Earwax problem

[silks]

Hey Doctor Steve!

Have an oddball one for you. It seems that there are certain periods of time where my body goes about producing an abnormally large amount of earwax. I usually end up going to the doctor to get my ears cleaned out (which I love - it's amazing the amount of crap that comes out of there!). What causes ear wax buildup? Is it something that I should be concerned about? Is there any way that I can safely do this at home? Is there an over the counter drop or flush that I could use?

Thanks in advance for your time. Love this forum and love the show!

Best,
Shawn

[Dr Steve]

Hey Doctor Steve!

Have an oddball one for you. It seems that there are certain periods of time where my body goes about producing an abnormally large amount of earwax. I usually end up going to the doctor to get my ears cleaned out (which I love - it's amazing the amount of crap that comes out of there!). What causes ear wax buildup? Is it something that I should be concerned about? Is there any way that I can safely do this at home? Is there an over the counter drop or flush that I could use?

Thanks in advance for your time. Love this forum and love the show!

Best,
Shawn


Shawn:

I'm not sure anyone really knows why earwax production...well..."waxes" and wanes. It's probably that you're constantly producing earwax, but you don't notice it until all of a sudden it blocks your ear canal and it becomes a problem.

By the way, the medical term for earwax is "cerumen". Why we can't just say earwax is beyond me.

There are indeed home remedies that work for this. First let me say that ear candles have been proven to be completely ineffective. The stuff on the end of the candle has been proven to not be of human origin (if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's not really even worth your time looking it up...and I'm a doctor who is fine with alternative medicines!)

The Murine Ear Kit contains a glycerine and peroxide solution to loosen wax, and a bulb syringe to flush it out. Click here to see one (http://www.revolutionhealthstore.com/qxp12439_333181_sespider/murine/ear_wax_removal_system.htm).

Basically you lay down and point the occluded ear at the ceiling. You instill a few drops and watch tee vee for awhile (this is all in the instructions). When you're ready to flush, fill up your sink with luke-warm water, point the occluded ear down, and begin flushing with the syringe letting the ear drain into the sink. When you get a nice disgusting clot of earwax falling into the sink, you're done. Congratulations, you just saved yourself the cost of an office visit!

There are people who can't do this...people with holes in their eardrums, people who get horrible dizziness (vertigo) when they do it, etc.

Talk to your doctor about it; most are cool with the home ear kits. And your doctor's office will likely not begrudge you the office fee they'll be losing. They'll be grateful to not have to mess with your "cerumen impactions" too!