (thinking that it would soften the wax) and then used an irrigator to flush out the wax debris. It's worked as the wax comes out in 2 to 3 mm long flat flakes with the occasional larger lump. When I've squeezed the larger lumps with my fingers it seems very soft.
I guess that it might be tricky to collect sufficient ear wax, but I wonder if a follow-up experiment might be useful. How about leaving ear wax in oil for different lengths of time and estimating the firmness/integrity (in arbitrary units!) of the wax after soaking. I wouldn't expect the wax to dissolve (as the experiment showed it didn't) but I would expect the wax to soften and maybe become more crumbly and thus be easier to remove by irrigation. The advantage of irrigation is that it can be done by individuals at home with very little danger of injury.
Very informative. I'd say you should test more remedies for the ear wax.
One criticism is that hydrogen peroxide you have, that's nothing like what we have in the US. Here it is mostly water with a little bit of peroxide (3%), so it is runny just like water. When you put it on skin it bubbles profusely, I think how it works is it does not dissolve the wax, but that bubbling in the skin disturbs and dislodges the wax and it comes right out in little pieces.
I've also heard of carbamide peroxide being an option in some OTC ear wax remedies.
It's annoying that we don't seem to have it here in the UK
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon Hey you replied to my message!
I really found this video informative and interesting, thanks again for posting!
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon - What is the difference between Hydrogen Peroxide in the UK and Hydrogen Peroxide in the US - why is it not the same? I had LOTS of problems as a child - ear infections and high fever several times a year, but my parents could not afford tubes or tonsilectomy [ the evaluation was almost always identical - swollen tonsils, ear infection and 104 F degree fever ] .. my doctor always prescribed Hydrogen Peroxide 2 -3 x daily and anti-biotics - I would usually miss 2 - 3 days of school til the fever broke - .. I grew out of it when I hit puberty around 13 and was never sick for about 35 or so years .. then started having itching in my ears about 5 -7 years ago .. I self admin [US] Hydrogen Peroxide nearly every night but the itching comes back every day .. drives me bonkers ..I'm constantly working my jaw trying to "scratch" the inside of my ear .. I also "croak" - it's a trick a taught myself when I was young .. the vibrations from my throat "scratch" or send vibrations through the inner ear .. I've tried all of the ear drops available but none of them seem to do any good ..
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon(From Non fact checked memory) In the USA we have a limit of 3% ( First Aid Antiseptic) Over The Counter limit for Hydrogen Peroxide. I am not sure but i think there is a much lower 0.1% in the UK. The teeth whitening (10% USA / 6% UK) and other uses may have higher percentages. Plus the version we have is H20/H2O2 mix with no gelling agent. -- Keep up the good work on the videos.
@@shadowwalker23901 I thought his hydrogen peroxide looked strange. There was definitely an oily consistency to it before the wax had a chance to break down.
I have worked in pediatric emergency departments in the US for over 2 decades. We use Colace (docusate sodium), a stool softener, to dissolve ear wax before gentle irrigation. Place liquid Colace into the ear canal and let it soak for 10-15 min, then let it drain followed by gentle irrigation with warm water using a syringe. I would be curious to hear your opinion and if that is common in the UK.
YES. I have always used Colace for my patients and slightly warm water and peroxide rinse. Works like a charm😁
I've had olive oil work for me. It would also be prescribed as a preparation before syringing. I think it works well to loosen the wax rather than dissolve it.
@Someone called Rob, yes I feel your analysis on olive oil 'loosening' rather than dissolving maybe correct. The ear spray I'm using at the moment, recommended by the ENT specialist,
ingredient says squalene derived from Olive oil, spearmint oil , paraffin - light mineral oil.. it's name clean ears made by biorevive.
Baby oil is good too
Ive recently bought some olive oil ear drops and they recommend using it for 2-3 weeks. Perhaps it works but just slower than the others. It would have been interesting to see the affects over this longer time period.
