A couple of years ago, I began dealing with itchy ears. I wished I could get in my ear canal and scratch; it was as annoying as a mosquito bite. My doctor saw nothing out of the ordinary and just said that as we get older, parts of us can get drier and irritated. I’ve been taking fish oil and doubling up body lotion with oil for my skin, but how do you moisturize an itchy ear canal? I’m thrilled to share I found the cure for itchy ears during perimenopause.
The Cure for Itchy Ears During Perimenopause
I wish I could link back to where I heard about sea buckthorn, but I truly can’t remember. It was an aside in a long article about perimenopause where a woman said she used sea buckthorn as her cure for itchy ears during perimenopause. I didn’t even know what sea buckthorn was, but I was willing to try anything.
I searched on Amazon and found organic sea buckthorn supplements from Sibu. I bought a 30-day bottle. In less than a week, I realized my ears were no longer itching. Not only that, but my nose ran less, my eyes were not quite as dry, and things were less dry down there, too. All that, and I experienced no side effects.
I have used these organic sea buckthorn supplements from Sibu for over a year. I originally bought them from Amazon but recently switched to getting the supplements via Autoship through iHerb. You do not need to sign up for Autoship to shop via iHerb, but I found I’d forgotten to buy a new bottle and appreciated the discounted price and the reliable delivery.
I follow the bottle’s instructions to take two capsules a day, which contain 1,000mg of sea buckthorn oil. The capsules are shaped like pea-sized footballs, and I find them easier to swallow than most of my morning supplements.
Speaking of forgetting, this sea buckthorn would often be out of stock on Amazon, and I’d go a week without taking it each morning. The next thing I knew, I desperately wanted to dig a Q-tip into my ear canals to ease the itchiness. I’d get another bottle (I’ve also found this at Whole Foods), and within a couple of days, I’d be itch-free.
What is Sea Buckthorn?
Sea buckthorn also goes by the names seaberry, Siberian pineapple, sallowthorn, and seathorn. Primarily found in Russia, China, Mongolia, and northern Europe, sea buckthorn is a deciduous shrub that is quite hardy and does well in the mountains, in sandy, dry, and sunny locations and thrives in cold climates.
What Are the Benefits of Sea Buckthorn?
Many cultures have used the oil of sea buckthorn for hundreds of years for its supposed medicinal properties. Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, K, and E as well as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and zinc, sea buckthorn has been used to treat skin issues, heart health, and inflammation reduction. Sea buckthorn is popular as a juice, in cosmetic ingredients, and as an oil applied to the skin for moisture and softening. Sea buckthorn supposedly helps burns heal faster and help with eczema.
Sea Buckthorn and Perimenopause
Sea buckthorn is often suggested to those experiencing perimenopausal symptoms or who have gone through menopause because it is a good moisturizer from the inside out. Taking sea buckthorn supplements helps with dry eyes, vaginal dryness, runny nose from overly dry sinuses, brittle hair, and yes, dry itchy ears.
Side Effects of Sea Buckthorn
Sea buckthorn may slow blood clotting and could cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking sea buckthorn two weeks before planned surgery, just in case, and do not take it if you are already taking blood thinners. There’s a chance sea buckthorn may lower blood pressure and blood sugar, so talk to your doctor before taking if you are already taking medications for this. The most common side effect of sea buckthorn is digestive issues, usually because you’re taking too high a dose.
Would Other Oils Work?
Honestly, I don’t know if any other oils will work as well for itchy ears as sea buckthorn. I take fish oil, add flax oil to my morning oatmeal, and have taken borage oil and none of those have helped me with my perimenopausal itchy ears. However, I would love to hear from you. Have you dealt with itchy ears during perimenopause? Did you find a cure that isn’t sea buckthorn oil?