Otolaryngologists or ear, nose, and throat doctors often advise against the use of Q-tips or cotton swabs for cleaning ears. Despite the advice, many people still use these items to remove excess ear wax or dry up the water in the ear canal after a shower or summer swim. While it seems like a common practice, people do not realize the potential harm they are doing to their ears. If you currently use Q-tips or cotton swabs to clean your ears, consider the following five reasons you should stop.

1. Removes the Waterproofing Layer

Earwax is not some gross bodily excretion. Granted, your body produces more than it needs at times, but it naturally pushes the excess out of the canal, where it can easily be removed with a tissue. One of the primary reasons your body produces earwax is to waterproof the ear canal, preventing water buildup. When you remove too much earwax, water can become trapped in the canal, possibly leading to infections.

2. Removes the Natural Antibiotic

Beyond protecting the ear from excess water or fluid buildups, earwax is a natural antibiotic. The wax has an acidic quality that can help prevent some infections, like swimmer’s ear. By stripping away the wax inside the ear, you open yourself up to potential conditions and problems. Many problems caused by the removal of too much wax can be linked to balance and health issues.

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3. Risk Ear Damage

People often reach for Q-tips and cotton swabs because they seem like the right size for the job. Unfortunately, these items are too small and allow too much access to the ear's sensitive and fragile areas. When you insert the cotton swab into your ear, losing sight of the tip, you are putting the swab too far into your ear. The eardrum is not as far into the canal as you might think, and any contact with this sensitive part of your ear can cause damage.

4. Causes Buildups

The use of cotton swabs can also lead to wax buildups in your ear. When you insert the swab into your ear, you likely force some earwax deeper into the canal. By moving wax back into the ear, you interfere with the wax's natural removal and movement process. Remember, your body will naturally push excess wax out of your ear, and you can remove that excess by draping a tissue over your finger and gently wiping it around the outer ear.

5. Potential Hearing Loss and Balance Problems

The use of Q-Tips can lead to severe damage. Most people will not experience significant trauma, but if the swab is pushed too far into the ear canal, it can puncture the eardrum. Just beneath the eardrum lies several tiny and fragile bones responsible for balance and transporting soundwaves. If the cotton swab is pushed too far into the ear with too much force, it is possible to suffer significant balance problems and hearing loss; though, neither is likely.

Do you use Q-Tips or cotton swabs to clean your ears? Has reading this blog changed your mind about the use of these items? Leave a comment below to contribute to the conversation.

A popular holistic therapy, cupping has been around for thousands of years. As a traditional Chinese therapy, cupping uses cups strategically placed on the body to pull the tissues, muscle, and skin outward, relieving tension. Many professional athletes and famous personalities have pushed the practice into the public domain after showing up to events with alien-like suction marks on their backs and necks, sparking debate about the practice's efficacy.

Massage Versus Cupping

Traditionally, athletes used massage to relax muscles, relieve pain, and improve performance, but acupuncturists — those who typically perform cupping therapies — argue that cupping is a superior practice.  A massage therapist puts downward pressure on the body, potentially causing more discomfort rather than relief. Using glass, plastic, or another material, Cupping converts suction into outward directional force, like a vacuum, to relieve chronic pain.

Advantages of Cupping

Practitioners cannot share enough about the potential benefits of cupping therapy. People use the treatment to improve circulation, relieve pain, release tension, and increase the body's detoxification processes. However, beyond the physical advantages, proponents of the practice speak to mental health benefits, such as stress and anxiety relief. While there is limited research on most holistic treatments, many people who experience cupping provide glowing reviews, talking about it helped with their headaches, chronic pain, allergies, skin conditions, fatigue, and so much more.

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Personal Experience

No one can tell you if cupping therapy will work for you, but from the moment those cups are placed on your back, you will know something is happening. The suction is almost instantaneous. While the experience is not painful for everyone, some people do say it hurts. Thankfully, if you feel any pain, you can tell the therapist, and they can relieve some of the pressure.

As the therapist removes the cups, there is a rush of relief—whether the release of the suction or the therapy working, you be the judge. However, there is no denying that you will leave the office feeling some relief.