Hi, enjoyed this vid, you confirmed what I have beieved for a long time that olive oil does nothing. I have very sticky oil and often get build up,I occasionally go for cleaning with the micro suction method. i dont drink, dont smoke but have a lot of ear wax. I also have a serious issue with equalizing my ears, I used to Scuba dive, but found the crackling and poping in my ear for a week or 2 after diving just too irritating, so I have stopped diving. I even sometimes experience the same from flying or even a casual swim in the Pool. My ears will crackle and pop for a week or 2. (predominantly my left ear) When diving I practice early and often equalizing before diving, and dont have too many issues while diving. But seem to have more issues with the assent. I did have my ears checked 20 years ago by an ENT. he said my ears were normal and could see no reason for any issues. I have also in the past 5 years had mild hearing loss, and now suffer from Tinnitis, but I am able to ignore this in most part. Do you have any suggestions or thoughts as to why my ears pop and crackle after diving or flying/swimming?
Do you have a deviated septum? This can interfere with equalizing pressure.
For everyone saying the olive oil doesn't do anything, do you heat it before applying?
I had wax up against my eardrum and it takes months to get an appointment for microsuction.
Very warm olive oil helped dislodge the build up.
Did you just use store bought normal olive oil? And then warm it up on the hob or in the mic and drop it in then let it sit for a bit?
Legendary. Gave all the information in a calm straight forward fashion.
Something I noticed about the test. You appear to have conducted it at room temperature, whereas these remedies will be applied in the ear, where I guess it is about 37^C . Wax softens or melts with heat, so it might make a difference.
Thankyou. The first real analysis of this problem I’ve seen after much searching. Excellent, evidence based explanation
Thank you!
I’m amazed with your findings Vik and thank you for this helpful video. I’m currently going through a frustrating time of not being able to hear in Right ear so I’ve used the commercial olive oil drops before attending ear wax removal appointment at Specsavers. The practitioner said I had absolutely no wax at all (so did the olive oil worked??) but I have a blockage behind the ear drum. So I’ve seen my GP, completed antibiotics treatment, used Baconease drops, steamed as well….still not better. Now I’m doing nasal sinus rinses but all that happened so far is that I’ve added stuffed nose feeling. The tinnitus, nausea, pressure in head and sinuses, poor sense of taste, smell and bad hearing is still there. Trying it all atm and watching your videos to get educated. It is quite debilitating but hopefully there’s a solution waiting and the problems will go away soon. I’m very hopeful 🤞🤞 Thanks for your educational and informative content :)
One of the common substances used back in times was diluted boric acid, that would be interesting to test it too.
Speaking of sodium bicarbonate - the effects are quite predictable - it is hygroscopic and has strong degreasing properties, so it removes oil from the skin and keeps it dry.
Love boric acid - fantastic in an old mastoid cavity.
Thanks for sharing this information! I've only had blockages for the past handful of years and it's only in my right ear. Fortunately it may only happen once a year and tends to clear within 2 weeks. This time it's been 4 weeks so I'm looking for remedy. I've tried olive oil (which I wish I'd watched this before!) and also alcohol/apple cider vinegar but no relief. I think I'll give sodium bicarb a try to see if it shifts. Many thanks and have a wonderful day!
good luck!
Great explanation thank you! I scuba dived for over 20 years and we used a solution of half isopropyl alcohol and half white vinegar to prevent swimmers ear. I guess it worked, never got it.
Interesting--I'm an American and all of our ear drops are indeed some kind of peroxide. It fizzes satisfyingly as if it is working, but for me, it always seems to do absolutely nothing but clog my ear further with wax and water. Our drops in America, Debrox, have never once unclogged a clogged ear for me, no matter how long I try. So when I learned that the Brits use sodium bicarbonate, I ordered some Otex. Day 2 and not a lot seems to be happening, so I will wait until Day 5. Excruciating to wait that long when you have clogged ears, but this shows that it will indeed work in a few days. In desperation, I just tried the American Debrox that I already had, and an ear syringe with warm water--these home remedies never work for me, and I always have to visit the doctor when my ears clog. Good thing I saw this before I tried the olive oil, because I was on my way to try that next. But now I know I just have to wait for the Otex to work. Thank you!
So EarCalm is vinegar (acetic acid)? And baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) dissolves earwax (bc earwax is acidic, presumably)? How about using baking soda (dissolved in hydrogen peroxide, perhaps) to remove excess earwax, and then vinegar to disinfect (of bacterial and fungus), and restore the acidic pH?
