What to Do if Your Ear is Plugged: Simple Ways and Folk Secrets

It is not always necessary to run to the pharmacy when you have a stuffy ear. Often a few elementary manipulations help.

With the onset of fall, seasonal illnesses are particularly annoying. If you can turn a blind eye to some symptoms, ear pain is not always possible to ignore, especially if it brings discomfort and worsens hearing.

Quite often, a few elementary manipulations rather than medications help to get rid of the blockage in the ear. You should not forget about folk methods. Consider all methods in detail.

Plugged ear: what to do

Sometimes it happens that the ear is stuffy, but does not hurt. In this case, a few breathing movements help. Not everyone knows that there are two maneuvers for a stuffy ear:

  • Valsalva maneuver: close your mouth and clamp your nostrils, exhale forcefully, but don’t let air escape through your mouth or nose;
  • Toynbee maneuver: close your mouth, squeeze your nostrils, and swallow.

If there is no active inflammation in the ear, the blockage will go away in no time. These methods are particularly helpful if you get a blockage in your ear from the air, water, brimstone, or after sleeping. According to doctors, the two maneuvers are almost equally effective, so take advantage of them.

What to do if I have a stuffy ear with a cold?

A stuffy ear with a cold can vary. Sometimes it is accompanied by pain, usually quite sharp, and sometimes the patient will feel only the symptoms of stuffiness due to a runny nose.

Try opening the eustachian tubes. Deliberately yawning, swallowing, or chewing gum can help unblock your ears, especially if the underlying cause of the stuffy ears is not allergies or an infection.

A stuffy ear but the pharmacy is far away: how to cure with folk remedies

Try dripping mineral, olive, or baby oil into the blocked ear by heating it first. Make sure that the oil is not too hot by testing it on the wrist. Keep your head tilted for 10-15 seconds.

Repeat the manipulation several times a day for 5 days until you feel the stuffy ear goes away.

Has the stuffiness in your ear not gone away for a few days? A wax plug may have formed in your ear. It is worth trying an ear lavage. This is an easy enough procedure to see a doctor, but may also be done at home if you first soften the wax.

Put a warm compress on the ear or take a hot shower for at least 5-10 minutes. This may help the steam to penetrate into the ear canal and bring relief.

If the unpleasant-smelling fluid is coming out of your ear, the pain is not getting worse, you feel the noise in your ear, or are rapidly losing your hearing – see your doctor immediately. You cannot deal with these symptoms on your own.

Avatar photo

Written by Emma Miller

I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and own a private nutrition practice, where I provide one-on-one nutritional counseling to patients. I specialize in chronic disease prevention/ management, vegan/ vegetarian nutrition, pre-natal/ postpartum nutrition, wellness coaching, medical nutrition therapy, and weight management.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Washing Without Chemicals: How to Make Laundry Detergent From Soap and Baking Soda with Your Own Hands

What Foods Should Not be Washed and Why