How to Treat Ear Pressure With Peroxide
Earwax buildup can easily block the ear canal and result in uncomfortable ear pressure 1. A small amount of hydrogen peroxide, or a simple mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, can usually relieve this condition by breaking up the earwax and allowing the blockage to drain from the ear 1. While the administration of hydrogen peroxide to the ear is a safe and recommended procedure, do not hesitate to consult a physician if you are uncomfortable performing the treatment yourself.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Fill the eyedropper with hydrogen peroxide or an equal mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water.
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Apply several drops of the hydrogen peroxide solution to the affected ear, lying on your side with the unaffected ear down. Wait until you hear the peroxide solution bubbling in your ear, then tilt the affected ear over a small bowl to drain any fluid. Repeat this step twice a day for two to four days. After several days, the hydrogen peroxide solution will soften the wax and allow for easy removal.
Fill the rubber-bulb syringe with warm water and gently squirt the water into the affected ear canal. Tilt your head to the side and allow the fluid to drain into a small bowl.
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Dry the earn canal with a low-heat hair dryer or a hand towel.
Tips
Repeat these steps several times, if need be, until the wax falls out. If ear congestion is the result of a cold, flu or change in elevation as opposed to an earwax blockage, treat the condition with an over-the-counter decongestant or with increased chewing, yawning and swallowing.
Warnings
Do not treat ear congestion with hydrogen peroxide or any other fluid insertion if your eardrum contains a tube or hole.
Consult your doctor if the condition worsens or fails to respond to these treatments.
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References
- Mayo Clinic: Earwax blockage: Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Mittal A, Kumar S. Role of pH of external auditory canal in acute otitis externa. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;66(1):86-91. doi:10.1007/s12070-013-0684-0
- Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al. Clinical practice guideline (update): Earwax (cerumen impaction). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156(1_suppl):S1-S29. doi:10.1177/0194599816671491
- Wright T. Ear wax. BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:0504.
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Writer Bio
L.W. Westerfield is a writer, editor and blogger. Her interests include food, culture, holistic health, yoga and literature. She has written for "USA Today Magazine" and a variety of southern California newspapers. Westerfield is a certified Hatha yoga instructor and a Whole Foods Nutrition Counselor with a focus in macrobiotics and traditional Eastern healing arts.