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Vinegar and Water Fight Swimmers Ear

Q. Many years ago, I used vinegar and water to treat my son's swimmers ear. I cannot remember the correct vinegar and water ratio and I hope you can help.

A. Doctors sometimes recommend using ear drops made of one part white vinegar to four parts water after swimming. Another approach is to use a few drops of half white vinegar and half alcohol. That helps dry the ear out and makes it more acidic and less vulnerable to infection.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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