An ear infection is a big pain in the ……well ear! And the only way to treat it is with antibiotics, right? Wrong! You can treat it with home remedies. How would you know, you have an ear infection? Keep a tab on the following symptoms,
A few of the common ear infection symptoms include,
- A niggling pain or a feeling of discomfort.
- A persisting feeling of air pressure.
- Noticeable fussiness in infants
- Pus-like drainage from the ear
- hearing loss
Before, going for antibiotics, try the natural home remedies for ear infection. This will heal the infection and help you deal with the persistent pain.
Home Remedies for Ear Infection – 6 Useful Remedies
Natural home remedies for ear infection are your best bet in treating the infection. These remedies are without any side effects and can provide fast results.
- Garlic and Mullein Oil
Garlic is a potent natural antibiotic. It provides fast relief and is said to inhibit some viruses. Hence it is a better option than over the counter antibiotics, as they only work upon bacterial infections.
The chief components of Garlic weaving its magic are alliin and allinase. Get the best out of garlic by either chopping or crushing them to release a compound, known as allicin. This is the compound that is effective for infections. Mullein oil is an excellent solution for earaches and ear infections. The combination of garlic and mullein oil is used in an applicator and the same is applied to the ears.
- Essential oils
Facilitating normal drainage is the best way for combating ear infections. Justmassaging the outside of the ear and face, jaw, neck area with essential oils is a potent remedy and enables good circulation and normal drainage. Continue to massage in a downward circulatory manner behind the ear on the neck and keep applying gentle inward pressure in front of your ear toward your cheek.
There are a plethora of oils to choose from, some of them are rosemary, eucalyptus, oregano, lavender, tea tree, chamomile, and thyme. Essential oils are a potent combination and should undergo a proper dilution process before application. Also, essential oils are only suitable for certain agegroups, so you must employ caution before you administer the same to your child.
- Cod liver oil
A Vitamin A deficiency often disrupts the ear clearing mechanism. Optimum levels of vitamin A also helps cure most diseases, some of the diseases that benefit from this vitamin A is measles. Vitamin A is found in animal products such as beef, liver, fish, milk and so on.
- Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide helps degrade earwax. This helps not only get relief froman earache but also helps stop the earwax build-up. It has a combination of antibacterial and antifungal properties. The reason it works as an effective ear infection medicine. Get hydrogen peroxide, hot water, and a dropper and mix them in equal properties. Lie down and administer a few drops into your affected ear. Remain in this position for 10 to 12 minutes. Then wipe off the extra drainage.
- Coconut oil
The lauric acid in coconut oil is effective intreating ear infections. It works because it has antimicrobial properties. It also contains analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and it works as a great ear infection treatment option. Get a coconut oil, a dropper and a cotton ball. The solution is simple. Put a few drops into your ear. Open and close your jaw to ensure that the oil reaches all parts of the ear canal. Block the ear so the oil stays in and does not leak out. Do this twice a day to reap off benefits.
- Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has potent anti-infective properties. The ACV topical application kills the microbes that cause infection. Get these few things together, 1 part of apple cider vinegar, 1 part of water and a cotton ball. Just mix the vinegar and water together and soak the same inside the mixture. Wring out the extra water and place it onto your ear. Leave the same on your ear for at least 5-7 minutes. Dry off the ear after, you can use a hairdryer for the same purpose. Another way of clearing ear infections in the Eustachian tubes is by gargling with ACV. Do this for at least twice or thrice a day for best results.
- Onion
We all know that onion has a pungent odor and it activates our tear ducts. But what we do not know is onion has potent properties that clear up most infections. Warm onion juice is a therapeutic option that treats infection and helps lower the swelling. It draws out the fluid out and quickly heals the infection. The things you will require to accelerate the healing process, just a small onion.
Heat the onion, in an oven and strain the juice. Put the drop into the affected earand tilt your head downwards to help ease out the liquid. If you aren’t comfortable in using the liquid use it as a warm compress. Bake the onion for half an hour and wrap the same with a clean cloth. Place it near your ear. Keep doing this for every couple of hours until the infection clears up and you get relief from the pain.
- Castor oil
Castor oil has potent antimicrobial properties. Just using this oil on a daily basis can clear up an ear infection. The oil-warmth soothes the skin in the inside of your ear andhelp’s clear away the accumulating wax build-up. This is one of the best natural remedies. Get a few drops of castor oil and a cotton plug.
Warm up the castor oil and pour it into your infected ear before you hit the bed. Block your ear as you sleep with yours. Put a cotton plug and sleep with your ear facing upwards. Clean up with a cotton bud in the next morning.
Try these 8 solutions to treat ear infections and get instant relief. Follow the home remedies and if you still don’t get relief, get it checked by a doctor to get to the root cause of the infection.
