Ear infections can be painful and distressful, yet home remedies may offer much-needed relief. Simple measures such as warm compresses, over the counter pain relievers and natural oils may provide immediate relief of symptoms like swelling and drainage.
Resting upright can help facilitate better fluid drainage and relieve discomfort, while neck exercises that rotate and stretch the head can reduce pressure.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can be an affordable and readily-available first aid remedy to use when cleaning your ears, making it a trusted first-aid method. While other topical treatments can sting when they come into contact with skin, hydrogen peroxide acts as a mild solvent to dissolve wax and other debris without drying out ear canals and leading to irritation – thus it should only be used sparingly (ideally once or twice weekly, or as directed by healthcare provider).
Before using hydrogen peroxide, ensure it has no concentration exceeding 3%. You should expect it to be clear liquid without an overwhelming scent or cold sensation on touch. Using a soft cloth and the solution, wipe around the outer areas of your ears avoiding your ear canal entirely; or dip a cotton ball in it and put it directly in it ear canal. Once done, tilt your head sideways for one minute as hydrogen peroxide bubbles into ear canal for about one minute to loosen and drain away any wax build-up that might otherwise build-up build-up inside. This should help any build-up inside as well.
Once complete, use a towel to dry off your ear before using this method with olive or baby oil – although just remember not to put more than 2 or 3 drops into each ear at a time as too much may cause buildup of earwax. For a serious infection it’s always wise to seek medical advice as soon as possible and, depending on its symptoms, your physician may suggest home remedies or antibiotics as treatments.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Home remedies for ear infections are easy and accessible, including using hydrogen peroxide and apple cider vinegar together to dissolve wax gently while also killing germs and restoring the healthy pH balance in your ear canal, relieving pain and draining out pus from it.
Basil contains powerful antibacterial properties that make it an excellent natural remedy. Simply crush five fresh basil leaves lightly, extract their juice and apply to the affected ear. This method won’t harm your eardrum while having therapeutic benefits including being antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, balsamic and expectorant.
Natural health stores typically carry herbal ear drops that may help provide relief for an ear infection, typically featuring clove or lavender as bases with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as ginger.
If your ear infection is severe, consult an ENT specialist immediately in Madison or Huntsville. Serious cases often require antibiotics as home remedies will likely not suffice.
If you have mild outer ear infection, try rinsing it away with a half-strength vinegar solution mixed with warm (not hot) water (using a dropper bottle and applying several drops), leaving it for several minutes in your ear canal before repeating this twice daily until your infection has cleared up. Add isopropyl rubbing alcohol as an aid in breaking down cerumen (earwax) for easier drainage if desired – repeat twice per day until all symptoms have subsided!
3. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral natural remedy. It’s excellent at killing bacteria while soothing inflammation and relieving earache pain. Simply dilute some tea tree oil in water with an eyedropper and use to gently drop drops directly into your ear canal – taking care not to touch the eardrum as this remedy should be repeated multiple times daily for maximum benefit.
An addition of oil to bathwater may provide much-needed relief for sore throat sufferers, while dabbing some drops on the back of your neck could alleviate ear discomfort. Warm compresses may also offer relief; just be careful that they aren’t too hot as this could cause burns!
Although home remedies don’t appear to cure ear infections directly, doctors often advise using them as an alternative to antibiotics for certain individuals. Antibiotics disrupt healthy gut flora, leading to overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and yeast that could potentially exacerbate an ear infection.
Overuse of antibiotics may lead to resistance, decreasing their effectiveness. Furthermore, certain antibiotics may pose serious dangers to children and infants.
Home remedies can often be safely combined with prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, however, to be sure they won’t conflict with one another it is wise to consult a healthcare professional first to make sure any treatment plan doesn’t alter other plans for treatment.
Other remedies that may provide some relief include ibuprofen and acetaminophen, both known to reduce pain and fever. Resting and keeping the head elevated when possible are also recommended to prevent fluid build-up. Home remedies may be especially useful for individuals who have had tubes surgically placed into their ears as these will likely need time before other treatments can take effect.
4. Olive Oil
Olive oil‘s antibacterial properties may help dissolve ear wax and flush it out of the ear canal, as well as relieve itching and pain in its canal. Be sure to purchase high-quality extra virgin olive oil that hasn’t been chemically processed, which could strip some of its healing oils.
Add a few drops of olive oil to each ear using a glass dropper and let the drops drain down the outer side. Do not attempt to dig out wax with cotton swabs as this may push it deeper into your ears and damage your eardrum.
Olive oil has many therapeutic uses and should be combined with herbs that have strong therapeutic effects, such as garlic or basil. Garlic has antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal properties which may help combat ear infections; while basil has analgesic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that can provide relief for any associated pain in the ears.
Your doctor is the only person qualified to safely irrigate your ears using home irrigation tools; any excessive force applied with such home tools could rupture the eardrum and require medical intervention. If you decide to irrigate your ears yourself, be wary not to apply too much water pressure and utilize a rubber bulb syringe that has been warmed in warm water before using. Also avoid pouring warm or hot oil directly into the ear as this could rupture its membranes and lead to infections or ruptured eardrums. Immediately seek medical assistance if you believe you have ruptured your eardrum. Other symptoms of ruptured eardrums include popping sensations; mucuslike, pus-filled or bloody drainage from the ear; hearing loss; ringing in your ears (tinnitus); and spinning feeling (vertigo). This is an emergency situation and needs immediate medical attention.
5. Garlic
An internet post recently went viral claiming that placing garlic cloves into one’s ear canal will help treat an earache, but this claim is false and this procedure may make matters worse.
Studies have demonstrated garlic to possess powerful antimicrobial properties due to allicin, but more research on humans is still required to establish its effectiveness. Fresh crushed raw garlic has long been used to ease pain, alleviate discomfort and kill microorganisms that cause infection. Home preparation of its oil can also be made with ease by crushing one clove and heating olive oil until fragrant aroma appears; strain it out and pour into an appropriate jar to store.
Home remedies for ear infections offer an economical and often safer solution than expensive or harmful traditional medicines, however it’s still recommended to consult a physician prior to trying any of these remedies at home.
Otitis media is the most prevalent type of ear infection, occurring when bacteria or viruses cause inflammation behind the eardrum. Otitis externa typically develops when water gets into the outer ear canal from too much swimming; home remedies like apple cider vinegar and garlic may provide temporary relief; however, for serious or persistent conditions you should seek professional medical assistance immediately.