Jacqueline (Devon, Uk) on 09/25/2015
I used to get horrendous ear infections a few years ago. After 3, ineffective, courses of antibiotics and 4 months of near complete deafness, pain and tinnitus, I decided to use my Lugols 7%. that I had used orally a year or so previously.. I got an old eye dropper and cleaned it out with boiling water. I filled it 1/4 full of Lugol's and the rest with the boiled, cool water. I put 3 drops, into the ears 3 times a day for the next 4 days. The pain vanished completely, my hearing returned and the noises went away, never to return.
I got the idea to try this from reading a clinical trial conducted on children in the remore African bush, obviously far from the nearest doctor. They administered the Lugol's neat, and 10 drops a day, but I thought that sounded a bit harsh, so adapted down. They had complete resolution of ear infections, even supporating inner ear infections; they all went away - the trial must still be on the internet somewhere.
Hope this has been helpful. I know that if I ever get a painful ear again, I won't be going to the doctor, I'll sort it myself.
Replied by Mmsg from Somewhere, Europe on 09/26/2015
Jacqueline, would you know if this would clear up a long-standing tinnitus?Replied by Jacqueline from Devon on 03/26/2016
Hi Mmsg,I don't know, as my tinnitus was purely a side effect of the ear infection, so of course, it vanished when the infection did. No harm in trying it, as technically, it's external use. Try and find something on curezone or earthclinic that might guide you.
Replied by Kyle from Australia on 09/03/2017
HI thereany chance you could find the link or publication details of the study on the african children? I've looked quite a bit because of your comment but could only find usage of povidone-iodine (basically Betadine), and some study on Rabbits showing that if too strong it induced hearing loss, but it was very effective (almost as effective as the Cipraflaxin (or something close to that) at the right strength/dose.
I'd really appreciate your help here!
Replied by Paul from Cortlandt Manor, NY on 01/07/2021
I tried Jacquelin's method as well as a single drop neat, without any success at all. It appears that as I have stenoptic ear canals, any form of even slight inflammation, closes the ear completely.Replied by Pam E. from Southern California on 06/25/2021
Paul,I had lots of wax removed from my ears a few years back, when the doctor told me my ear canals were the size of a child's. He was apologizing for not having instruments that small, as his office is set up to treat adults. And my canals were definitely red & swollen after that treatment. So, I can empathize with you.... I wonder if Coconut oil might help you topically, as it is a natural anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, & even anti-tiny-parasites! (It's also touted as loosening ear wax.) You could eat it at the same time, too, so 'come at the problem from both sides'! I've used it in my ears for fungal infection before....
Replied by Diane from UK on 10/19/2021
Oh gosh, I just tried this, only 2 drops of Lugol's 15% neat into my ear that has been itching me all day, and it burned like hell! The pain actually made me vomit!I can't believe they would inflict this on children. My advice, do not use Lugol's neat in the ear.
Replied by Deirdre from EC on 10/19/2021
Hi Diane,Just wondering why you tried 15% Lugol's straight in the ear when the original post you replied to used only a couple drops from a 1:4 dilution - 1 part of 7% Lugol's to water?
Replied by Rob from Kentucky on 10/27/2021
I agree Diana. I tried it and it burned BAD! Fortunately I had an ear irrigator loaded and ready if things went bad and they did. I'm sticking with povidone iodine 10%.It's recommended by the Hesperian Guidelines for 3rd World Countries and is as follows:
Give antiseptic ear drops such as vinegar or povidone iodine (betadine). For all ages: 2 drops in the ear, 2 times a day for 2 weeks, then give 2 drops in the ear, 1 time a day (before going to sleep), for several weeks or months til ear issues clear up.
https://en.hesperian.org/hhg/Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:Ear_infection
Replied by beverly from Texas on 01/21/2022
See:Povidone-iodine ear wash and oral cotrimoxazole for chronic suppurative otitis media in Australian aboriginal children:
study protocol for factorial design randomised controlled trial - PubMed (nih.gov)
Replied by Jeroen Remy Hua Hun from Amsterdam on 05/28/2024
Hi Jacqueline, I'm ready to try this solution of Lugol's diluted with water. I have a suppurative ear (infection) since a couple of months now. I'm a bit concerned though as last winter I had a perforated eardrum. How can I be sure this method is safe?Hope this reaches you as your post is from a long time ago.
Thanks!! Remy
Replied by Bejuslov from Austin, TX on 03/19/2025
May I suggest increasing the number of drops to 3* like Jacqueline. One drop of 2% is not strong enough. There are numerous papers outlining the benefits of iodine on ear (hearing loss, infections, etc.)
