April 13, 2014

Put down the cotton swabs!

From Cleveland Clinic Wellness

April 13, 2014

Put down the cotton swabs! The rule that you should “never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear” really is true.

If you’ve been tempted to dig out earwax using a cotton swab or some similarly pointed object, just don’t do it! Here’s a safer way to clear your ears of excess wax: Put a drop of mineral oil in your ear, and lie down on your side with a book or a magazine. Leaving your ear facing up will let the oil seep in. Lie still for 20 to 30 minutes — meditate while you’re waiting! — and allow the wax to dissolve. Turn over and place a towel or paper towel under your ear to soak up the oil and wax as it drains out, and repeat, if necessary, on the other side. Using cotton swabs to clean your ears is dangerous. Earwax serves as protection and has lubricating and anti-bacterial properties. Using a cotton swab — or anything else for that matter — to clean your ears only serves to push the wax in even deeper.

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