Top 10 Home Remedies for Ear Pain

Ear infections are caused by bacteria or viruses (1) in the middle ear. Ear infections occur more often in children than adults. Some causes and contributing factors that lead to ear infections are wax buildup, upper respiratory infections, 
Food allergies, environmental allergies, fetal alcohol syndrome, genetics, nutritional deficiencies and internal injuries. Some common signs that someone is suffering from an ear infection are pain in the ear, tugging at the ear, difficulty sleeping, and headache, poor response to sounds, high fever, and fluid draining from the ear, vomiting, and diarrhea and so on.

Anatomy Of The Ear:

There are three parts to the ear;(2) the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. You can get an ear infection in any one of these three parts. If you get one in the inner ear it is the most serious. It is important to treat an ear infection as soon as you suspect you have one so that it does not cause complications such as damage to the ear or a ruptured eardrum. 

In addition, if you let ear infections go by untreated, they can lead to chronic ear infections and even deafness.

Although it is important to contact a medical professional when you have an ear infection, there are many time tested home remedies that can help reduce the pain and inflammation of an ear infection.

However, there are some home remedies for earache that actually unclog your ears, ease the infection, and eliminate the pain. Here are 10 such simple yet effective home remedies for you

Heat to get relief from earache:

Apply heat. The greatest pain reliever is the presence of warm, moist heat around the ache(3) A warm compress - such as a towel rung out in hot water and pressed against the ear, brings immediate relief. There are two approaches for using heat to help relieve the pain of an earache.

A hot water bottle, a warmed up oven-safe plate, a heating pad on low,

A warmed gel pack relieve pain when placed on top of the sore ear. Be sure that these are only warm, not hot,And are wrapped in a towel.

Do NOT lay a person’s head on heat if he is unable to move his head by himself or if he is asleep, like a child or invalid. Or you can turn a hair dryer on the lowest warm setting and direct the warm air down the ear canal, holding the dryer 6 to 12 inches from your ear. Do not use the hair dryer for more than three to five minutes. After you take a shower or bath; blow dry your ears with the warm setting of a hair dryer instead of rubbing them.

Apple Cider:

One of these properties is its antibacterial and antifungal characteristics(4)Known for its ability to fight chronic yeast infections, apple cider vinegar can also tackle fungus that may cause ear infections.to use apple cider vinegar for ear infection

You will need:

1. ¼ cup,apple cider vinegar
2. Water
3. Cotton ball
4. Small bowl

How to Apply:

1. In a bowl add apple cider vinegar and water mix them
2. Soak the cotton in the solution
3. Place the cotton ball in your affected ear
4. Let it for five minutes
5. Remove the cotton ball
6. Lay down on your opposite side so that any residual vinegar can drain from your ear
7. Dry your ear out with a hair dryer set on low.
8. Repeat it 2-3 times a day

Note: If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar. If you know that the location of your infection in in the Eustachian tubes, you can try gargling with apple cider vinegar as well.

Colloidal Silver for Earache:

Colloidal silver is a broad range antibiotic that effectively kills bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens,that can cause the ear infection and the excruciating ear pain(5)

You will need:

1. Colloidal Silver
2. Dropper

How to Apply:

1. Using the dropper, put two to three drops of the colloidal silver liquid in the affected ear.
2. Repeat this once or twice a day

Try an Olive oil Treatment:

Olive oil is a great home remedy for ear infection pain. Warm one teaspoon of olive oil, making sure that it does not get too hot. You don’t want to burn the ear(6)

Precaution:Always warm the oils to about body temperature. You can test the temperature by dropping a bit of the oil on your wrist. Be very careful about warming the oil because it can cause serious damage to the inner ear if it is too hot. The best way to warm oils is to pour some into a dropper bottle and let the dropper bottle stand in an inch or so of heated water until it is warm.

