home remedies for ear pain

Home Remedies for Ear Pain

Earaches can be very uncomfortable. Most are due to ear infection and fluid buildup in the middle ear. 

Other causes include the common cold, wax in the ear, blockage in the nasal passage, physical damage to the inside of the ear, an increase in air pressure and so on. Earaches occur more commonly among small children than adults.

A simple earache can be taken care of easily at home with natural remedies. It’s likely you’ll have one or more of these readily available in your kitchen.

1.Onion

Onion is one of the most readily available home remedies for an earache. The antiseptic and antibacterial properties in onions work well in treating the problem.

Extract one tablespoon of onion juice from grated onions and heat it over low heat. Then put 2-3 drops of the juice into affected ear 2-3 times a day.

Crush a fresh onion and wrap it tightly in a piece of clean cloth. Hold the cloth over the infected ear for about 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat the process several times a day.

2.Salt

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.

Place the hot salt on a cloth and seal the open end with rubber band (or tie a knot).

When it is bearably hot, lay down and put the cloth on the affected ear for 5 to 10 minutes.

Repeat this remedy daily as many times as needed. The heat generated from the sock will help draw out fluid from the ear and relieve swelling and pain.

As an alternative, you can use one cup of rice in the same manner described above.

3.Garlic

The analgesic and antibiotic properties of garlic can help reduce earache caused by an ear infection.

Heat one teaspoon of minced garlic in two tablespoons of sesame oil. Cool and filter the oil. Put 2-3 drops of this garlic oil in the aching ear.

Another option is to extract the juice out of a few cloves of garlic and put it into the ear that hurts.

4. Basil

You can also use holy basil to treat minor earache and ear infections. It can relieve ear pain as well as reduce infection.

Crush four to five fresh holy basil leaves gently to extract the juice. Apply the basil juice on or around the infected ear. Avoid getting the juice in the ear canal.

You can also mix a few drops of holy basil oil with an equal amount of carrier oil like coconut oil. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and gently wipe just inside the ear, around the outer edge and behind the ear. Repeat the process twice daily.

5.Olive Oil

Olive oil can provide fast relief from an earache. It serves as a lubricant and helps get rid of an infection in the ear. Olive oil can also be helpful in stopping buzzing sensations inside the ears.

Put 3-4 drops of lukewarm olive oil as ear drops into the ear canal.

Alternatively, you can dip a cotton bud in the oil and put it firmly into the ear.

You can also use mustard oil in the same way.