Sweet oil is nothing but another name for olive oil. A commercial mix of olive, almond, and essential oils is also sometimes called sweet oil. It is packed with antioxidants and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. It also has several other healthy constituents like Polyphenols, Sterols, and vitamin E.
The Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content is very high in this oil, making up to 75 to 85% of the total fatty acid content. Also, the extremely healthy oleic and linoleic acids are the most abundant unsaturated fat in sweet oil.
Because of its unique constitution, olive oil is supposed to be the healthiest oil on earth. It is used for cooking and also as a skin moisturizer and hair conditioner. Olive oil is also a very popular home remedy to fight excess ear wax(1), treating minor ear infections, and curing earaches. It’s more of a folk remedy than an established cure as there isn’t much scientific research study on its effectiveness.
Sweet oil is a tried-and-tested home remedy. Here’s how it works:
Ear wax is protection for the inner ear. It lubricates and protects the inner ear from water, bacteria, and infection and keeps the ear canal soft.
Small amounts of ear wax are normal and don’t need to be removed. However, a buildup can harm your hearing. This can also trap bacteria and increase your risk of developing an ear infection and earaches. One in 10 children and one in 20 adults will have an ear wax buildup(2).
Sweet oil for ears softens the ear wax. This helps you or a medical practitioner to remove the wax easily. A few studies show that sweet oil is effective but not as much as using prescribed medications. Other studies seem to indicate that sweet oil may be as effective as ear drops to remove ear wax.
[Read: Home Remedies for Ear Pain]
Using warm sweet oil for ear infections may provide symptomatic relief, especially in small children. Olive oil does have an anti-bacterial activity to protect against ear infections because it is high in Polyphenols. Nevertheless, it’s unclear whether the oil can kill the types of bacteria that cause ear infections.
Some people use sweet oil for earaches caused by an infection. A 2003 study(3) has shown that herbal ear drops containing sweet oil helped reduce pain from ear infection in kids.
Here’s how to use sweet oil for ears:
Do this once a day for one or two weeks for ear wax removal.
The studies on sweet oil for ears have been largely inconclusive, but it has not been associated with any serious health consequences. It’s generally safe if you follow these precautions when using it in your ears:
[Read: Treat Wrinkles Using Olive Oil]
Sweet oil is effective for ear problems, but only to a small degree. There need to be more high-quality studies about the effectiveness of sweet oil for ears. So, use the oil sparingly and for ear problems with lesser severity only and approach a doctor if it doesn’t help.
Use 2-3 drops of sweet oil once a day for no longer than two weeks.
No, sweet oil works as a softener, ideal for cleaning up the ear, so you need to put it before and not after cleaning.
Like other oils, it should be stored in a cool and dark place.