Open Science Journal of Clinical Medicine

2019; 7(2): 52-55

http://www.openscienceonline.com/journal/osjcm
ISSN: 2381-4748 (Print); ISSN: 2381-4756 (Online)

Prevention or Treatment of Hunan Ear Pain, Itch or

Vertigo (Dizziness) Caused by Cerumen (Earwax)
Impaction and Ear Hairs
Kang Cheng
Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Qingdao Binhai University, Qingdao, P. R. China

Email address

To cite this article

Kang Cheng. Prevention or Treatment of Hunan Ear Pain, Itch or Vertigo (Dizziness) Caused by Cerumen (Earwax) Impaction and Ear Hairs.
Open Science Journal of Clinical Medicine. Vol. 7, No. 2, 2019, pp. 52-55.

Received: May 4, 2019; Accepted: June 9, 2019; Published: June 25, 2019

Abstract
Introduction: Cerumen impaction occurs in up to 6% of the general population, affecting 10% of children and over 30% of the
elderly and cognitively impaired populations. Here, I proposed theoretical models of clinical medicine to prevent or treat the ear
pain, itch or vertigo (dizziness) caused by cerumen impaction and ear hairs. I also reported a clinical case to support the
theoretical models in the discussion of this paper. Method: I used published clinical data and scientific theories in the modeling
study. A 63 years old male subject participated in the clinical case investigation. The participant had complained his ear pain and
itch for two years without any hearing loss and ear wounds; found cerumen often and discoverd rich and long hairs two years ago,
in his ear canals; heard his left temporomandibular joint sound recently when eating; and had a history of arthritis symptoms.
Following the nonprescription instruction, the entrant applied sterile cotton swabs, medical H2O2 (3%) and alcohol (75%) to
clean his ear canals as well as used warm running water to massage his ear auricles and roots, temporomandibular joints and
temporal points twice daily. Results: Modeling results illustrate how a cerumen impaction inducing pain, itch or vertigo is
formed by ear hairs and how abnormal oscillations in semicircular canals leading to the vertigos are produced by stimulations.
The clinical results show treatment methods are 90% effective in this case report. Conclusion: Keeping our whole bodies clean
and hygienic are often key points to prevent all of the diseases. Cleaning cerumen is as important as cleaning eye crusts and nasal
discharges (mucus). Therefore, ideally I suggest everyone, especially elderly, to clean external ears using methods in this paper
(or similar methods) every day. The treatment methods are safe (almost no side effect) and economical. Discussion: I suggest
using earphones outside of ear canals (auricles), instead of inside of ear canals. I believe arthritis of temporomandibular joints
may lead to ear pain or itch sometimes. I also believe the lymphatic motion and oscillation in the inner ears is the same as or
similar to that of cardiovascular and nervous systems in principle. The moving or oscillating model of the vestibular (physics)
plasma in semicircular canals in this study could also provide a navigational mechanism for bird or other animal migration.
Keywords
H2O2, Semicircular Canals, Temporomandibular Joints, Arthritis, Massage, Warm Running Water

In certain individuals, the self-cleaning mechanism fails,

1. Introduction and cerumen can become impacted [2, 3]. Cerumen impaction
can occlude the ear canal or press against the tympanic
Earwax, also known by the medical term cerumen, is a membrane, potentially causing ear discomfort, conductive
yellowish, waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans hearing loss, itching, pain and tinnitus. Cerumen impaction
and many other mammals. It plays a vital role in the human ear occurs in up to 6% of the general population, affecting 10% of
canal, assisting in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides children and over 30% of the elderly and cognitively impaired
some protection from bacteria, fungus, and insects. However, populations [4, 5].
excess or impacted cerumen can press against the eardrum and/or Cerumen is a naturally occurring, normally extruded
occlude the external auditory canal and impair hearing [1]. product of the external auditory canal. It is usually
53 Kang Cheng: Prevention or Treatment of Hunan Ear Pain, Itch or Vertigo (Dizziness) Caused by
Cerumen (Earwax) Impaction and Ear Hairs

