Wednesday, December 13, 2006
wax wax away
What's a good way of getting wax out of your ears? Have been pondering that question for a while now. There's this burning stick thing that you put in the canals, yea? It supposedly sucks them out or something...if God created the fingers small enough to pick our noses,what about a sixth little 'finger' skinny enough for us to pick our ears....?
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2 comments:
Ear wax has a purpose, a moist ear canal is an ideal medium for bacterial growth but wax creates a poor culture medium for that growth, so it's infection prevention. Also it prevents bugs getting in, cos they stick to the wax if they want to move in further or they get repelled by the smell.
The ear canal has hairs that move the excess wax out with time constantly, so they surface and dislodge or get external enough that simple rubbing or air will dislodge them. Purposefully sticking something in (e.g. cotton bud) risks pushing the wax in more, impacting it against the drum, which has the opposite effect to clearing the way for sound, as well as (more importantly) traumatising the canal itself, causing it to be inflammed and be painful or irritating or cause a headache.
The wax candle transmits heat with an insulated diminuation of the actually heat at the top of the candle, such that the end inside the ear canal is melting the solidified wax without traumatising the ear, and the wax is supposed to leak out like liquid. There are also chemical wax softeners like Waxsol, which one can drip into the canal, plug the ear overnight, and in the morning it'll get some out (done over a few days), or will make it easier to "synringe" the wax out with a jet of water by one's GP. For the majority of people wax shouldn't be a problem, but if it's obstructing hearing or is a part of another problem (not that i can think of one), that's when there's a need to get it out.
The Chinese traditionally have ear wax removal service with a special stick (shaped like a back scratcher) in barber shops. Probably not anymore.
Q
SF,
Remind me to show u this pic with a guy going full-on caving into my ear - complete with headlamp and assorted torturetool diggers ;)
MF
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