Ear blockage is a nuisance medical problem, can make it difficult to hear, and if left unchecked, can also trigger dizziness and ear pain. If you experience severe pain or bleeding with an ear blockage, you may have torn your eardrum and need immediate medical attention. However, in the vast majority of cases, you can relieve a blocked ear at home with simple techniques and over-the-counter medications.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Balancing the Pressure in the Ear
Step 1. Try yawning or chewing gum to open the eustachian tube
Sometimes, ear blockage can be treated with simple techniques such as yawning, which can balance the pressure in the ear. Or, chew sugar-free gum for a few minutes. This simple technique can quickly open blockages and soothe your ears.
You will feel the blockage in your ear opening when the pressure is released and you can hear again
Step 2. Use the Toynbee maneuver to relieve the ear
This maneuver can help relieve pressure in the middle ear and remove the blockage that makes you feel uncomfortable. Take a sip of water, but don't swallow it right away. Close your mouth and use your fingers to cover your nostrils. After that, swallow the water in your mouth. You may repeat this maneuver up to 5 times.
Step 3. Use the Valsalva maneuver to release pressure on the ear
Close both your nostrils and your mouth. Exhale slowly, trying to get it out of your nose. Don't blow too hard, as this can damage the eardrum. You may hear a small popping sound as the pressure in your ear releases, but it shouldn't be painful.
This maneuver is not only suitable for relieving blocked ears due to colds, it is also beneficial for pilots, airplane passengers and divers
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Ear Serum
Step 1. Use steam to thin the ear wax
Heat a pot of water to a boil then pour it into a heatproof bowl. Bend over the bowl so that your face is exposed to the steam. Use a towel or cloth to trap moisture by covering your head and the bowl. Inhale the steam for as long as you like. The pressure inside your ear should decrease. In addition, mucus and ear wax will also become thinner when exposed to steam.
- Use a clean cloth to clean the ear wax that flows out of the ear canal.
- You can add a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender or tea tree oil to the hot water.
Step 2. Use a warm compress to remove fluid from inside the ear
Prepare a clean washcloth and then wet it with hot water. Squeeze the washcloth and then place it over the blocked ear. Leave the washcloth on for 10 minutes and lie on your side to allow the fluid in your ear to drain out. Repeat compressing the ear like this as needed.
Just use a washcloth to clean the cerumen that comes out of the ear
Step 3. Use a mixture of vinegar and water to drain the fluid inside the ear
Make a mixture of 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water. Tilt your head and use a dropper to put a few drops of this vinegar solution into your ear. Keep your head tilted and leave the vinegar solution for 5 minutes in the ear.
To prevent the vinegar solution from spilling out, place a cotton ball over the ear canal before lifting your head again. If both ear holes are blocked, repeat this step on the other ear
Step 4. Soften the ear wax with a few drops of oil
Tilt your head so that the blocked ear is on the top side. Use a dropper to put a few drops of olive oil or warm mineral oil (not hot oil) into the ear. Keep your head in this position for about 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, straighten your head again and wipe the oil and cerumen dripping from the ear canal with a clean cloth. Repeat on the other ear if necessary
Method 3 of 3: Trying Medical Treatment
Step 1. Take a decongestant if the previous techniques don't help
Nasal decongestants can help clear the sinuses and restore hearing to near normal. Follow the directions for use on the decongestant label and avoid using it for more than 3 days in a row.
Step 2. Use a nasal spray containing an antihistamine if you have allergies
If your sinus congestion is caused by allergies, you may need an antihistamine. Look for nasal sprays that contain antihistamines at your local pharmacy and use them according to the directions on the package.
Step 3. Call your doctor if your ear problems persist
If your ear pain is severe or persists for more than a few days, see a doctor immediately. Your doctor may prescribe medications such as nasal sprays that contain steroids, or provide other treatments depending on the cause of your ear pain.
Tips
- Try holding the earlobe and then pulling it down, pushing it up, and then pulling it down again.
- Try practicing the Valsalva maneuver as an airplane takes off and lands in flight, or as you dive deeper to prevent or reduce pressure differences that cause ear blockage and pain (and sometimes severe).
- Use alcohol drops after swimming to prevent external ear infections.
- Try sucking on candy or lozenges in flight to help balance the pressure in the ear more quickly.
Warning
- Consult a doctor if you have a fever or have severe ear pain.
- Resist your urge to clean ear wax using a cotton swab. Instead of cleaning, the earplugs often make the cerumen pushed further inside the ear.
