This is quite shocking…
But there are 10 million people in this country who can no longer get free earwax removal from the NHS.
This is, according to the RNID, a hearing loss charity.
They complain that free earwax removal services have been withdrawn across England since 2019.
So now people have to pay…
And with the cost of living so high, many of those people can’t go for private treatment.
Instead, they are turning to what the RNID called “dangerous self-removal methods”.
I can figure what they will include…
Sticking objects into their earholes and waggling them around!
It doesn’t sound (excuse the pun) like a big thing.
But we’re talking about something that 2.3 million people in this country need every year – particularly older folk, anyone who uses a hearing aid.
And the consequences of having too much earwax can be really serious..
Pain… tinnitus… and eventually even the loss of your hearing.
You will know about this already, as I wrote about earwax last month.
As I said, earwax is a GOOD thing, and essential for your ear health – until your body goes into overdrive and produces so much that it begins to build up.
But when this happens, I DON’T recommend sticking cotton buds down your lugholes.
Instead, try this soothing spray, made from organic plant extracts that you can use every day to remove earwax and prevent it building up.
It softens the wax, loosens it up, and releases it painlessly from your ear canal. To find out more, take a look at this: Spray Away Your Earwax
And if you are losing your hearing and interested in finding out more about the charity RNID, then here’s their website.
Natural Ways to Keep Your Hearing Clear
Taking care of your ears is vital if you want to have good hearing for as much of your life as possible!
Here are some ways to do it through what you eat.
- Foods rich in omega-3s, like fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, can help maintain promote blood circulation to the ear.
- Fruits and veg that are high in antioxidants and vitamins (such as vitamin C, E, and magnesium) can protect your ears from damage caused by loud noises.
- Keeping your body hydrated helps maintain the health of your ear canal by ensuring it produces just enough earwax.
Regular exercise will also help increase blood flow to your ears.
But if our exercise happens to be swimming, this can occasionally affect your ears – so after you have showered, tilt your head and gently tug on your earlobe to let the water drain out.
You can also use a towel to gently dry your outer ear but avoid inserting objects into the ear canal to dry it.
And if, like me, you’re someone who loves to hear loud music every now and then, then here’s a guideline…
Follow the 60/60 rule: listen to your music at no more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time!
Talking of the NHS…
An unfolding disaster
Cuts to free earwax removal are just the tips of a terrifyingly massive iceberg.
Figures at the end of last year showed that the overall waiting list for NHS hospital care has risen to a record high of 7.77 million.
About 80% of these are waiting for scans, biopsies or physio sessions.
And 20% are waiting for an operation – one of the most common being cataract surgery, followed by knee and hip surgery.
It’s a desperate situation for many.
If you’re one of those affected, I feel very sorry and wish that I could wave a magic wand that could somehow fix or change things.
All I can ever really do is pass on as many natural ways as possible to stay out of the GP’s surgery – which can be helpful up to a point.
But when your hip goes, it goes!
One of the big knock-ons, however, seems to be that smaller problems like earwax get shunted off the list entirely.
This is where I can be a bit more helpful, finding you as many natural remedies and preventatives for everyday health problems.
There is a load of info on the website, which you can access for free here: Good Life Letter website
Just use one of two search tools on the right-hand side – the top one helps you search for specific products, and the one lower down helps you search for specific conditions mentioned in the Good Life archives.
There are also some helpful shortcut tabs below for these popular categories:
And finally, if you are concerned about earwax buildup then do try out the excellent Otosan Ear Spray for quick and safe removal!