asymptomatic, but when it becomes impacted it can cause running water [10, 11] to massage his ear auricles and roots,
complications such as hearing loss, pain, or dizziness. The temporomandibular joints and temporal points twice daily. No
overall quality of the evidence on treatment is limited [6]. any prescription is needed for the treatment.
Hearing loss is extremely common in late life, affecting 25%
to 35% of older persons, and it increases dramatically with 3. Modeling Results
advancing age. Mild hearing loss is more likely to be
undetected. One of the most common causes of hearing loss in 3.1. Cerumen Impaction Caused by External
late life is cerumen impaction [7]. Ear Hairs
I previously proposed models of human cochlea working
mechanism [8, 9] and massage with warn running water to Earwax or cerumen is partly sebum, as is mucopurulent
treat arthritis [10] as well as lymphedema of superficial discharge, the dry substance accumulating in the corners of the
lymphatic system [11]. In this study, I continued and eye after sleeping. Production, composition, and different types
expanded my previous studies, and proposed theoretical cerumen is produced in the outer third of the cartilaginous portion
models of clinical medicine to prevent or treat the ear pain, of the human ear canal. It is a mixture of viscous secretions from
itch or vertigo (dizziness) caused by cerumen impaction and sebaceous glands and less-viscous ones from modified apocrine
ear hairs. I also reported a clinical case to support the sweat glands [1], i.e., earwax is a mixture of desquamated
theoretical models in the discussion of this paper. keratinocytes and hair combined with the secretions [12].
Cleaning of the ear canal occurs as a result of the "conveyor
belt" process of epithelial migration, aided by jaw movement. The
2. Method and Material conveying is towards the entrance of the ear canal. The cerumen in
2.1. Modeling Study the canal is also carried outwards, taking with it any dirt, dust, and
particulate matter that may have gathered in the canal [1].
I used published clinical data and scientific theories in this Earwax is produced by glands in the skin of the outer
modeling study. portion of the ear canal. Only the thicker cerumen-producing
ear canal skin has hairs [13].
2.2. A Clinical Case Report When the external ears have rich and long hairs, the hairs
2.2.1. Subject could forbid the caring or conveying out of the cerumen; the
A 63 years old male entrant participated in the clinical case cerumen impaction could occur (Figure 2); and the impacted
investigation and he agreed to be recruited before the study. cerumen could induce ear pain, itch and vertigo or dizziness.
The participant had complained his ear pain and itch for two Therefore, the impacted cerumen or earwax has to be
years without any hearing loss and ear wounds; found some cleared out and the ear canals have to be cleaned.
cerumen or earwax often and discoverd rich and long hairs
two years ago (Figure 1), in his external ear canals; heard his
left temporomandibular joint sound recently when eating; and
had a history of arthritis symptoms.

Figure 2. Illustration: how rich long ear hairs forbid the caring or conveying
out of cerumen and how the cerumen impaction is formed by the hair. If the
auditory tube is blocked, an ear edema could occur [1, 13]. See the text. The
draw is not to scale.

3.2. Abnormal Motions or Oscillations in

Semicircular Canals Leading to the
Vertigos
Figure 1. Rich and Long Human Ear Hairs.
Motion sickness is a condition in which the endolymph (the
2.2.2. Treatment Method fluid found in the semicircular canals of the inner ears)
Following the nonprescription instruction, the subject becomes 'stirred up', causing confusion between the difference
applied sterile cotton swabs, medical H2O2 (3%) and alcohol between apparent perceived movement (none or very little),
(75%) to clean his external ear canals as well as used warm and actual movement. Depending on the cause, it is also
 Open Science Journal of Clinical Medicine 2019; 7(2): 52-55 54

