[Gabz]

Thanks.

Upset stomachs are easy to deal with.....it's the earache that has me concerned. In fact the nurse didn't even mention it to me when she called, she wanted to know if Jax had a history of earaches, wich she doesn't. jax informed me of the trash can incident after we left the building.....

[international american]

How old is Jax? Earaches in young children can sometimes be serious!

[NicknamedBob]

Hey Gabz,

This is going to sound so twelfth century, but did you ever hear of ear-candles?

It's just about the most ludicrous concept you can imagine, but it's effective and fun!

The basic idea is to remove the build-up of human earwax in a safe and gentle way. Hollow sleeves like ice cream waffle cones, but made of beeswax, are placed on an upturned ear. When you "light that candle" a gentle draft of warm air softens and draws the earwax into the bottom of the taper.

It's surprising how much earwax can be extracted, painlessly, by this method. Periodic use can remove a potential source of pain and infection, and even clear up hearing problems.

A fun thing to do at the end is to examine the shapes, like little figurines.

Of course, safety is a concern. Make sure your patient is mature enough to not try to run off in panic with a candle in her ear! One pictures the Reverend Jim from Taxi, coping with a power outage in a novel way...

Another fun thing for you might be that you get to "give someone a light..." Just don't let "you-know-who" find out about it!

Despite my description, don't try to make them yourself. Find someone who has actually done it before. Good luck in that search!