Thanks Dr. . I was using ear drops with a glycerin. I then flushed with a syringe with warm water. I now have water and maybe oil trapped. My hearing in that ear is very poor. I was trying hydrogen peroxide past day. No luck. I will use a sodium bicarbonate solution.
I have recurring ear wax problems, probably due to aging as you explained. I use olive oil as instructed by my doctor and that works very well. The secret is to warm some up and pout as much into the ear as possible, hold your head on one side for a short while, then straighten up and let it run out. Repeat this flushing several times a day for a couple of days and whola, clear ears.
Everything you said makes perfect sense. I constantly have wax build up, but I have been told I have very small ear canals.
In the US we have a product that is carbamide peroxide. It is over the counter and inexpensive. I won’t mention the brand name. When placed in the ear sometimes the person can hear a crackling like bubbles from a carbonated beverage. Follow with a bulb syringe of clean water and sometimes whole globs of wax will come out.
Thanks for the excellent video n demonstration of all remedies. Can I use freshly made distilled water from a water distiller used in dentistry? My GP recommended olive oil, used it for a week with no improvement. They have offered me microsuction if olive oil fails to clear the wax.
About 12 yrs ago, a consultant in Colombia recommended bicarbonate of soda drops for my daughter who used to suffer from glue ear.
I will most likely try the steam distilled water.
How do one prevent ear wax from building?
Very interesting..I never had issues with my ears feeling clogged until I turned 55. Now I have to go to my ENT every 9 mos to have my ears vacuumed or they pull the sticky wax out. I am so paranoid now that I don't get any water in my ears. Very frustrating. I'd like to be able to clean my own ears....Really enjoyed your video. Thanks.
I'm in my mid 40's and for the last 2 years, every 6 months I have to get the micro-suction procedure done, as my ears get clogged with ear wax. Apparantely my ear canals are very narrow and hairy! This vid was very informative! Thank you Dr.
@@bkhan1741 Underlying health issues result in the excess production of wax, if you can fix the internal inflammatory stressors then you may well be able to reduce excessive problematic ear wax buildup. Possibly invest in an ear irrigation kit too.
Same here.
I try ear irrigation, pumping warm water with 20% paroxide, but it's to much work hehe.
Now I just master the way of using a ear pick that has a build in light.
Head tiled and slowly insert in, dig and scope.
It's more satisfying seeing chunk of your excessive ear wax got scoop out like ice cream
I am 51 and never had any problems. Aaaaaaa😡
I've noticed a liquid soap called "Dr. Bronner's" really removes wax in the outer ear (while showering). My flavor is spearmint so I have been reluctant to put it into the ear canal, but a more benign "flavoring" may be a good option. The hydrogen peroxide drops cause a fizzing in my ear- similar to 7-up bubbles (carbonation). I always thought it was dissolving the wax, but in reality it probably isn't! Thx.
Regarding Bicarbonate. I think it behaves like a grease cutter, so that would be how it works. Really useful video.
Sodium bicarbonate is absolutely bloody fantastic for degreasing kitchen stuff, it was how I regularly cleaned the kitchen fan filter before we got a dishwasher machine. You put the filter in hot water with enough sodium bicarbonate, and the hot solution would basically do your work for you, unlike e.g. hand dishwasher detergent in hot water.
Execelent video. I would like to ask about the distilled water. What does it contain, and does one need to warm it first, how much to put in . I would like more information ..Thank you!
I'm so happy I found this video . I have 7 bottles of not inexpensive ear drops and the one I didn't really fancy was the best one . Thank you so much .
Brilliant video! Just a question about using the new Smartbud HD wireless ear camera, would really like to hear your views on this product?
Great explanation -always wondered why my ear canal itched so much and then felt damaged after rubbing with a cotton but. Now I have a clear understandable reason why I should leave it alone! Scientific medical info is such a wonderful thing.
Mr Veer. How’s it going? This came up on my recommended. So I thought I would watch it.
People. This man is a great surgeon and a really great guy. I work with him at Queens.
The reason I ended up here viewing your excellent video was because our recently-acquired toy poodle puppies (7 months, brother sister littermates) have had ear infections recently and I was searching for information on veterinary otoscopes to check on their ears (my wife is a medical specialist intensive care doctor and I am a medical student (sorta)). I just thought I would tell you :-) (someone may have useful information on my issue). Cheers.
