10 Home Remedies for Earache
An ear infection is the most common cause of earache. Ear infections can take place in the inner, middle and outer ear and can be caused by many things. The most common reasons being: hearing aids, headphones, swimming, cotton ear swabs or insertion of other objects or a finger. If you have an ear infections there are a few symptoms you should look out for2:
* Ear pain
* Fever/temperature above 38’C
* Lack of energy * Difficulty hearing
* A feeling of pressure inside your ear
* Scaly skin around the ear
* Itching and/or irritation inside and/or around the ear
* Loss of balance
* Dizziness Infections
aren’t the only cause of earaches and there are a few other possibilities that may cause an ear pain1:
* Dental abscess
* Earwax
* Foreign object in the ear
* Damage to the eardrum
* Jaw problems
* Throat infections
* Glue ear
Regardless of what is causing your earache, there are several things you can do to ease the pain without resorting to prescription medication. Although, it’s important to note that if your symptoms are not going away or if your temperature rises to or above 40’C, it’s a good idea to see a doctor right away. An earache could be a symptom of something serious. But if you want to try to tackle the problem on your own, here are 10 home remedies for earache to try out:
10 Home Remedies for Earache
#1 – Heat Putting some sort of heat on your ear can help ease the pain, using a heating pad or a hot-pad can help reduce ear pain and inflammation, You’ll want to keep the heat on your ear for 20 minutes. Since ear pain is often the result of throat complications it’s a good idea to have the heating pad touch your neck and your ear at the same time. Make sure that the heating pad or hot pad isn’t too hot. The heat should not be difficult to bear and if it is that means you need to cool it down a bit.
#2 – Cold Heat can help with your ear ache, but so can cold. You can use an icepack, a bag of peas or ice, but make sure to wrap it in a cloth or paper towels. Using the same method as with heat, you want to place the cold pack over your affected ear but avoid touching your neck or throat.
Keep the cold on for 20 minutes. For some people cold works better than heat and vice-a-versa, so it’s a good idea to try both and see what works better for you. Make sure that the cold is not unbearable and never to apply ice directly to your own, or your child’s skin.
#3 – Suck on Candy Sucking on something creates a reflex that can lower pressure in your Eustachian tubes3, which may offer some relief from pain. Most adults know how to achieve this reflex by plugging their nose and blowing gently or yawning. If your child is suffering from an earache it’s a good idea to give them some hard candy or cough drops to suck on.
#4 – OTC Ear Drops Ear drops can help by reducing the pressure in the ear caused by a build-up of fluid and/or earwax. It’s important to remember that over the counter medication is no substitute for antibiotics or prescription ear drops. OTC ear drops should only be used for a few days, and if the symptoms aren’t seriously reduced or have gone away completely, then discontinue use and see a doctor.
#5 – Sleep Position There are some sleeping positions which can make your earache worse, and there are some positions which are able to help. Make sure to sleep with the affected ear facing upwards and not having it turned down facing your pillow. Your ear canal is connected to your throat via the Eustachian tube, and sleeping with your infected ear facing upwards will drain the liquid caused by your ear infection into your throat.
10 Home Remedies for Earache
#6 – Neck Exercises Certain neck exercises can help relieve the pressure in your ear canal. The most effective types of neck exercises are the rotational type4.
* Sit up straight on a chair with both feet flat on the ground
* Rotate your head slowly to the right until your head is level with your shoulder
* Rotate your head the opposite way until your head is level with your left shoulder
* Raise your shoulders as if you are trying to cover your ears with them
* Repeat these movements slowly holding for 5 seconds at the top of each movement
* Repeat these exercises often throughout the day
#7 – Garlic Garlic is an age-old cure for a myriad of ailments and is one of the few naturally occurring antibiotics. It’s been suggested that garlic’s antimicrobial properties can even fight an ear infection. Garlic is best used as a prophylactic but if you have an ear infection you should try eating one clove per day.
You can also find naturopathic garlic ear drops which can help reduce pain and stop your ear infection from getting worse. If you’re keen you can try to make your own garlic ear drops by cooking 3 cloves of garlic and two table spoons of sesame seed oil until the mixture turns brown. Strain and mix before use.
#8 – Onions Much like garlic, onions can help reduce pain and fight infections, but it’s important to remember that like garlic onions aren’t a substitute for antibiotics. Onions are best used as an ear drop, you can heat it up in the microwave for one or two minutes and then strain the resulting liquid. Apply several drops to the ear and let the liquid sit for around 10 minutes. Allow the liquid to flow out of your ear afterward.
#9 – Ginger Ginger has been used as a natural medicine in China and India for centuries. It has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease your ear pain. You can apply ginger oil around the outer ear canal which is best applied with a cotton ear swab. Make sure not to put any ginger oil directly into your ear.
#10 – Hydrogen Peroxide This has been used as a natural remedy for earaches for a very long time. You’ll want to place several drops into your ear and let it sit for up to 10 minutes. Then turn your head so your ear points downwards and let the hydrogen peroxide drain out of your ear.
Rinse your ear with distilled water afterwards. Natural remedies can be very effective and are a great and healthy alternative to pharmaceuticals. It’s important to remember that an earache can be the symptom of a serious health issue, and if your symptoms aren’t getting any better it’s a good idea to see a doctor right away.
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Earache References and Ear Ache Information
* NHS forum: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/earache
* NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/
* Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318057#Nine-home-remedies-for-earache
Read Also: https://homeremediesapp.com/10-home-remedies-for-itchy-ears/
