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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Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

What are chia seeds and where do they come from?

Chia seeds are the tiny black seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant, a member of the mint family which comes from Central and South America. Legend has it that the ancient Aztecs and Mayans used chia seeds as a source of energy.

Chia seeds have a reputation for being a “superfood”—and for a good reason: They may be tiny, but they pack a wallop of a nutritional punch(0,1)

In fact, just one spoonful of chia seeds—that’s .5 ounces, to be precise has just 69 calories, but boasts 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of fat, and 2 grams of protein.

“You can find a lot of foods that are high in fiber and fat, but chia seeds have these benefits in a very small package,” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, a dietitian and author of The Superfood Swap. “I think that’s what makes them super.”

Nutritional benefits of chia seeds:

For such a small seed, chia seeds contain some important nutrients.

Chia seeds are rich in fibre – which helps with satiety, the feeling of fullness. A 25g portion of chia seeds contains approximately 9g of fibre. The daily recommended amount of fibre is 30g, so including a 25g portion of chia seeds each day could be a useful contribution. Fibre is important for a healthy digestive system and many of us do not reach the recommended target.

Omega-3 fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory effects, as well as enhancing brain and heart health. Chia seeds contain omega-3 in the plant form: alpha linolenic acid (ALA). It is much harder for humans to convert ALA into the form preferred by the body: DHA. Therefore the omega-3 content of chia seeds, compared to animal sources such as oily fish, is low. For those who do not eat fish, chia seeds are a welcome addition to the diet, but it’s important to recognize that conversion to DHA is minimal.

Chia seeds are relatively high in protein(2)– so are a useful source of plant protein and provide a range of amino acids, particularly for vegetarian and vegan diets(3)

The combination of fat, protein and fiber means the seeds are digested relatively slowly, providing long, slow release of energy to keep blood-sugar levels stable.

Seeds are rich in minerals such as calcium and magnesium and trace elements such as manganese, which helps make enzymes.

Being rich in so many key nutrients, research has uncovered that regularly eating chia seeds can improve your health in numerous ways. Some of the top chia seeds benefits are:

Best Source of Antioxidant:

Another area where chia seeds shine is in their high amount of antioxidants (4,5).These antioxidants protect the sensitive fats in the seeds from going rancid (6).

Although antioxidant supplements are not very effective, getting antioxidants from foods can have positive effects on health,Most importantly, antioxidants fight the production of free radicals, which can damage molecules in cells and contribute to aging and diseases like cancer (9)

Anti Aging:

Researchers from Mexico uncovered that chia seeds had a total natural phenolic (antioxidants) concentration nearly two times higher than previously reported, and the antioxidant activity was shown to stop up to 70 percent of free radical activity. (10)

This research essentially proves that chia seeds are one of nature’s riches high-antioxidant foods. Antioxidants speed up the skin’s repair systems and prevent further damage. Taking chia seeds can prevent premature skin aging due to inflammation and free radical damage.

Weight Loss:

Foods that are high in fiber help people to feel full for longer, and they are usually lower in calories. Increased fiber intake and a high fiber diet have been shown to help with weight loss(11)

Aside from chia seeds' fiber content, their high levels of omega-3-fatty acids(12) and alpha-linoleic acid may be useful for weight loss. Because chia seeds are so good at absorbing water, it’s thought that they can boost your satiety: “They actually expand and get this gelatinous consistency that helps people stay full a little bit longer,” says Gidus Collingwood. And, of course, the high fiber content can help fill you up, too.

However, evidence is scant. A review, published in the Journal of Obesity, concludes that "there is limited data to suggest the use of chia seeds for weight loss.(13)

Another study, published in Nutrition Research, concludes that, in overweight adults, chia seeds have "no influence on body mass or composition, or various disease risk factor measures (14)

Strong Bones:

Chia seeds are high in phosphorus and magnesium,two minerals that can help keep our bones healthy, says Tara Gidus Collingwood, RDN, a dietitian and author of Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies. In a 2015 study published in the Nutrition Journal, people who had the highest intakes of phosphorus had a 45 percent lower risk of osteoporosis than those with the lowest intakes(15)

One tablespoon of chia seeds contains 122 milligrams of phosphorus and 47 milligrams of magnesium,about 17 percent and 15 percent of your recommended daily intake, respectively.

