During a recent trip to Southern California, after a body surfing session, where I got bounced around from all directions, I found myself with water in my right ear that just wouldn’t release. For days, my right ear was plugged and eventually became painful.
walking the beach with da wife after body surfingA smarter person would get to the pharmacy for some ear drops or an antibiotic, but a more stubborn person (me) just tried to forget it and grind it out, hopefully healing myself.
Plane touching down in Minneapolis, I closed my eyes and creatively visualized the path home to fire up my backyard sauna. That evening, I had a great three round sauna session, getting rid of airplane juice, meditating with a fresh shave in the hot room, and untangling some wires in my head.
I went to bed in my upright and locked position. Next morning, I feel my right ear: pain is mostly gone. What’s better? My ear has opened up. A good chunk of ear wax released (yes, i know, we aren’t supposed to put a finger in our ears, but it itched!).
My ear feels better now.
I am reliving the deep, intense heat, coupled with some steam, and when I close my eyes I see the words “natural remedy.”
Could a sauna session be the best way to clean out our ears and get rid of an ear infection?
Sounds good to me.
Ear infections can really be nerve wracking Glenn. It is good to hear that you got rid of it, without any antibiotics. After all, why take antibiotics for something that can be taken care of by traditional home remedies. Sauna therapy is an ideal way to clear our sinuses, open nasal passageways and preventing spread of infection to the middle ear. However, if the symptoms return, it would be better to get it checked by a doctor.
Glenn,
I think you are giving sauna some benefit to the ear which it does not have. You had your ear canal plugged with water behind wax, which eventually gave way and problem resolved. There may have been mild infection but the problem resolved once the obstruction was gone, so no antibiotics were called for. I once had a similar process when wresting with boys in a pool while on a skiing trip. I had balance issues and no hearing in that ear till return home. I had to get the obstruction resolved by an ENT person.
You may want to consider olive oil on semiregular basis if wax continues to be a problem, and use rubbing alcohol after the episode you had to keep any residual infection down, since sea water near shore has bacteria, and obstructed ear canal is not a bad culture medium.
The comment about sinuses, etc is partly true. Our body uses fever to fight infection, so we are doing the same thing with getting body temp up in sauna. To the extent that the nasal passages stay open would help prevent ear infections, for the same reason that there is no obstruction any longer. There needs to be some followup, since the same issues will return once you return to normal body temp.
Gene: Thanks for your thoughtful, knowledgeable (and humble) response and tips. I say humble in that I know you are a renowned physician yet you don’t wave that title as part of your name. PS…When can we Sauna Talk? Real soon now, we’re going to be met with brrrr temperatures and great 612 Sauna weather!
almost the same thing happen to me ..I had an ear infection for days and it was getting worse I was about to see my ENT..I went to the gym and worked out after that I went in the sauna hoping that it might help and sure enough the next morning a chunk of something fell out after that no more pain ..!
inka: Think we should bring an authentic kick ass mobile sauna to the annual Ear, Nose & Throat convention? As bonus, the the Dr’s can chill out between lectures.
What about a swim prior to sauna…is that advisable?
i usually swim before sauna. I like wet hair and a rinsed off body before first round. Just me, maybe.