Earwax of bacteria. Cerumen has been found to reduce the viability of a wide range of bacteria, including "Haemophilus influenzae", "Staphylococcus aureus", and many variants of "Escherichia coli", sometimes by as much as 99%. The growth of two fungi commonly present in otomycosis was also significantly inhibited by human cerumen. These antimicrobial properties are due principally to the presence of saturated fatty acids, lysozyme and, especially, to the slight acidity of cerumen (pH typically around 6.1 in normal individuals). Conversely, other research has found that cerumen can support microbial growth and some cerumen samples were found to have bacterial counts as
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