Earwax in the canal. Jaw movement assists this process by dislodging debris attached to the walls of the ear canal, increasing the likelihood of its expulsion. The lubrication provided by cerumen prevents desiccation of the skin within the ear canal. The lubricative properties arise from the high lipid content of the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. In wet-type cerumen, these lipids include cholesterol, squalene, and many long-chain fatty acids and alcohols. While studies conducted up until the 1960s found little evidence supporting antibacterial activity for cerumen, more recent studies have found that cerumen has a bactericidal effect on some strains
Substance dependence it clear that many have not been shown to be efficacious. Well-designed, stringently controlled research should be done to evaluate the efficacy of alternative therapies. However, a review of 48 clinical trials on alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, and opioid dependence showed that acupuncture has promising outcomes for craving and withdrawal, specifically through body acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and bilateral needling. However, the effect of acupuncture on withdrawal was transient and thus needed to be repeated several times a day. Another alternative therapy for substance dependence is yoga and mindfulness-based therapies. Those struggling with addiction often feel disconnected from their bodies and use substances