The winter is warm and fuzzy when blankets become our best friends with hot cocoa and our favorite show on. The joy disappears when you catch a cold or fever. The blocked nose and fever make you feel too tired to do anything.
Once a cold enters the body, it becomes difficult to get rid of it. Taking medicine might not be a popular option, and even simple home remedies are less effective.
The best cure is prevention. Thus, it is better to prevent bacteria from entering our bodies than to treat them once they are there. Hydrogen peroxide is the only ingredient in this remedy, so you won’t have to spend hundreds of dollars. This article explains how to use Hydrogen Peroxide in the ear to treat a cold.
Table of Contents
What is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen Peroxide is a chemical compound that is classified as a weak acid. It was found and discovered by Louis Jacques Thenard in 1818. Known by the chemical formula H2O2, hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound. The liquid is a pale blue color. Humans and other animals also produce it naturally.
Antimicrobial hydrogen peroxide treats mild wounds, burns and is commonly used for mouth freshening. However, only a very low concentration of dilution of a typical three percent peroxide by 100 times can induce healing and should not be repeated often.
The use of hydrogen peroxide for treating cold is widespread. In most cases, waiting for the common cold to pass is the best treatment. Slurping soup and other hot foods are no longer practical because we cannot always go around with a cup of tea or a bowl of soup. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural, instant remedy for cold.
Hydrogen peroxide has a variety of uses as a medical remedy. It resembles water, and when diluted, it can be beneficial. The first time it was used was as a treatment for pneumonia in the 1940s. Eventually, it has been used to treat several bacteria since then.
How does this home remedy work?
Having anti-oxidant and bleaching properties makes hydrogen peroxide an increasingly popular treatment. Through the ear canal, cold and flu develop most frequently because it is easy for bacteria to enter the body.
Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) solution diluted and dropped into the ear canal helps treat this condition. Scratchy throat indicates a cold coming on, and no one wants that.
At the early stages of an infection, you can place a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ear to prevent it from growing further. Despite its adverse effects on the skin, it is an effective and successful treatment for cold.
One thing to keep in mind is that hydrogen peroxide should only be used at the start of a cold. These viruses cause a cold, blocked nose, a running nose, blocked ears, and a slight sense of dizziness during the first seven to ten days after being exposed. You will feel exhaustion, as well as a sore throat. All these symptoms can lead to inactiveness and sometimes fever as well. Hydrogen peroxide can help you get rid of all cold symptoms.
How to Put Hydrogen Peroxide in your Ear – The Right Way
Whenever you start getting cold-like symptoms such as sore throat, running nose, blocked nose, etc., it is time to take action. Do not wait until the symptoms worsen before seeking treatment.
As soon as you feel the symptoms, take hydrogen peroxide so that you don’t spend the next seven to ten days inactive and low-productive due to blocked senses. Here’s how to use hydrogen peroxide in your ears to prevent cold.
- You should always use a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide. A food grade is always preferable. A 3% hydrogen peroxide is what you should use for such treatments.
- Tilt your head on one side and put a few drops, three to four drops of hydrogen peroxide inside your ear, and let it soak in for a while. This process will get some bubbly and tingling sound into your ears, but this is good.
- Keep your head tilted at least for a few minutes, and then wipe off the excess with tissue paper.
- Now slowly tilt your head towards the other side and repeat the same process on the other side of the ear. After the tingling and bubbling sound has stopped, wipe off the excess hydrogen peroxide very gently with soft tissue paper.
- This process, when done before you go to sleep, can increase its efficacy.
This process is simple and requires no extra effort. The only thing you need to do is buy diluted 3% hydrogen peroxide at your nearest pharmacy and incorporate it into your routine every time you feel cold symptoms. Once you do this, you don’t have to visit a doctor or buy expensive medicines.
Does this remedy have any side effects?
The fact is that anything can cause side effects if done incorrectly. The same applies to this treatment using hydrogen peroxide. As previously mentioned, hydrogen peroxide must only be diluted to 3%.
The more concentrated the solution, the more likely it is to cause side effects, such as dry skin of the ears, infection buildup, hearing difficulties, etc. Consult a physician first, then observe what your body requires and act accordingly.
If you feel deafness, irritation, or have had any discharge in your ear, avoid using use hydrogen peroxide. Overdosing on hydrogen peroxide can cause permanent damage to your ears. Symptoms can include mild to severe ear pain, fluid effusion, hypersensitivity, partial deafness, mastoiditis, etc.
Therefore, it is advisable to consult a physician before applying it, and you should also determine if you’re allergic to it.
FAQs
Does peroxide in the ears help cold?
Yes, adding peroxide to your ears when you first observe the cold symptoms can help you eliminate the cold. It is advisable to use it in the initial stage of virus development. It starts working within 2 to 3 minutes of adding the liquid.
How often should one use this remedy?
Using hydrogen peroxide too frequently can cause the ear’s skin to become dry. For curing dryness, you can rub some olive oil onto your skin. But excessive use can cause the breaking up of the ear canal’s skin, which might irritate your skin. Use it in the initial period after realizing the symptoms, and it will show its results in 12 to 14 hours.
Is it safe to put hydrogen peroxide into the ear?
Although it is safe to use hydrogen peroxide, it is advisable to consult your doctor or physician before using it. Use it in diluted form and not a generous amount of it, or else it may cause irritation, discharge of fluids, and dryness of the ear’s skin as it is highly oxidizing.
Does peroxide kill the cold virus?
Yes, peroxide kills the cold virus. The ear canal is a path for cold viruses to enter our body and pass to our throat. It is at this point that we can feel our throats itching. Hydrogen peroxide prevents the build-up of these viruses and therefore prevents the common cold.
Other Tips to deal with Cold
Apart from the peroxide treatment, there are different ways to deal with the cold and stay warm during winter.
- A cold usually begins with a sore throat. Therefore, you should treat your throat. A saltwater gargle can provide great relief from a sore throat.
- You should sip on warm liquids like warm water, coffee, and soup, increasing mucous flow.
- Make sure you drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. Winter may not seem like a time when you feel thirsty, but your body still needs water. So, drinking plenty of fluids is recommended.
- Sleep is important because your body heals the best when you sleep.
Bottom Line
Now you know how to use Hydrogen Peroxide in the ear for cold. Although winters are very cozy, you will only be able to enjoy them when you are healthy. Any time you experience severe symptoms, you should consult a doctor, and mild symptoms can be avoided if you take the proper steps. Consider your diet, maintain your health, and enjoy the winter.
