Now ear this

Vegetarian Times, Sept, 1998 by Martha Schindler

This humble organ is self-maintaining and cleaning But when something does go wrong, fixes are simple and easy.

A few years ago, I took a plane from New York to Miami--a three,hour trip that will forever be referred to as the Flight from Hell.

Things began smoothly enough, but as the plane climbed higher and higher, so did the pressure in my head. I'd had a sinus infection the week before but never dreamed that a little congestion could cause such excruciating pain. I spent the entire flight trying every ear-clearing trick I knew--chewing gum, munching ice cubes, yawning, pinching my nostrils and exhaling with my mouth closed--all to no avail. Even the descent provided no relief; in fact, the pressure in my head only intensified. By the time we were on the ground, I was sniveling like a toddler and checking train schedules for my return trip. The moral of this story? Ears are not to be trifled with.

IN ONE EAR ...

Your ears are probably the lowest-maintenance organ you've got. They go about their business without much fuss or fanfare--they re even self-cleaning. But the ear is a complex structure, connected to your respiratory system via the sinuses and responsible for such important duties as regulating pressure, draining mucous and other secretions and facilitating your hearing. Because the tissues in the ear are also very sensitive, any trauma--an infection, a blow to the head, a very loud noise, buildup of ear wax or an overzealous cleaning with a cotton swab--can lead to irritation and intense pain.

Sounds get into your head through the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum, a membrane that vibrates in response to noise. Behind the eardrum is the Eustachian tube, which connects to the back of the sinus cavity. The Eustachian tube serves as a drain for the inner ear as well as a chamber for equalizing the pressure within your head with the outside atmosphere. When it's slightly congested, you'll feel pressure or a mild popping in your ears. When it's really blocked off, you'll feel like I did en route to Miami--as if your head is about to explode.

The most common problems associated with the ears are a buildup of wax, which can cause discomfort and even mild hearing loss, and infections--especially in children, whose shorter tubes make them far more susceptible than adults. Here's what you can do when pain strikes.

... AND OUT THE OTHER

The ear canal is naturally coated with a thin film of wax, which traps dust and other debris that could get into the inner ear and lead to infection or physical damage. Ear wax serves a definite purpose, so you shouldn't try too hard to eradicate it, says Carolyn DeMarco, M.D., a holistic physician in Toronto. "Wax prevents infection, and naturally forms into flakes and falls out on its own," she says. But if your ears aren't ridding themselves of all the wax they produce, they might feel itchy or stuffed up, and you might notice that your hearing isn't what it used to be. In that case, you should clean your ears--but do it gently.

"You should never use cotton swabs to clean out the ear canal," advises Keri Rollins, D.O., an osteopathic doctor and director of the Wellness Center in Fort Worth, Texas. "Swabs just mash the wax into the ear and cause it to become impacted, which can create more problems." She recommends a peroxide solution rinse instead. Mix a teaspoon of any hydrogen peroxide with a few tablespoons of warm water. Tilt your head to one side, then, using a small bulb syringe (available at any drug store), squirt the solution into your ears and let it drain. (It's a good idea to have an absorbant paper towel handy.)

Other practitioners suggest putting a few drops of oil into each ear before rinsing; the oil will attract the wax particles and make them easier for the warm water to flush away. You can buy herbal drops made specially for your ears or use a plain vegetable oil. An even simpler solution, says Robert Rakowski, M.D., director of the Natural Medicine Center in Houston, is to gently insert an olive oil-soaked cotton ball into each ear at bedtime. In the morning, remove the cotton. The wax will have been drawn into the oil, so you can easily wipe it away.

Ear candling is a popular but controversial alternative. In this ancient tradition, you lie on your side and a trained practitioner inserts a special beeswax taper into your ear, then lights it to create a vacuum that pulls out excess wax. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration forced one manufacturer of ear candles to halt distribution, citing complaints of burns. Rollins says she isn't convinced of candling's effectiveness. "Most of what comes out is the wax from the candle itself, not earwax," she maintains. "Cleaning with a syringe is much more effective--and it's definitely safer."

NOT ANOTHER INFECTION!

Among young children, the most common ear problem is infections. In fact, it's the No. 1 reason for pediatric visits and costs the nation an estimated $4 billion annually. Ear infections typically fall into two categories: otitis media, which is a middle-ear infection involving the Eustachian tube, and otitis externa, an outer-ear infection involving the ear canal. Otitis externa is often called swimmer's ear, as it's caused by bacteria breeding in water that's left in the ear canal after swimming or bathing.