Hi. Thank you for all your videos on ear problems. I have had tinnitus in my left ear for about 12 years. I am 46 years of age. In the last few days I have notice hearing loss in my right ear and it is not tinnitus. Could it be an ear infection and what should I do? Should I try cleaning my ear out before seeing my GP? I am in Watford UK.
see your GP for advice or your local audiologist, as they will be able to clear your ears.
I'm very pleased with your presentation but want to add to it. Me and my cat have had problems but hydrogen peroxide had an almost immediate breakup of debris. I had apparently gotten an ear mite from her and the wax production exploded and hurt. I had mine cleaned out with diluted hydrogen peroxide and warm water and an ear tool somewhat like a dental pick. It hurled wax all over the room floor and probably the mite, too. I've done cat's ears with 3 % hydrogen peroxide and it threw out clots and blackened wax and prepared her for Bactine, the only thing I know to use. Hydrogen peroxide also works when a black fanged white spider gets in my ear. If they don't come out in an hour or two, they die. Warm water might work , but I use the peroxide.
Many thanks for this, interesting. The drops I use these days are something slightly different again: Glycerina Carbonada, which seems to be a mixture of Glycerine with Sodium Carbonate (washing soda). I apply them warmed overnight then, after a few days use a rubber ball syringe to expel the ear wax in a large plug. Seems to work well enough: syringing before the drops achieves no expulsion.
I have really fully blocked ears since March 20, have tried Otex but useless and rang Spec Savers and a Hearing place but they charge £70 to remove the wax and being a pensioner that was impossible to afford. So thank you Mr Veer, I will try the Sodium Carbonate and if that doesn't work I will try the Ear Calm. I certainly hope one of them work as I am going mad due to a lot of noise in my ears and not being able to hear clearly.
good luck!
Ear Calm works so well, within 48 hours the wax was gone. I assume it's safe to use if you have tinnitus?
Very Informative. I worked in Audiology and often get asked about ear wax, this video covers so many questions i get. Now i will tell them to watch this. Thank you Vik.
my pleasure
You didn't mention the effects of hearing aids which seem to drive wax inward, similar to a cotton swab. I never had an issue with ear wax until being forced to get hearing aids. My doctor recommended Debrox available here in the states which states the active ingredient as Carbanide Peroxide followed by after several days with a shot of water from a pump type bottle. From your description this may not have been the best solution (no pun intended). What do you recommend to you patients who use hearing aids which effectively seal the ear canal while worn?
This is NOT boring. It is very informative. Wish you have done one with alcohol. 20 p is worth it!
I'll ask the pub next time I do this 😃
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon hey doctor i’ve been hearing horrifying stories about debrox do you recommend using that or no it’s very oily and thick
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon and perhaps isopropyl alcohol mixed with white vinegar? Some doctors recommend it.
I have an ear pain and I believe I have an infection but don't have means to visit a doctor now, I'm using hydrogen peroxide starting from today but now doubting after your tests. Thanks a lot, will see what I can do
What do you think about carbamide peroxide? Just got out of a doctor appointment in USA and that’s what I was given.
I used olive oil for many years, but it never occurred to me to use it cold. I use it slightly warmer than 'lukewarm' (if that makes sense!) - always being super careful about the temperature because of the delicacy of the ear canal. It always worked.
How do you make it warmer ?
And by worked do u mean it cleaned your ear or made you hear better ?
Are you for real radio bro?
My Mother in law would use it warm with a Plant from Mexico. High up in the Mountains. We call it “Stinky “ plant with little yellow flowers. And you cook it with the Olive Oil. And when the flower Pops. It’s ready. Worked for us every tine ! Info my brother in-law ripped it out and into the trash 🤔🙄
I am so glad you made and published this experiment! The only change which I would make - I would put these beakers on a hot plate and would keep them at 37 C. You see, solubility of wax in mild solvents is very temperature dependent. For example, I am totally not surprised that nothing got dissolved in olive oil at room temperature. However, at body temperature, one can dissolve about 10% of wax (by weight) in oil (measured by volume, i.e., in 10 ml of oil one can dissolve 1 g of wax. This is how salves are made - and I made a few in my aromatherapy and herbalism journey! It is hard to say if oil would dissolve a hard wax, but bees wax would definitely dissolve in oil within 5 mins at 37 C, but probably would not dissolve at all at room temperature. Similar logic applies to any solvent, temperature is a huge factor in solubility and dissolution rate. When we put drops of liquid into the ear, it quickly heats up to body temperature in the ear, and this can make a difference.
