Table of Contents
Possible causes
The ears can become blocked for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, both ears may become blocked as a result of a change in ear pressure. It happens for example when you go to the mountains, if you are traveling by plane or if you practice diving. In these cases, one often intervenes by continuing to swallow, but the ears will only uncork when the ear pressure it will be re-established (usually in a very short time). If, on the other hand, one or both ears are blocked for a long time, for a day or even more, it could be due to an excess of earwax inside. Earwax is a waxy substance that acts as a lubricant and protective barrier for the ear, to defend it from possible external dangers by preventing infections. Normally the presence of ear wax in the ears does not cause any kind of problem, but when it accumulates it tends to harden and obstruct the ear canal and consequently the ear clogs up.
The plugged ear can also be a flu-related symptom, due to the excess mucus that occurs when you have a cold. In other cases, the sensation of having the ear plugged may depend on inflammation or ear infections such as otitis or on diseases and disorders affecting the ear or on constant and prolonged exposure over time to noise pollution. When the cause of the plugged ear cannot be traced (for example, you do not have a cold and there does not appear to be a wax plug inside the ear) or if the symptom lasts a long time and is accompanied by tinnitus or pain, It is good to consult your doctor to understand why you have hearing problems. If, on the other hand, the plugged ear is a symptom of the flu or of an excess of earwax, it is also possible to intervene thanks to natural remedies.
Natural remedies
The natural remedies that can be adopted to uncork the ears obviously depend on the cause and the use of natural remedies can only be useful in case of excess earwax or mucus. It is recommended to pay attention to other symptoms that may be present and to the duration of the disorder: if the ears remain plugged for several days for no apparent reason or if the plugged ear is accompanied by pain, redness or tinnitus, it is good to consult a doctor.
Olive oil
First of all, to prevent ear plugs from excess earwax it is important to devote yourself to ear hygiene on a daily basis. It is not absolutely necessary to use cotton swabs to clean the ears, in fact, this method is often not recommended because it pushes the earwax into the ear canal causing plugs in the ear. To keep the ears clean simply use water and soap while showering or when cleansing your face. On the other hand, cotton swabs can be useful for cleaning the folds of the auricle, therefore the outside of the ear.
If, despite the daily cleaning of the ears, there is still an accumulation of ear wax, you can try to intervene with an old but effective grandmother’s remedy, which consists in sliding half a teaspoon of lukewarm olive oil. The oil should be left to act to give it time to dissolve the earwax, remaining lying on its side to prevent it from coming out of the ear. After five to ten minutes, the ear is rinsed with soap and water or a saline solution. If you do not notice any improvement, instead of resorting to other natural remedies that could aggravate the problem, it is good to contact an ENT for a thorough cleaning of the ears that removes the accumulation of earwax.
Balsamic essences
When, on the other hand, one or both ears become blocked as a consequence of a cold or flu, to uncork them it is necessary to resolve the excess mucus that is at the base of the plugged ear. To eliminate mucus and phlegm you can resort to syrups or herbal teas based on expectorant and mucolytic herbs, among which we find plants rich in balsamic essential oils. For this purpose, remedies based on eucalyptus, pine, mint, rosemary, malaleuca, which help to thin and eliminate mucus, are good. The balsamic essences can also be used for inhalations and fumigations that help clear the airways quickly. Inhalations and fumigations can be carried out with the herbs infused in a container, then settling with the head above the container itself to breathe the balsamic vapors. Alternatively, essential oils are used, pouring a few drops into hot water and proceeding in the same way. Essential oils can also be released into the environment through an electric burner or diffuser, to clear the airways and as a remedy for a plugged ear.
Nasal washings
In case of colds that plug the ears, nasal washes are also very useful. It is a practice that derives from Ayurvedic medicine and which allows you to cleanse the nose and throat of mucus and phlegm, also bringing benefits to the plugged ear. Nasal washes are carried out using a saline solution, available at a pharmacy, and a syringe without a needle or with a special tool called lota. After settling with the head slightly tilted on the sink, the water is run from one nostril to the other two or three times, repeating the operation in both nostrils. Thanks to the nasal washing, the paranasal sinuses and nostrils are cleaned and the mucus is dissolved, also uncorking the ears.
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