referred to as seasickness, carsickness, airsickness, or space Under some conditions, the oscillation, even the resonance
sickness [1]. continues as long as stimulation is powerful enough and
I believe vertigo or dizziness is generally a motion sickness retained [9, 15]. An abnormal oscillation or resonance could
and it is caused by abnormal motions or oscillations in make vertigo or dizziness.
semicircular canals. In this investigation, a press is produced by an impacted
The three semicircular canals (ducts) are mostly used to cerumen that occludes the external ear canals; an oscillation is
sense rotational head movements in the three dimensions [14]. mostly triggered by the cerumen press against the tympanic
I modeled mechatronic or/and electromagnetic oscillations membrane; and the stirring press is delivered by the middle ear
of quasi plasma (physics) in the semicircular canals in the to the inner ear: semicircular canals.
same way as that in our previous studies [9, 15]. Because
magnetic field can be used to experimentally stimulate the 4. Discussion
rotational sensors [16], magnetic stimulation is used as an
example for the stirred oscillation, see Figure 3. Other 4.1. A Clinical Case Report
stimulations have the same (similar) effect as (to) this one in
principle. 4.1.1. Ear Pain and Itch
The subject began to feel a slight pain or itch, without any
hearing loss, in inner portions of his external ear canals when
he was 61 years old, at the same time he also discovered many
long ear hairs grew in the canals (Figure 1). The two
phenomena could be correlated each other. Additionally, he
often found some cerumen or earwax in his ear canals.
Before this clinical case trial, the subject respectively tried
some regular soap, nonprescription rehabilitation cream or
medical alcohol (75%) alone, to manage the disease, but he
did not feel much better.
During this clinical case trial, the participant followed the
nonprescription instruction; to clean his ear canals: (1) applied
medical H2O2 (3%) twice daily, once in the morning and once
in the afternoon and 5 minutes after H2O2 treatment, dried the
ears canals using the cotton swabs; (2) used medical alcohol
Figure 3. Illustration of ionic oscillation produced by disturbed vestibular
(75%) with the cotton swabs twice daily, once at noon, and
(physics) plasma in semicircular canals. The oscillation could be a source of once at night; additionally, considering a history of arthritis
vertigo or dizziness. See the text. symptoms and hearing the left temporomandibular joint sound
recently [17], he used warm running water and massage [10,
Top left: ideal plasma in vestibule, no net charges. 11] to clean his ear auricles and roots, temporomandibular
+: a positive ion; -: a negative ion;
Top right: disturbed plasma in a magnetic field By in y direction and produced
joints and temporal points, twice daily, once in the morning
electric field Ex in x direction. and once in the evening.
Bottom left: Rectangular coordinates x, y, z. After one month treatments, the subject felt his pain and
Bottom right: vz+: velocity of the positive ion; vz-: velocity of the negative ion; itch was more than 90% inhibited in both of feeling intensities
Fx+: magnetic force on the positive ion; Fx-: magnetic force on the negative and occurring frequencies with a comparison of his feeling
ion.
without any treatment.
The endolymph plasma can be considered as biological Rich and long hairs keep the inside of external ear canals
electrolytes, quasi physics plasma of K+, Na+, Cl-, Ca++, warm, moisture (sweats or water) and an anaerobic condition
Mg++, OH- and H3O+. Based on Newton second law, a that help some bacteria or fungi, especially those do not need
modified hydrodynamic equation is embedded with Lorentz O2, to live and to proliferate. Therefore, medical H2O2 (3%) is
force, in conjunction with Maxwell equations of critical to kill those anaerobic bacteria or fungi. Medical
electromagnetism, and the equation can be used to describe alcohol (75%) is helpful to depress living and proliferating of
the plasma oscillation in this study. The both mechanic and general bacteria or fungi.
electromagnetic (internal) forces are included [9, 15]. I also suggest using earphones outside of ear canals
When a strong stirring occurs, no matter it is mechanic or (auricles) rather than inside of ear canals, because using
electromagnetic, the ions or particles are often displaced from earphones inside of the canals for long time has the same
their equilibrium positions or distances, the redistribution of (similar) function as (to) that ear hairs have. Additionally,
charges and masses will respectively set up fields or forces, earphone rubbers could hurt the ear canals.
tensions or pressures at the ions or particles. The forces, the Cleaning cerumen is as important as cleaning eye crusts
tensions or the pressures will restore the ions or particles back and nasal discharges (mucus). Therefore, ideally I suggest
to their original equilibrium positions or distances and could everyone, especially elderly, to clean external ears using
initiate a vibration (oscillation), even a resonance. methods in this paper (or similar methods) every day. The
55 Kang Cheng: Prevention or Treatment of Hunan Ear Pain, Itch or Vertigo (Dizziness) Caused by
Cerumen (Earwax) Impaction and Ear Hairs

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