Have a look at this video. Sadly even heating it to 50 degrees Celsius made no difference. ruclips.net/video/TkyX7KDzRzg/видео.html
Clicked for the title. Stayed for the lapel pin.
In all seriousness, this was extremely informative, helpful, and much appreciated. Thank you so much for your thorough experimentation and insight.
Also, should you ever tire of being a surgeon,, might I suggest a career in audiobook narration? I feel like I’ve just left a spa treatment…minus the hefty price tag and adding in the newfound knowledge I retained while staring, transfixed, at that pin. Brilliant!
hahaha! the pins are kinda a thing for me. just bought some more, so I guess they will make an appearance at some point. I went on TV and all anyone talked about was my Pokémon pin 😂
perhaps if I ever finish my book I'll do an audible version🥺
Was the olive oil warmed up or cold? I used warm and it was ok to soften before syringing
Thank you, fascinating video. We need more explanation and education about our bodies, ears and hearing are really important.
Many thanks for your comment
Excellent choice of lapel pin! And thanks for this video. It's something I really wanted to know but never chose to look up.
my pleasure
Hi Vik, THANK YOU!!! you are solely responsive for me breaking the cotton-bud poking habit of a lifetime(37yrs)!!! I had never heard about the ‘conveyor belt’ action of the ear canal before and how easily it can be disrupted. It’s been about 6 weeks now and i can tell the system is back in action, every so often nice little bits of wax fall out. This is actually more satisfying to me than when I used to have a good twizzling session with a bud. Thank you very much!! Awesome informative to-the-point videos👍👍👍✌️
Watched all the way through. Very informative and interesting. Would you believe 5 weeks to see a professional FOC . After big kick up a nurse will look in 4 days.
Thank you
I use hydrogen peroxide & an eye dropper & it’s always worked very well (it bubbles & fizzes when it’s working). I only need to get rid of ear wax maybe once or twice a year & usually in just one ear.
A very informative video that I found very helpfulmhaving had ear problems for the last 20 years or so. I have had some success with olive oil, which I normally used before having my ears syringed (when it was done via the NHS). However, I always warmed the oil in hot water to bring it up to a comfortable temperature and it did work. I have very dry ear canals with flaky skin apparently. Thank you for a great video. I'm just about to watch your video on tinnitus, something I've suffered with for the last 25 years.
I can't believe that I just watched this entire video and it was fantastic. Really informative. I will definitely be changing what I do! Thank you! Sometimes, the truth is a bit boring!
Awesome! Thank you!
How can the truth be boring?! Lol.
And, have you never heard of the saying "truth is stranger than fiction"?
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon hi if there little ear wax sitting on the ear drum can that cause some ringing sound!? and is it safe to put water in your ear?
There is only one truth but many lies!
Hey Doc, I have a hole on my right ear and there is blockage in my right ear , wet liquid and smelly wax comes out of my ear every time. Then i start researching and found out your video. I found your channel insightful and i had gone through this video comment section too and got to know that hydrogen peroxide is good for remove/dissolve earwax and get rid of earwax. Then i googled it and it showed that hydrogen peroxide is not for the people who have perforated eardrum problem. So what do you suggest? And for perforated eardrum problem my doctor gaves me ear drop named CIPLOX (3-3-3) in a day and then CANDID ear drop (2-2-2) after using 10 minutes of ciplox. So what do you think is this good? You wanna say something on this???
After being deaf for several weeks and being told to use oil then otex I tried sodium bicarbonate 24 hrs later I can hear thank you so much for the video!
Wonderful!
@@VikVeerENTSurgeon thank you!
