Eustachian Tube Drainage

by Ronald J. Steriti, NMD, Ph.D.

Eustachian tube drainage is a technique used by naturopaths to relieve congestion in the tube behind the eardrum by draining fluid away from the ear. The easy drainage technique can be done on your own.

This technique will help your tinnitus if it's due to congestion of the ear, nose or throat. It's also a good technique to expedite curing a simple ear infection or unblocking your ears after diving or flying.

Easy Drainage

The Eustachian tube opens upon swallowing or yawning by contraction of the muscles attached to the tube, mainly the tensor veli palatini muscle.

With your mouth closed, press your tongue against the roof of the mouth and swallow. A "th" sound can be made if you open your mouth and release the tongue pressure. This creates a vacuum in the back of the throat, which opens and drains the Eustachian tube.

When successful, the Eustachian tube opens and begins draining a lot of mucous. Most describe the mucous running down their throat as "disgusting", which is a key sign that they are doing it correctly.

Manual Drainage

This next technique involves massaging the eustachian tube manually, which some naturopaths do in the office.

First, make sure your hands are clean. With your mouth not too wide open, gently find your back molars on one side with your index finger. Beyond the molars is the curve of flesh-covered bone that creates the hinge between the upper and lower jaw.

Gently go beyond the hinge, towards the back of the throat until you find a stringy vertical tendon. This is called the "tonsillar pillar." Touching here will make most people gag, so go softly and carefully.

Just behind the tonsillar pillar, down low near the root of the tongue, is the Eustachian tube, which feels like a small "mole tunnel" under the flesh. It may be impossible to feel, but if you got the tonsillar pillar you're in the right area.

Gently stroke the Eustachian tube from the ear side of the back of the throat towards the middle (towards the tongue) several times until you can't stand it. Same thing on the other side, if the tinnitus is bilateral. Do this daily and consistently for up to a week. Repeat as needed.

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