Digestive Health:

Chia is super-high in fiber, providing nearly 11 grams per ounce. One serving can provide the recommended fiber intake for the day, according to the American Dietetic Association.Fiber is essential for your body’s ability to balance insulin levels. According to the National Institutes of Health.

Seeds like flax and chia can be a natural blood sugar balancer due to their high fiber content and healthy fats.Being high in dietary fiber, chia seeds benefits bowel regularity and healthy stool. The rich fiber content in chia seeds also helps people feel more full quicker because it absorbs a considerable amount of water and immediately expands in the stomach when eaten. (16) 

This may explain why clinical studies have proved that chia curbs hunger and suppresses appetite, which can also lead to weight loss. (17)Also when consumed, chia seeds create a gelatin-like substance in the stomach. This gel-forming action is due to the soluble fiber in chia seeds, and it can work as a prebiotic that supports the growth of probiotics in the gut.

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Heart Health:

Chia seeds’ ability to reverse inflammation, regulate cholesterol and lower blood pressure make it extremely beneficial to consume for heart health. (18) Also, by reversing oxidative stress, someone is less likely to develop atherosclerosis when he or she regularly consumes chia seeds.

Stay Hydrate:

Because chia seeds absorb thirty times their weight in water, they help regulate body fluid levels and retain electrolytes, both key in the battle against dehydration. For long workouts in high heat and humidity, chia seeds are a handy way to prolong hydration(19) Reduces inflammation and joint pain.

Major Improvements in Type 2 Diabetics:

The most successful application of chia seeds to date was in a study on type 2 diabetic patients(20).In this study, 20 diabetic patients received either 37 grams of chia seeds, or 37 grams of wheat bran, for 12 weeks(21).

When they got the chia seeds, they saw improvements in several important health markers.Blood pressure went down by 3-6 mm/Hg and an inflammatory marker called hs-CRP went down by 40%. A risk factor called vWF also decreased by 21%.

There was also a small drop in blood sugar, but it wasn't statistically significant.given that chia seeds are high in fiber, it does seem plausible that they could help reduce blood sugar spikes after meals, but this needs to be confirmed in studies.

If you like to say anything regarding this, then please do mention it in the comments section. It belongs to you all. Always feel free to contact with us.

Home Remedies to Cure mouth Ulcer

Mouth ulcers are quite common and irritating. Soreness of the mouth that causes too much pain is called as a mouth ulcer. These painful open sores are white in color, surrounded by an inflamed red border. Mouth ulcers are also called as canker sores. These ulcers usually appear on the lips, tongue and inside the cheeks.

When the ulcer is about to occur, you feel burning and tingling sensation in the mouth. Ulcers are not contagious but, it always tends to recur. Ulcers can occur one at a time or in cluster. At some point we all suffered from those small but painful sores. Some of the causes include certain types of drugs, chemicals and infectious disease like herpes. They can be caused by a number of factors like

1. Hormonal changes
2. Excess acidity
3. Unhygienic dental condition
4. Food allergies
5. Skin disease
6. Disease in bowels
7. Underlying disease

Types of  Mouth Ulcer:

There are 3 types of mouth ulcers minor, major and herpetiform.

1.Minor ulcer:

Minor canker sores are most common type of ulcers and are caused in almost 80 percent of the cases. Canker sores are small, oval and round in shape that usually heal within one to two weeks.

2.Major ulcer:

These types of ulcers are larger and deeper than minor ones. These types of ulcers occur in only 10 percent of the cases. They have irregular edges and it can take up to six weeks for them to heal.

3.Herpetiform:

This is very painful condition and caused by an infection by herpes simplex virus. It occurs in clusters of 10 to 100 and generally affects adults.

There are many ways by which you can cure mouth ulcers but, one of the best ways to treat mouth ulcers is natural treatment. So, here are some natural ingredients to treat mouth ulcers..

