Irrigations of The Ear

bulb syringe For Ear Irrigation

Irrigation of the ear is used in acute inflammation of the ear, to flush out  hardened wax, to remove insects or foreign bodies, and in ezcema of the ear canal. Ear wax may be softened by dropping a few drops of plain water or a little warm olive oil into the ear canal. Allow the fluid or oil to remain at least one-half hour before tipping the head upright again. repeat three or four times at daily  intervals, and then irrigate the ear. From personal experience paraffin also helps to soften ear wax. In my case I had someone drop a few drops of paraffin oil  into the ear  when about to sleep and leaving it until morning helped to soften the wax.

How To Prepare An Irrigation of The Ear

• Use an irrigation set-up similar to an enema bag with a small rubber or glass tube with rounded edges, or one any use and ordinary bulb syringe. 
• Use water from 99° to 101°.
• Use little pressure. A tray or bowl should be held firmly against the cheek and neck below the ear. 
• The operator should pull the ear upward and backward to straighten the canal and direct the stream of water forward and downward.
• An ear syringe should be pressed steadily to deliver water at a constant rate under very gentle pressure.
• If the water is hot the patient may experience some currents of fluid movement in the nearby semi-circular canals, causing sensations of faintness, dizziness or nausea.