Ear blocked: These home remedies will clear it again

If your ear is blocked, you can first try to clear it yourself. We will show you three natural home remedies that help against blocked ears.

If your ear canal feels itchy and you suddenly feel less able to hear, your ear is probably blocked. A feeling of pressure and noise in your ears are also signs of blocked ears. They are usually harmless and easy to clean. You can go to an ENT practice to have them cleaned or get a special spray from the pharmacy.

Ear candles can also help to clear a blockage in the ear. However, you should be particularly careful with this method and be sure to get a second person to help you. You can find out more about how to use them in our guide: Ear candles: What you should definitely keep in mind when cleaning your ears.

In addition to these options, there are also natural home remedies that clean the blocked ear gently and thoroughly. We present the three most common of these remedies here.

How do ears become blocked?

The ear becomes blocked when too much earwax remains in the ear canal and clumps together. Earwax, also called cerumen, is completely natural and important for the health of your ears. It protects against bacteria and removes dirt from the ear. Your ear therefore normally cleans itself.

However, it can happen that too much ear wax remains in the ear canal, clumps there and blocks your ear. The risk of this is particularly high if the ear wax is pushed into the ear – for example by in-ear headphones, ear plugs or cotton swabs.

Ears also often become blocked after swimming, as the earwax swells in the water and clumps together more easily. As we get older, the glands that produce earwax also shrink. This can lead to blocked ears more often.

Clean blocked ears with home remedies

You can easily clear blocked ears at home. Since this requires filling your ear with fluid, it’s best to have someone help you. However, you can also do it on your own.

Be sure to warm the liquids to body temperature before putting them in your ear. This is important because the balance organ in your ear is sensitive to temperature changes and you could get dizzy if the liquids are too cold.

The exposure time is important for the home remedies to be effective. The longer they can work, the better the blockage will be cleared. You may have to use the home remedies several times to clear your ears properly.

To put the liquids into your ear, you can use a pipette from the pharmacy or a small spoon.

Salt water for blocked ears

Salt water dissolves clumped ear wax so gently that you can even use it to treat small children and babies. But it also works for adults.

How to use the product:

• Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in 100 milliliters of lukewarm water and pour some salt water into the blocked ear.
• Leave it on for ten to 15 minutes. Then rinse your ear thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• While the salt water is taking effect, you can close your ears with cotton wool.

Tip: You can also fill the salt water into a small spray bottle. You can use this homemade ear spray throughout the day.

Vegetable oil loosens blocked ears

Vegetable oil dissolves fats and can clear your blocked ears.

• To do this, warm some oil and put a few drops in your ear.
• Almond oil is best because it dissolves fats. But olive oil can also relieve constipation.
• Leave the oil on for at least five minutes and then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• If you cover your ears with cotton wool, you can leave the oil in overnight and rinse your ears the next morning.

Tip: It is best to use high-quality organic plant oils. This way you can be sure that no harmful substances get into your ear. However, since you only need a few drops of oil for the treatment, you can simply use the plant oil that you already have in your kitchen.

Clean blocked ears with steam

A steam bath with chamomile is ideal if you want to clean your ears in a pleasant way.

• To do this, pour a tablespoon of chamomile into two liters of hot water. You shouldn’t use less water so that it doesn’t cool down too quickly.
• Hold your ear over the steaming water for at least ten minutes and cover your head with a towel.
• You can then rinse your ear with lukewarm water.
• Chamomile contains anti-inflammatory essential oils that rise with the warm steam. However, you can also use the steam bath without chamomile.

Tip: If both ears are blocked, you should treat them one after the other. First hold one ear over the steam bath and then rinse it out. Then you can repeat the process on the other ear. Otherwise, the cerumen may dry in the meantime and the steam bath will have been in vain.

Prevent blockages: clean your ears properly

Our ears normally clean themselves. Our chewing movements and fine hairs transport excess ear wax into the auricle. There you can wipe it off with a cloth.

If you feel that there is too much earwax in your ear, you can rinse it out with warm water while you shower. You should never insert cotton swabs or sharp objects into your ear. This will push the earwax back into the ear canal and your ear may become blocked. You may also injure your sensitive ear canal.

Important information about ear pain

If you have ear pain and also suffer from dizziness, headache, fever or nausea, you should seek medical help. These symptoms do not indicate blocked ears, but rather an ear infection. You cannot treat this with our home remedies.

Even if the ear plug is stubborn and cannot be removed even after repeated use of home remedies, it is advisable to go to the pharmacy or a doctor.

Read more on Utopia:

• Home remedy for earache: the onion helps
• Cleaning your ears: How to remove ear wax
• Sage oil: effects and uses of the essential oil
• Harvesting and drying sage correctly – what you should pay attention to

English version available: Clogged Ears Remedy: 3 Household Hacks

Revised by Philipp Multhaupt

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