Home Remedies for  Mouth sores/ulcer are under below:

1>Baking Soda:

Baking soda is an alkaline and will neutralize acids that irritate the canker sore; it also helps kill bacteria to help your sore heal quickly. (1) Its antibacterial action will help you maintain oral hygiene For this canker sore remedy (2)try this home remedy

You Will Need:

1. 1 tsp,baking soda
2. ½,cup,warm water

How to Apply:

1. In the warm add dissolve baking soda
2. Mix well until dissolved
3. Rinse your mouth with this solution
4. Repeat this thrice during the day

2>Licorice Root:

Mouth ulcers can be cured with licorice root, as this herb works as a demulcent and forms a protective coating on the mucous membranes that resists irritation and soothes open lesions. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties(3)

You will need:

1. 1 tbsp,licorice root crushed
2. 2 cups,water

How to Apply:

1. Soak licorice in the water for 2-3 hours
2. Sieve the water & discard licorice root
3. Use it as a mouth rinse
4. Repeat it thrice times a day 

See Also

Home Remedies articles 

3>Orange Juice:

Orange juice is an acidic drink which can kill the bacteria causing the mouth ulcers and heal it(4)it has been seen that Vitamin C deficiency(5) can result in mouth ulcer.

You will need:

Fresh oranges/fortified orange juice

How to Use it:

1. Drink two glasses of orange juice in a day.
2. Repeat this every day until the mouth ulcer heals.

4>Salt:

Salts are ionic compounds therefore they show ionic reactions which occur quickly and usually exothermic in nature. The reaction of salts with acids is double displacement reaction such as sodium chloride reacts with sulphuric acid to form sodium sulphate and hydrogen chloride(6)

The reason Salt has antiseptic properties and can help to heal the ulcer faster.(7)try this remedy before you eat lunch and dinner

You will need:

1. ¼ tsp,Sea salt
2. 1 cup,warm water

How to Use:

1. In a cup of warm water add salt and mix it
2. Gargle for a while
3. Do the salt water gargle  a few times during a  day

5>Aloe Gel:

According to researchers, aloe vera speeds healing and reduces pain associated with canker sores and doesn’t sting or taste bad when applied. Aloe vera juice can be taken as a drink or gel can be applied topically, according to the researchers.aloe vera has been found effective in treating canker sores(8)

You will need:

1. Aloe gel
2. Cotton

How to Apply:

1. Using a cotton swab
2. Apply aleo gel directly to the canker sore
3. Leave it on for 1-2 minutes
4. More likely the aloe gel will dissolve in your saliva
5. Afterward rinse your mouth
6. Repeat it 4-5 times a day

6>Coconut Milk:

Coconut milk is the best way to give you relief from the pain of mouth ulcers (9)Dry coconut, coconut water and coconut milk are three products of coconut that can treat mouth ulcers very effectively.

1: Drinking coconut water helps to cool the body.

2: Gargle with fresh coconut milk in every three hours.

3: This will lessen the pain and boost up the healing process

4: Alternatively, massage coconut oil on your affected area.

7>Coriander seeds:

Coriander is a herb like parsley,It has got properties that help cure a number of ailments (10) An infusion of coriander seeds is an Ayurvedic remedy that can bring considerable relief and reduce inflammation, You need to get the seeds for treating ulcers in the mouth(11)

You will need:

1. 1 tsp,coriander seeds
2. 1 cup,water

How to Use:

1. Heat the water then add coriander seeds
2. Allow to boil it for 2-3 minutes
3. Strain it out and keep the water
4. Gargle your mouth with this liquid
5. Repeat it thrice times a day
6. Alternatively you can use honey and coriander seeds
7. Add honey in the coriander powder
8. Mix well until smooth paste
9. Apply this mixture on the oral ulcer
10. Repeat it twice a day  

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8>Basil Leaves:

Basil leaves speed up the healing process for mouth ulcers. Furthermore, they have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties(12)

You will need:

1. 5,Basil leaves
2. 2 tbsp,water

How to Use:

Wash four or five leaves thoroughly

Chew the basil leave and sip a little water afterward

Do this twice a day, in the morning and evening.

9>Tea Bags:

Tea is an alkaline, so it will neutralize acids that irritate the sore; tea also contains compounds that may help relieve pain(13)

You will need:

Tea bags black/green

How to Apply:

1. After making a cup of tea keep the wet tea bag in the refrigerator for 10 minutes
2. Press the chilled, wet tea bag gently over the canker sore for about 10-12 minutes
3. Repeat this twice times a day until canker sores healing..

10>Toothpaste:

One of the key properties of good toothpaste is its antimicrobial capacity (14). Applying this on the mouth ulcer will clear out the infection that is causing the ulcer.

You will need:

1. Toothpaste
2. Q-tip

How to Apply:

1. Apply the paste on your ulcer using a Q-tip.
2. Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing your mouth.
3. Do this every day until the whiteness of the ulcer disappears.

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