Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report 

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This footage shows a doctor finding a clove of fermented garlic in a male patient’s ear after the man put it there himself in a bid to treat an ear infection two months earlier.

Mr Kang, 49, from the city of Huizhou in China’s southern Guangdong Province, later told doctors he followed a folk remedy he had found online.

Ear, nose and throat specialist Zhong Yijun inspected Mr Kang’s ear at Sanhe Hospital on 15th November after the patient arrived with pain in his left ear.

Reports said Mr Kang’s left ear canal was unusually narrow due to swelling and inflammation.

Doctor Zhong recalled: “There was a white foreign body deep in his left ear canal.

“I couldn’t determine what it was. I thought it could be the result of inflammation.

“When removing it, the patient told me he had put garlic into his ear two months earlier.

“He read somewhere online that garlic was a good anti-inflammatory, so he put one in his ear.

“Because the garlic had fermented in his ear for two months, it gave off a very strong odour.”

The medic noted that part of the garlic had already turned into pulp and broke apart while being removed, contributing to the foul smell.

Mr Kang’s ear was cleaned in a matter of minutes.

He was then given topical medication for his inflammation.

Doctor Zhong said: “Don’t believe everything you read, especially folk remedies recommending you put ginger, garlic or chilli in your ear.

“It obstructs the ear canal, preventing the ears from cleaning themselves, and can also lead to conditions such as inflammation.”

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