Camphor oil is an essential oil substance with a pungent odor that is extracted from the camphor tree. For medical purposes, weakly concentrated solutions of camphor diluted in vegetable oil are used. The herbal remedy has pronounced antiphlogistic, disinfectant and warming properties.
By instilling camphor oil in your ears, you can stop inflammatory reactions, pain and tissue swelling. This is due to the ability of herbal remedies to prevent the development of bacterial flora and promote vasoconstriction. However, the use of an oil solution requires adherence to certain rules, failure to comply with which may lead to the occurrence of side reactions.
Description of the phytopreparation
Can camphor oil be used for ear pain? It should be noted that the very definition of the agent is a collective term applicable to several types of herbal remedies: alcohol and oil solutions with the addition of camphor and essential oil, which is obtained in the process of hot or cold pressing from the laurel tree. In medical practice, 10% camphor solutions diluted in alcohol or oil are used.
The essential oil substance contains components that have a stimulating, local irritating, analgesic and antiphlogistic effect:
- pinen;
- camphene;
- limonel;
- ketone;
- safrole;
- pellandrene;
- bisabolol.
Dripping camphor oil into the ear can quickly eliminate local manifestations of inflammatory processes. This is due to the antiseptic, vasodilating and analgesic properties of the agent.
In herbal medicine for injection and instillation, only semi-synthetic and natural camphor oil is used for the ears. The synthetic product is suitable exclusively for outdoor use.
Pharmachologic effect
Treatment of the ear with camphor oil leads to the normalization of blood circulation in the affected tissues, which helps to improve their trophism. In the case of injection, the phytopreparation has a tonic effect. The components of the product accelerate metabolic processes, which leads to the elimination of an excess amount of intercellular fluid in the affected tissues. This helps to restore the patency of the auditory canals and normalize the drainage function of the Eustachian tube.
The herbal remedy can only be used as an adjunct to the main therapy of otitis media, eustachitis, labyrinthitis and other ear pathologies.
Due to the drying effect, the essential oil substance is used to eliminate eczematous eruptions in the external auditory canal that occur during the development of allergies or otomycosis. Camphor oil for the ear is an irreplaceable regenerating agent, the systematic use of which accelerates the regression of catarrhal processes in the tissues of the affected organ.
Indications for use
Depending on the type of ear pathology, the essential oil solution can be used to eliminate inflammation in the form of drops, compresses or turunda. However, it should be understood that methods of therapy that are suitable for the treatment of one disease are unacceptable for other ENT pathologies. Therefore, to correctly answer the question: "How to treat the ear with camphor oil?" can only be done by an otolaryngologist after an appropriate examination.
The herbal remedy has found wide application in the treatment of the following types of ear pathologies:
- otitis externa;
- tubo-otitis;
- labyrinthitis;
- otitis media.
Otolaryngologists warn that in 85% of cases, inflammatory processes in the organ of hearing occur as complications of other diseases. If they are not eliminated, the treatment of ear pathologies will be ineffective and even dangerous. Chronic inflammation of tissues leads to their degradation and the spread of foci of inflammation, which is fraught with the development of meningitis, mastoiditis and persistent hearing loss.
Instillation of phytopreparation
Can camphor oil drip into the ear? In the presence of inflammation, insects and sulfur plugs in the external
an essential oil substance can be instilled into the auditory canal. In this case, you must follow the rules that guarantee the absence of adverse reactions and aggravation of the course of the disease. The main ones include:
- when small insects enter the ear canal, the oil solution is dripped slowly until the liquid has washed the insect out of the ear;
- camphor oil for pain in the ear, drip 2 drops no more than 3 times a day for a week;
- in case of development of otitis media, phyto-remedy drip 3-4 drops (only in the absence of perforated holes in the ear membrane);
- to soften the ear plugs, 5 drops of an essential oil substance are instilled 3 times a day.
How should camphor oil be dripped into the ear?
Instructions:
- before use, the solution should be warmed up to 37-38 degrees;
- oil is dripped into the sore ear from a pipette, after which the external auditory canal is immediately closed with a cotton swab;
- after the procedure, you should lie on your side for 10-15 minutes so that the oil solution is better absorbed into the affected tissues.
