Got my ears cleaned today and I've finally got to the bottom of why out here in SE Asia all the ear-cleaning is done with weird, evil-looking picks...
It all down to genetics and Asians have a single gene difference that causes two things;
1. Their ear-wax is dry rather than wet.
2. Their bodies produce less sweat.
So yet again I find myself a victim of "standardisation" - the process of catering to the majority! I was already a victim of this living in England where black-carribean decentants are not screened for certain ailments because these ailments do not occur until a particular age in the "standard population" (Prostate cancer is a typical example - this tends to affect black males in their 30s and european males in their 50s)...
I've also noticed the sweating thing - when I go running all is well but when I stop... wow I turn into a "sweatasourous"! Not that I particularly care of course - this is the way my body works and that's that!
Back to the earwax then - using picks makes sense for people with dry-type earwax as it tends to simply fall out of the ear canal of it's own accord. On the other hand, people with wet-type earwax will usually need to soften the wax prior to removal using one of a number of potions - the most common is olive oil however a 10% solution of bicarbonate soda (baking powder) has been proven to be more effective (I've not tried this one as yet - maybe next time!). After the softening it is usually necessary to irrigate the ear with water - personally I prefer the old-victorian metal syringe - the water flow was slow, constant and effective without being too unpleasant!
My last experience of ear cleaning here in Thailand wasn't the best so this time I went to my local hospital instead - not only was it nice to see some of those lovely nurses again (fantasy mode = off) but it was also free and naturally professional!
God only knows what the machine was but it seemed to do the trick and the doctor was definately thorough - very, very thorough!
It still wasn't particularly pleasant but better than last time - now I've got to keep water out of my ears for a week or so while my ear recovers - so that's what the cotton wool is for?!!
