How to Unclog the Inner Ear or Eustachian Tube

Co-authored by Payam Daneshrad, MD

Last Updated: September 23, 2024 Fact Checked

The Eustachian tubes are small passages in the head that connect the ears to the back of the nostrils.^{[1]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} These tubes can become clogged due to colds and allergies. Serious cases need expert medical attention from an ear, nose, and throat doctor. However, you can treat mild to moderate cases on your own with home remedies, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription solutions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Treating Ear Congestion at Home

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1
Recognize the symptoms. Whether from cold, allergies, or infection, swelling will prevent Eustachian tubes from opening and allowing air to pass. This results in pressure changes, and sometimes, the accumulation of fluid in the ear. When this happens, you will feel the following symptoms:^{[2]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Ear pain or a feeling of "fullness" in the ear.
- Ringing or popping sounds and sensations that don't come from the outside environment.
- Children may describe popping as a “tickling” sensation.^{[3]
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- Trouble hearing clearly.
- Dizziness and trouble keeping balance.
- Symptoms might be heightened when you rapidly change altitude — for example when flying, riding an elevator, or hiking/driving through mountainous areas
This very simple maneuver is known as the first technique of the Edmonds maneuver. Simply jut your jaw forward, then wriggle it back and forth, from side to side.^{[4]
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Research source} If the ear blockage is mild, this action can pop your Eustachian tube open and reestablish normal air flow.

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3
Perform the Valsalva maneuver.^{[5]
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Payam Daneshrad, MD
Board Certified Otolaryngologist

Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.} This maneuver, which attempts to force air through the blocked passage and reestablish air flow, should always be performed gently.^{[6]
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Payam Daneshrad, MD
Board Certified Otolaryngologist

Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.} When you try to blow out through blocked passageways, the air pressure in your body is affected. The sudden rush of air when you release your breath can cause a rapid change in blood pressure and heart rate.^{[7]
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Go to source}^{[8]
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Science Direct
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- Take a deep breath and hold it, closing your mouth and pinching your nostrils shut.^{[9]
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- Try to blow air out through your closed nostrils.
- If the maneuver is successful, you will hear a popping sound in your ears, and your symptoms will be relieved.
4
Try the Toynbee maneuver. Like the Valsalva maneuver, the Toynbee maneuver is intended to open blocked Eustachian tubes. But instead of having the patient manipulate air pressure through breathing, it relies on the air pressure adjustment of swallowing. To perform this maneuver:^{[10]
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Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics

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- Pinch your nose closed.
- Take a sip of water.
- Swallow.
- Repeat this process until you feel your ears pop and open back up.
5
Blow up a balloon through your nose. It might look and feel silly, but this action, called the Otovent maneuver, can be effective for equalizing air pressure in your ears. Buy an “Otovent balloon” either online or at a medical supply store. This device is just a normal balloon that has a nozzle that fits into the nostril. If you have a nozzle around the house that will fit securely into the balloon opening and your nostril, you can make an Otovent balloon of your own at home.
- Insert the nozzle into one nostril, and pinch the other nostril closed with your finger.^{[11]
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- Try to inflate the balloon using only your nostril, until it is about the size of a fist.
- Repeat the process on the other nostril. Repeat until you hear the “pop” of free air flow in the Eustachian canal.
^{[12]
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Seattle Children's Hospital
Health information provided by Seattle Children's hospital.

Go to source} This is called the Lowery maneuver, and it’s a little harder than it sounds. Before swallowing, you have to build up air pressure in your body by bearing down like you’re trying to have a bowel movement. When you’re holding your breath and blocking your nose, it will feel like you’re trying to blow air out through all of your blocked orifices. Some people find it difficult to swallow under these circumstances because of the increased air pressure in the body. Be patient, though, and keep at it. With enough practice, it could pop your ears open.
Place a heating pad or warm washcloth against your ear. This can both ease any pain you might experience and treat the blockage. The gentle heat of a warm compress can help break up congestion, unclogging the Eustachian tubes. If you use a heating pad, you should place a cloth between the heating pad and your skin to avoid burns.
8
Use nasal decongestants.^{[13]
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American Academy of Family Physicians
Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities

Go to source} Ear drops won't be able to unclog your congestion because the ear is blocked up. Because the ears and nose are connected through tubes, a nasal spray is an effective way to treat Eustachian tube blockage. Angle the nasal spray bottle through the nostril toward the back of the throat, almost perpendicular to the face. Sniff as you spray the decongestant, hard enough to draw the fluid into the back of the throat, but not hard enough to swallow it or pull it into the mouth.
- Try one of the equalizing maneuvers after using a nasal decongestant. They might be more effective at this time.
9
Take antihistamines if your problem is caused by allergies. While antihistamines aren't usually a primary method of Eustachian blockage treatment, they may help alleviate the congestion from allergies. Talk to your doctor about whether this is a good option for you.
- Note that antihistamines are usually not recommended for people with ear infections.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Seeking Medical Attention