Bruising Is Part of the Process

Not every person will experience bruising, but those that do will have them on average for up to a week. The marks can be subtle, or they can look like an ogre made out with your spine. It's a small price to pay if the therapy works, especially for those going through tremendous pain.

Duration of the Appointment and Frequency of Visits

The cupping process is not long, typically 15 to 30 minutes. The acupuncturists move pretty quickly after determining the correct placement for pain relief, and the cups do not need to sit on your body for very long.

If you find that the process works for you, you can get it done three times per week. However, most people recommend waiting for the bruises to heal before attempting another session. You can speak to your therapist to determine the proper schedule for your needs.

Cupping therapy is nothing new; although, it is currently trending. The Chinese have been using cupping therapy for centuries, along with several other holistic practices. While there is no guarantee the therapy will work for you, it might be worth it, especially for those suffering from chronic pain. What do you think about the practice? Will you give it a try? Leave a comment below.

We get it—organic foods often cost more than their nonorganic counterparts. That's especially true when it comes to fresh produce. If you're on a tight grocery budget but prefer to buy organic fruits and veggies, allocate your budget for the 12 items on the 2020 Dirty Dozen list from the Environmental Working Group. EWG uses data from organic and nonorganic produce testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which screens more than 43,000 samples of 47 different fruits and vegetables to detect impurities. According to the study, these fresh produce items are the most likely to contain pesticides and insecticides when you choose the nonorganic, conventionally grown variety.

Apples

Because apples have a thin peel, their flesh absorbs the pesticides used on trees. EWG detected this issue in 90% of nonorganic apples tested, finding that 80% of the samples contained the Europe-banned pesticide diphenylamine.

Celery

If celery with peanut butter or ranch is your favorite healthy snack, buy organic. Over 95% of the EWG samples of nonorganic celery contained pesticides, including up to 13 different contaminants on a single sample.

Cherries

Most cherries tested by EWG contained about five different pesticides. In addition, 33% of the samples contained DCPA, a cancer-causing substance banned in Europe.

Grapes

Go organic for grapes, which contained up to five different pesticides in the 2020 Dirty Dozen study. In fact, contaminants were found in 96% of the tested nonorganic grapes.

Kale

Kale was new to the Dirty Dozen list in 2019 after more than a decade of testing clean in EWG studies. In 2020, at least 92% of kale samples contained at least two pesticides, and some samples contained up to 18 contaminants. In addition, carcinogenic DCPA showed up in 60% of the tested samples.

Nectarines

Nonorganic nectarines are a no-no if you're concerned about pesticides. More than 94% of the EWG samples contained at least two pesticides, with up to 15 contaminants found in some shipments of this summer fruit.

Peaches

Almost all the peach samples studied by EWG—99%—showed pesticide contamination. Most of the samples had about four different types of pesticide residue.

Pears

Insecticides, pesticides and fungicides were all detected in nonorganic pears. In fact, more than 50% of tested samples included at least five different contaminants.

Potatoes

Potatoes grown with conventional methods contain the highest amount of pesticides by weight than any other produce tested by EWG. Most of the potato samples contained a noted neurotoxin.

Spinach

EWG found that nonorganic spinach tested contained more pesticides per pound than any other veggie in the study. The tests revealed significant levels of permethrin, which has neurotoxic qualities.

Strawberries

If you love strawberries in your morning cereal or as a sweet afternoon snack, buy organic. EWG found that 90% of nonorganic strawberries tested contained two or more pesticides.

Tomatoes

Some of the nonorganic tomatoes tested by EWG contained more than 15 different contaminants. On average, the conventional tomatoes in the study contained at least four pesticides.

While you might have to splurge to go organic for these 12 items, EWG also compiles an annual list of The Clean 15. At least 70% of the nonorganic samples on the 2020 Clean 15 were contaminant-free, including asparagus, avocados, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, eggplant, honeydew melon, kiwi, mushrooms, onions, papayas, peas, pineapples and sweet corn.

If you try to avoid pesticides and insecticides on a budget, frozen or canned organic vegetables are a savvy choice for smart shoppers. Since the Dirty Dozen list started in 1993, groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics have credited EWG with the reduction of potentially harmful dietary pesticide exposure in the U.S. When you do choose fresh, you should always wash produce completely before consuming.