Important! Even with unilateral inflammation, the procedure should be repeated for the second ear to prevent the development of bilateral otitis media.
Removing sulfur plugs
Can camphor oil be instilled into the ear to remove sulfur plug? According to experts, self-removal of plugs can lead to hearing impairment and perforation of the ear membrane. Therefore, in the absence of special knowledge, the procedure should be entrusted to an otolaryngologist.
If the external auditory canal is partially blocked, you can try to remove the plug yourself. At the same time, it is categorically not recommended to use metal sharp objects during the procedure. Their use can cause scratches and abrasions on the skin of the external auditory canal, which is fraught with the development of bacterial or fungal flora.
Application of camphor oil in the ear with a plug:
- heat the essential oil solution to 38 degrees;
- soak cotton turundas in oil;
- put a cotton swab in the sore ear;
- replace the tampon after 1-2 hours.
The procedure should be performed 3 times a day until the cork softens and leaves the auditory canal on its own.
The effectiveness of the procedure will be low in the presence of nasal congestion or acute coryza.
Warming compresses
How to use camphor oil for ears? To eliminate otitis media and internal otitis media, it is more advisable to use warming compresses with an essential oil substance. This will contribute to the acceleration of blood microcirculation in the inflamed tissues, which will lead to their early recovery. Otolaryngologists warn that warming compresses and medical dressings can be used only in the absence of purulent processes in the ear.
The method of using the phytopreparation is as follows:
- the gauze is folded in 5-6 layers so that its area completely overlaps the auricle;
- in a multilayer gauze napkin, an incision is made, ending in its central part;
- the prepared napkin is moistened in heated oil and applied to the area behind the ear;
- the compress is insulated with polyethylene, kraft paper and cotton wool to enhance the warming effect of camphor;
- after 3-4 hours the compress is removed and after 1-2 hours a new one is applied.
The procedure should be carried out 3 times a day for at least a week.Regular use of compresses guarantees the elimination of pain, swelling and hearing loss caused by edema of the external auditory canal.
Healing turundas
In the early stages of development of otitis externa and with congestion of the ears, otolaryngologists recommend using therapeutic turundas soaked in an essential oil solution. Thanks to the decongestant and antiphlogistic action, the herbal remedy promotes the early elimination of local manifestations of the disease and regression of inflammation.
Using camphor oil in the ear for congestion:
- chop 2 cloves of garlic;
- mix the garlic mass with 2 tbsp. l. camphor oil;
- soak cotton swabs in the prepared composition;
- wrap the tampons with gauze and put them in your ears;
- after 1-2 hours, remove the tampons and close the ear canal with a cotton swab.
Important! Garlic-camphor turundas should not be left in the ear canal overnight, as this can lead to burns.
During the procedure, only sterile bandages, gauze and cotton wool should be used. In addition, the diameter of the turunda should approximately correspond to the size of the ear canal. Turundas tightly adhering to the skin can cause impaired blood circulation in the tissues.
Features of pediatric therapy
Can camphor oil be put into the ear of a small child? In pediatric therapy, even weakly concentrated solutions with camphor should be used with caution. Pediatricians strongly discourage the use of herbal remedies in the treatment of children under 2 years of age. Vapors of essential oil substances are toxic, therefore, they can provoke intoxication of the body.
Before dripping camphor oil into the ear, you should consult a specialist. In case of an overdose, the components of the drug can cause seizures, which is highly undesirable in the treatment of children with epilepsy. In addition, oil formulations can be instilled into the ears only when the child reaches 3 years of age.
It is best not to drip camphor oil into the child's ear, but to use it to make compresses or ear turundas. In the presence of purulent inflammations and hemorrhagic rashes in the ear, it is impossible to use the phytopreparation, which is due to its irritating effect. Irrational use of essential oil composition can lead to the following complications:
- hearing impairment;
- sending in oil vapors;
- allergic tissue edema;
- development of fat embolism.
You can not use the agent with the development of psoriasis, tumor-like neoplasms in the ear and a violation of the integrity of the skin.
It should be noted that in young children, otitis media most often develops as a result of infection of the upper respiratory tract. If inflammation in the organ of hearing was provoked by sinusitis, sinusitis, sore throat, scarlet fever or other diseases, camphor oil therapy will be practically useless.
