Ear Drainage Technique 

Draining the ears and sinuses is one of the many ways massage therapy can help you function a little easier. A lot of people have this constant feeling of pressure and blockages in the ear. It makes hearing a challenge and does build up painful pressure in the ear. This also ties into seasonal allergies. Massage therapy is a non-invasive way to open up the sinuses and to get better fluid drainage. The two techniques I like to use are manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and cranio-sacral therapy (CST). Manual lymphatic drainage works by moving the extra fluid out of the sinuses. This is a very gentle technique. Every MLD session starts with opening up the lymph nodes. Then there is a series of lightly pulling on the skin to move lymphatic fluid through lymph vessels. 

Cranio-sacral therapy is also a light touch, it helps with sinus drainage by calming down the nervous system. Both techniques will take about a half hour to get the best results. I usually like to start at the neck and shoulder. This gives me a good idea on what the nervous system is doing. Just like MLD opening us this area gives a place for all that extra sinus fluid to drain properly. 

The area of the body I focus a lot of attention on the the Eustachian Tube. This is right behind the ear. Both of the time you can’t feel it. However when the sinuses get back up, the   Eustachian Tube does get swollen. This prevents fluid from draining out of the sinuses and down the neck. Because I need a place for the fluid to go I always begin this opening up the tissue in the neck. Fluid need to go back down into the heart to recirculate. There are also lymph nodes under the chin and back of the neck that are lightly massaged, this helps to get fluid moving down again. And last but not least the  Eustachian Tube gets massaged all around the ears. I gently pull on the ear lobes in multiple directions. But this times clients can feel the fluid drainage down into the back of the throat. It’s common for people to start coughing and sneezing at this time. If you don't feel draining right away that fine too. Sometimes this does not happen till a few hours later. 

However, if you are not feeling relief shortly after a session. It is time to call your primary care doctor. Constant ear pain with hearing loss is time to ask for a referral to and ear, nose and throat doctor, ENT.

Ear technique video

In this section I share a video on how to drain your ears at home

These are the oils I am using in the video. 

• Lavender
• Melaleuca
• Peppermint

The first oil that is used is lavender. You put one drop on the palm of your hand and apply the oil all around the outside of the ear and down the neck. Next with the left over oil in the palm of your hand put a dab on your middle finger. And put your middle finger just inside your ear and with a gentle motion. Move your finger forward, back, up and down.

This is going to help open up the ear canal and increase drainage down the neck. 

You will repeat this for melaleuca and peppermint oil.

This simple 5 minute trick will really help to open up the ear canal and help the fluid to drain from the ear and down the neck.

Why do this?

• Ear wax build up
• Blocked ear fluid 
• Ear congestion

If you have sensitive skin or are using this method on a child apply a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil to the area first, then carry on with the 3 suggested essential oils.  

How to pick an essential oil brand

It is a challenge to try and figure out what is a good essential oil company. I sold doTERRA essential oils for 5 years. While I did enjoy the oils and my customers where seeing the benefits. I did not love their business model. Having to do auto ship every month meant, I was just buying products I actually did not need. If you are interested and making extra money and build a team, plus you use essential oils a lot. doTERRA and Young Living are a good option. However if you just want to buy product as needed here are a list of brand to check out 

• Revive Essential Oil
• Rocky Mountain Oils
• Eden's Garden 

At home use

If you are using essential oil at home. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Don’t put essential oil drops directly into the ears. I have tried it on myself. IT BURNS! Especially if that ear canal is inflamed. To dilute I like to use 1 drop of an essential oil to about 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil. This is a list of carrier oils 

• Fractionated coconut oil
• Jojoba 
• Sweet almond oil
• Olive oil

If you are someone with extra sensitive skin. It is always a good idea to do a patch test to make sure you are not going to have a reaction to the essential oil. 

Some more options to help with sinus relief. You can make your own bath salts with eucalyptus and tea tree oil. To made your own bath salts. Use 3 cups of Epsom salts. With 2 drops of eucalyptus and 1 drop tea tree essential oil, You can use your hands to mix the essential oils and salt together. Now your bath salt blend is great to add to a relaxing evening soak.

 Add a drop of basil essential oil to a cotton ball and place into the ear. This way the anti-inflammatory vapors are concentrated into the ear canal. Leave the cotton ball in the ear for about 30 minutes. If the skin around the ear is sensitive. Rub a carrier oil to the skin first, then use the cotton ball with basil essential oil.  You can also use a warm compress around the neck and chest. 

FAQ

Cold and flu prevention 

Cold and Flu season is a time of year many of us dread! The time off from work, sick kiddos can’t go to school. Not to mention the many of boxes of tissues you go through and sleepless nights from coughing, sneezing and nose blowing.

Sounds like fun times, right? Not!

But how does one protect themselves with hiding in a bubble all winter long? Or without spending many hours of your life at the doctors and the pharmacy getting over the counter medicines that does really work.

These nasty little germs are airborne and they spread when people cough and sneeze. They float through the air and enter into your body from your mouth and nose. Hand shaking isn’t the only way to spread.

Take care of the germs in the air and you greatly reduce the chance of infection. This doesn’t mean you start spraying a can of Lysol every 10 minutes, not really healthy for your lunges.

A essential oil diffuser in your home and office will do just the trick. All essential oils have antibacterial and antiviral properties. So in theory you can use any essential oils to kill those cold and flu germs in the air.

But I am going to share a few of my favorites

• Eucalyptus
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Lavender
• All citrus oils
• Ginger
• Melaleuca (tea tree)
• Basil
• Rosemary

This is really just a short list of suggestions, but it’s a good place to start.

For prevention use your essential oil diffuser all the time during cold and flu season. And if you or a family member is battling an infection make sure you have your diffuser running at night. That way the oils have a chance to get into your lungs and reduce the chances of reinfection from coughing and sneezing at night.  

This simple tool can really help make this cold and flu season a breeze!

Dealing with sinus congestion is super uncomfortable especially when you are not feeling well. But you do have options to use massage therapy and at home remedies to help get those sinuses to drain. Here are some more essential oils to have in your at home tool kit 

•   Tea Tree (Melaleuca): Highlight its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties for fighting potential infection.
• Eucalyptus & Peppermint: Focus on their ability to open sinus passages and relieve pressure through inhalation.
• Lavender: Discuss its analgesic (pain-relieving) properties and its ability to soothe the delicate skin of the outer ear.
• Basil & Garlic (Diluted): Briefly mention traditional uses for addressing mild ear discomfort.
• Chamomile: For gentle relief of irritation and promoting relaxation.

The great thing about these oils is that they have so many different uses. beyond draining ears and sinuses. 

If you are interested in booking a half hour manual lymphatic drainage and or cranio sacral therapy session. You can go right to my online calendar. 

 As of right now I do not sell essential oils. I used to be a rep with doTERRA, but I have been using Revie Essential Oils for a few years now. They have many of the similar oils from doTERRA and Young Living.