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^{[14]
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Payam Daneshrad, MD
Board Certified Otolaryngologist

Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.} Though you can try to use normal, over-the-counter nasal sprays to treat your blockage, you may find more success with prescription decongestants. If you suffer from allergies, ask the doctor if she recommends a steroid and/or antihistamine nasal spray to help resolve the issue.
2
Take antibiotics if you have an ear infection. While Eustachian tube blockage is often short-lived and harmless, it can lead to painful and disorienting ear infections.^{[15]
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HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Go to source} If your blockage progresses to that level, contact a medical professional for a prescription for antibiotics. Your doctor may not prescribe them unless you also have a fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher for 48 hours.
- Follow dosage instructions for antibiotics precisely. Finish the entire antibiotic cycle, even if your symptoms seem to resolve before you’ve finished it.
In severe cases of blockage, the doctor may recommend surgical treatment reestablish airflow to the middle ear. There are two types of surgery, and a myringotomy is quicker option. The doctor will make a tiny incision in the ear drum, then suction out any fluid that's trapped in the middle ear. It seems counter-intuitive, but you actually want the incision to heal slowly. If the cut stays open long enough, the Eustachian tube swelling can go down to normal. If it heals quickly (within three days), fluid may collect in the middle ear again, and the symptoms may persist.
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Consider getting pressure equalization tubes. This surgical method has a higher likelihood of success, but is a long, drawn-out process. Just as with a myringotomy, the doctor will make an incision in the eardrum and suction out the fluid that's accumulated in the middle ear. At this point, he will insert a small tube into the ear drum to ventilate the middle ear. As the eardrum heals, the tube will be pushed out on its own, but this can take six to 12 months. This method is recommended for patients who have chronic problems with blocked Eustachian tubes, so discuss it carefully with your doctor.
- You must protect your ears entirely from water while pressure equalization tubes are installed. Use earplugs or cotton balls while showering, and use specialized ear plugs while swimming.
- If water passes through the tube to the middle ear, it can cause an ear infection.
Clogged Eustachian tubes are usually the result of some type of illness that causes mucus and tissues swelling, blocking the normal passage of air. The most common causes of mucus accumulation and tissue swelling in this area are colds, the flu, sinus infections, and allergies.^{[16]
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Research source} Don't allow these conditions to get out of hand and progress to inner ear problems. Seek treatment for cold and flu as soon as symptoms appear, and talk to your doctor about ongoing care for recurring conditions like sinus infections and allergies.

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Question

Can my doctor unclog my Eustatsion tubes?

Payam Daneshrad, MD
Board Certified Otolaryngologist
Dr. Payam Daneshrad is a board certified Otolaryngologist, specializing in Facial Plastic Surgery and Rhinology, and the Owner and Director of Daneshrad Clinic in Los Angeles, California. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Daneshrad specializes in adult and pediatric Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, packing-less nasal surgery, minimally invasive sinus surgery, and snoring treatment. He also uses the newest surgical ENT techniques for tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, thyroidectomy, and parathyroidectomy. Dr. Daneshrad graduated with a BS and the highest honors from the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Tulane University School of Medicine, where he was accepted into the AOA, the medical honor's society, and the Tulane University School of Public Health. Dr. Daneshrad received his medical training from the University of Southern California. Dr. Daneshrad is the Otolaryngologist and Facial Plastic Surgeon for the Los Angeles Sparks and the athletic teams of Loyola Marymount University.

Payam Daneshrad, MD

Board Certified Otolaryngologist

Expert Answer

Yes, depending on the cause of the clogging, your doctor may give you a prescription decongestant. If that doesn't help, they may also use a balloon to dilate your Eustachian tube to reduce inflammation.

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Question

What do you recommend if I have dizziness caused by a clogged eustachian tube?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

I recommend trying to get your eustachian tube unblocked. Try treatments like antihistamine, pseudoephedrine, or nasal sprays.

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Would living in a warmer climate reduce the problem of my blocked eustachian tubes?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

No. Climate will not affect or reduce the problem of a blocked eustachian tube.

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Tips

Use an extra pillow to raise your head. It will help drain the fluids and ease discomfort while you sleep.

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Try having a Vicks vapor drop. They make your ears easier to pop.

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Instead of cold water, try drinking a warm beverage like tea.

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Warnings

Do not SCUBA dive when having Eustachian tube equalization problems! This can result in painful "ear squeezes" due to an imbalance in pressure.

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Don’t use an over-the-counter nasal spray for more than a few days since more than that and it could cause more congestion than it relieves. If the spray is ineffective, then consult your doctor.

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Avoid flushing your ears with a neti pot or using ear candles. These products have not been identified as safe for use by the Food and Drug Administration in relation to clearing out clogged ears.

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