To massage a clogged ear, focus on the area behind the earlobe and at the base of the ear, using gentle, slow circular motions with your fingers to help loosen earwax or relieve sinus pressure, often combining this with opening and closing your mouth or tugging the earlobe to encourage movement and drainage. You can also apply warm compresses and use jaw movements like yawning or chewing to help pop the ears, but stop immediately if you feel pain.
To do this, you: Use your finger to find a bony bump behind your ear lobe. Slide your finger down until you feel a groove between your earlobe and jaw. Using firm, steady pressure, trace the groove all the way down your neck to the collarbone.
For kid's ear pain relief, use child-safe paracetamol or ibuprofen, apply a warm compress, help them stay upright (especially when sleeping) to ease pressure, and ensure they drink water, but always consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and prescribed drops, avoiding anything in the ear (like oil or cotton) unless advised. Avoid aspirin for kids and cotton swabs in the ear canal.
To sleep with an ear infection, elevate your head or sleep on your non-affected side. Elevating the affected ear makes it easier for the infection to drain.
If your ears are plugged, try swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn't work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut.
The commonest cause of blocked ears is usually an issue in the outer ear, due to wax accumulating and blocking the ear canal. If left to accumulate and block the ear canal, it can cause problems with hearing and an infection in the outer ear causing swelling, pain and discharge.
Pharmacists can offer advice on a range of illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains. They can also give advice about medicines.
Based on whether the earache is caused by an inflammation or infection, you can use OTC pain relievers to relieve the pain immediately. Applying a hot or cold compress is another option. If the pain is due to wax buildup or fluid accumulation, an earwax removal kit or nasal decongestants work well.
While you can't use tools to reach into your canal and clean out the ear wax, you can still encourage a blockage to free up. A simple massage can assist and clear a bunged up canal, especially if you've used oil to soften up the ear wax already.
According to hearing health experts, exercising helps increase blood flow to the ears. This is essential for protecting the delicate hair cells within the inner ear, which are responsible for converting soundwaves into electrical energy that the brain interprets as sound.
This is because sinus congestion and stuffiness can affect the pressure in your ears. The pressure in your sinuses affects more than just your nose. It can also cause pain in your ears, dizziness, and the feeling that your ears feel stuffed up or clogged.
The forbidden points—LI4, SP6, BL60, GB21, and CV3—are traditionally avoided during pregnancy due to their potential to induce labor or stimulate strong physiological reactions. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using acupressure to ensure both the safety of the mother and the baby.
The symptoms of an ear infection usually start quickly and include:
Pharmacists can prescribe for seven common conditions under the UK's NHS Pharmacy First service, including uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women, shingles, impetigo, earache, sore throat, sinusitis, and infected insect bites/stings, with specific age/gender restrictions, allowing quicker access to treatments without needing a GP visit for these minor ailments.
Diagnosing otitis externa
Your pharmacist or GP will ask about your symptoms and whether you regularly put things into your ears, such as hearing aids or ear plugs. They may also examine inside your ear using an instrument called an otoscope.
Too much earwax, water trapped in the ear, changes in altitude during flights ("aeroplane ear"), sinus infections, and allergies are all common culprits. For those experiencing ear blockage due to a cold, the symptoms often clear up after a few days, but the discomfort can be significant while waiting.
Common symptoms include: Ear pain: This pain can come on suddenly and may go away quickly. Fluid draining from your ear: It may look like pus or have blood in it. Sudden hearing loss: Sounds may seem muffled or harder to hear.
Other safe techniques include yawning or chewing gum, applying a warm compress against the ear and making gentle jaw movements. These methods can help relieve pressure and promote the natural clearing of the ears.
Eustachian tube dysfunction, often triggered by colds or altitude changes, can also leave your ears feeling clogged or full. Less commonly, jaw joint problems like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction may cause referred pressure or discomfort in the ears.
The Muncie Technique teaches to go past the tonsils and contact behind the Eustachian tube where a pumping motion is applied. In contrast, the Modified Muncie Technique does not go as deep. Therefore, it makes it easier on you as there is less of a gag reflex, but may take a few visits before the desired result.