You will need:

1. Warmed olive oil
2. Dropper

How to Apply:

1. Add three to four drops of the warmed oil to the affected ear
2. Alternately, you can also soak a small piece on cotton in the olive oil and place the cotton in your ear
3. Repeat 3-4 times a day 

Salt:

Salt is probably the most readily available home remedy(7) Believe it or not, salt can do wonders, Sea salt also helps reduce inflammation and pain within your ear canal

You will need:        

1. Salt
2. Cloth
3. Rubber band

How to Apply:

1. Heat up one cup of salt on a pan over low heat for a few minutes. You can also heat it in a microwave or double-boiler.
2. Place the hot salt on a cloth and seal the open end with rubber band (or tie a knot).
3. When it is bearably hot, lay down and put the cloth on the affected ear for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. The heat generated from the sock will help draw out fluid from the ear and relieve swelling and pain.
5. Repeat this remedy daily as needed

Garlic:

Garlic oil has antibacterial and antiviral properties and has been used for centuries to treat ear infections. You can make your own garlic oil by warming up one teaspoon of fresh(8).

You will need:

1. Garlic
2. Olive oil
3. Dropper

How to apply:

1. Minced, or crushed garlic in one tablespoon of olive oil
2. Let it infuse for 15 minutes and run it through a fine mesh sieve.
3. You can mix the remaining oil with an equal amount of olive oil
4. Use three to four drops in each affected ear
5. Repeat it 3-4 times a day

Ginger:

Ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe pain from earaches(9)

You will need:

1. Ginger
2. Olive oil                      
3. Dropper

How to Apply:

1. Mince or crush one teaspoon of fresh ginger and add it to one tablespoon of olive oil.
2. Let it infuse for 15 minutes and run it through a sieve
3. Three to four drops in each affected ear
4. Repeat it 3-4 times a day

Precaution: Speak with your doctor before using ginger to help your child’s ear infection.

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Onions:

Onions also contain antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties that help to bring relief to an inflamed and sore ear. By reducing the inflammation, onions can help the body go to work to heal and ear infection while substantially reducing pain (10)

You will need:

1. Onion
2. Olive oil
3. Cotton cloth

How to Apply:

1. Cut up half an onion and gently heat it in some olive oil.
2. When the onion is soft
3. Let it cool before pouring it into a cotton cloth
4. Fold the cloth so that the onion doesn’t fall out
5. Place the compress over the ear
6. Allowing the warm onion juice to flow into the ear.
7. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes
8. Repeat it 6-8 times a day at least after every 3 hours

Tea Tree Oil:

Tea tree oil, also called as Melaleuca oil, is a well-known antiseptic agent. In combination with the olive oil, it will reduce your ear pain and also remove all infection-causing organisms(11)

You will need:

1. A few drops of tea tree oil
2. 1/4 cup olive oil
3. Cotton swab

How to Apply:

1. Dilute the tea tree oil in the olive oil and pour a drop or two into the affected ear.
2. Keep the head tilted for a minute so that the affected ear faces the ceiling.
3. Come back to upright position and clean the liquid that is coming out from the ear.
4. Repeat it once or twice a day 

Hydrogen Peroxide:

While you may be used to putting hydrogen peroxide on cuts and scrapes, did you also know that it can help with an ear infection(12) If you have an overload of wax, hydrogen peroxide can help break through this was and reduce the discomfort associated with an ear infection. A clear ear will definitely be pain-free.

You will need:

1. 3% hydrogen peroxide
2. Dropper
3. Ear plug
4. Ear swabs

How to Apply:

1. Mix an equal amount of 3% or less hydrogen peroxide and water together in a cup.
2. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture.
3. With the head tilted, squeeze the cotton ball to release a few drops of the solution.
4. Keep your head tilted ( it is often easier lying on your side). You will feel a slight tingling sensation due to the peroxide bubbles. After a few minutes’ turn your head and let the residual peroxide drain out.
5. Repeat a couple times a day until the infection is gone.

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