I was wearing earphones once and after I took them out I just felt this small sensation in my ear of something dropping and then my ear started ringing for some reason. Now I've got ear pressure. Always have wax problems in my left ear but never my right ear haha. Sodium bicarbonate always seems to do the trick
I should also note that I never see the wax coming out of my ear from the sodium bicarbonate, only the ear pressure slowly disappearing over a few days
Thank you so much for this video!! I'm pretty sure I have the fudgey type of wax and have had chronic issues dealing with my wax since I was born, but despite my history I still haven't found a good solution and have continued to use cotton as a last resort when my wax builds up and muffles my hearing. Even after taking a hearing science class, however, I still didn't understand that cotton swabs can damage the skin in the ear canal and interrupt the process of it growing back!!! Thank you so much for this clear and thorough explanation 💗
I am so glad you watched that bit ! its so important to understand ear wax
Very interesting but you never describe how the various products are introduced into the ear??? Do you use a bulb syringe. Also how long is it left in the ear and do you need to flush it out?
would you suggest dissolving earwax with sodium bicarbonate and then using ear calm to re-acidize the ear?
I have the same question 🙋♂️
That seems very sensible to me!
Great video, may I ask what strength Bicarbonate you used and just s thought that a stronger solution would be more alkaline and as such would be less likely to harbour infection.
Great video! I just wanted to share with you that my general doctor recommended to me to use Docusate sodium in the ear to dissolve the dark wax, and it works great!
Yes, indeed. It's also safe enough for children.
I use sodium bicarbonate ear drops a few days before getting my ears micro suctioned.
Unfortunately, cant get Earcalm here in the U.S. The vinegar/acid based drops are a controlled medicine. Great video, very informative.
As a child My parents took me to get my ears syringed even though I didn’t really need it. I then developed eczema and infections in my ears and I was on steroids for years. I then started using hemp oil and all my problems disappeared. I now just use hemp oil from time to time if I start to get any itching and it keeps the earwax soft and infections are all gone.
In the ear or orally?
Hello doctor, I wonder if if it would help if the solution was warmed to body temperature to "liquefy" (at least a bit?) the earwax to aid transport down the ear canal.
Also, a "home remedy" I've heard of involves using a hairdryer to heat up the earwax, while keeping the opening of the clogged ear towards the ground and holding the hairdryer at a reasonable distance (a foot or so?) from your ear. Is this a viable solution?
Thanks Vik - great and I play this regularly at my surgery where I work for the successive GP trainees to see! Hope you're well. Sam (Barts Sam...)
Hey Sam! Great to hear from you! it's been 15 years? glad that one of my videos have helped you. wasn't it whipps cross?
Have been using olive oil for years, no wonder I've made very little progress. Thank you
glad it could help
Here in the US, Carbamide Peroxide is the one most often used. I was a bit surprised by the results of your test, because the Carbamide Peroxide definitely works wonders on the ear wax in practice. I know it's very similar to Hydrogen Peroxide in most other ways, but perhaps the Carbamide is more effective in this case. What it's great at is going into the wax and bubbling and foaming up, and all that action breaks up the wax. It's like pouring something fizzy in your ear, and it definitely tickles. In no time, wax is oozing out of your ear and making things sticky. Depending on how bad your blockage is, it works quite fast. There was a noticable improvement even after my first dose, and I'm only on my second day of what may be a 4 day treatment. You're supposed to use it twice a day, but after more than a week of being deaf in my left ear, I'm tempted to push my luck. My kit came with a rubber bulb with which to flush the ear with warm water afterward. I'll admit I was hesitant to use it, but I did it anyway. I flushed and flushed until I got tired of flushing, and no promised wax chunk ever fell out. I think I may have expected that result too early in the treatment. Then again, I believe I have the wet, fudgey type of wax, and perhaps mine will just need to ooze out. I really don't like shooting water or anything else into my ears. It's scary and uncomfortable. I hope to not need to do that again. I'll post an update when this ordeal is over, and let you know my experience. I was thrilled to see sodium bicarbonate in the lineup, because I had wondered if it was possible to use in the ear. It seemed like it would work similarly to how it cleans drains and many other things. I'm glad to know that's an option, if I should need to try something else. This was a very helpful and interesting experiment. Thank you for posting it! And wow! Distilled water is that bad ass? Who would have thought?
It surprised me too. I think it's the glycerol in the solution. I couldn't find a pure acid solution as i think that would be perfect. I would need to look up the pH of carbamide peroxide to see if its the same as wax.
how's the ear
So where's the update, what happened?
@@vapemcvaperson she's only interested in herself. Typical.
I had that kit. I am still as deaf as a post!