Home Remedies For Earache – Faster relief

Earache is one of the most difficult pains to bear and resulting from this pain focusing on day-to-day becomes a daunting task. The main causes of earache are infections, injury, or swelling. Several home remedies for earache can be treated with and benefit. In serious cases please do not hesitate to consult a doctor.

There three main types of earache that commonly affect all ages of people are:-

• Otitis Media earache – Otitis Media earache is caused by an infection. It affects the middle part of the ear
• Otitis Externa earache – Otitis Externa earache is also caused by an infection but affects the outer area of the ear.
• Myringitis earache – Myringitis earache is caused by swelling of the eardrum (tympanic membrane)

Earache can affect all ages but most commonly it affects children.

Human Ear Anatomy

Three Main Earache Causes

Causes of Otitis Media type earache

• Common cold
• Bacterial infection
• Allergies
• Eustachian tubes inflammation
• Infection in the upper respiratory tract
• Passive smoking or secondhand smoke
• Feeding an infant or baby with a bottle in a lying-down position
• Abnormal structure of the head or ears

Causes of Otitis Externa type earache

• Infection in the outer canal of the ear
• An injury to the outer canal or eardrum of the ear
• Nose or throat infection
• Accumulation of moisture due to swimming or showers in the ear canal
• Common cold
• Arthritis in the jaws
• Excess earwax or Build-up of fungus
• Blockage in the ear tube
• Any diseases on the ear
• Any kind of injury to the jawbone

Causes of Myringitis type earache

• Inflammation or infection of the eardrum
• Ruptured eardrum
• Any injury to the eardrum
• Eardrum puncture due to cleaning the ear
• Blisters formation in the eardrum

Other main causes of ear pain are:-

• Foreign objects getting stuck in the ear such as insects, blocked earwax, etc.
• Reduced pressure due to high altitudes
• Due to throat tooth or jaw pain

Symptoms of earache

• Otitis Externa and Otitis Media earache symptoms
• Buzzing sound in the ear
• Chronic pain as a result of pulling off the ear’s outer rim
• Loss of hair
• Flu
• Discharge from the ear canal
• Bleeding from the ear canal
• Infants and babies having Otitis earache may suffer from vomiting, lack of  sleep, diarrhea appetite, fussiness, and restlessness
• Itchiness and swelling in the ear
• Ear blockage

Symptoms of Myringitis

• Loss of hair
• Fever
• Severe earache and then suddenly disappearing
• Blood discharge from the ear

Best Natural Home Remedies for Ear ache

Here is the list of natural home remedies for earache. Treat yourself to get quick relief.

1. Garlic – the best home remedy for earache

Garlic naturally has antibiotic properties and also it is a strong analgesic. You can get relief from pain just by consuming a few cloves of raw garlic.

Also, it can be treated by heating 1 teaspoon of crushed garlic in 2 tablespoons of sesame oil for a few minutes. Strain and let it cool then pour a few (2 or 3) drops into the aching ear.

2. Ginger is great for earache

Ginger works as an excellent painkiller for earache. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to help with any swelling.

Make ginger juice from fresh ginger and put a few drops in the aching ear.

Also, heat the ginger root with ( ¼ cup) 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and apply externally around the aching ear.

More health benefits from Ginger

3. Heating Pad eases earache

Damp a soft cloth in the hot water and keep it over the aching ear. Instead, hot water in a bottle also could be used. The heat from the hot water bottle or the damp cloth on the ear improves blood circulation and gives great relief from earache.

4. Basil Leaves are for quicker ear pain relief

Basil leaves can come to help relieve ear pain. Extract juice from basil leaves and put a few drops in the aching ear. This gives relief from earache.

5. Onion cures earache

Onion has a good antiseptic quality and is, therefore, able to cure earache effectively.

Grate an onion and extract juice to put a few drops (2 to 3) into the infected ear. Repeat the same about 2 times a day.

6. Eucalyptus Oil for faster relief from earache

Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil into the boiling water along with Vicks. Pour the water into a bowl and inhale the steam covering your head and bowl with a towel.

Keep repeating this till you get relief from the pain. This steam helps to drain off the accumulated fluids and also reduces the pressure in the infected ear.

Eucalyptus oil has been used for years and is one of the good home remedies for earache one can use.

7. Olive Oil

Olive oil is the best natural remedy for earache. It is capable of relieving your ear pain and alleviating ear infections. Slightly heat the olive oil and pour a few (3 to 4) drops into the aching ear using a dropper or a cotton ball.

8. White Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol

Mix some rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) with white vinegar. Apply a few drops to the infected ear. This mixture heals the infection and relieves you from ear infection very fast.

9. Peppermint

Peppermint is also very handy as an earache remedy. Apply a few drops of peppermint juice to the aching ear. You could apply the peppermint oil externally over the ear. Never put the oil into the ear.

10. Bishop’s Weed Oil

This is one of the powerful home remedies for earache for quick relief.  Heat 3 teaspoons of sesame oil with 1 teaspoon of bishop’s weed oil for a few minutes. After it cools downpour a few (4 to 5) drops inside the aching ear.

11. Licorice

Licorice is an herb used to alleviate earache. Heat licorice herb with butter and apply over the aching ear. You could expect faster relief from the pain in the ear.

12. Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree oil is a pain reliever and good for ear infections. Apply a few drops of tea tree oil in the ear for pain relief.  Tea tree oil has strong antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

13. Try Over-the-counter Drugs

There are several drugs available at pharmacies like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. These are to remove ear pain and not to treat the infection.

14. Hair Dryer

After your bath, it is good to dry your ears to reduce earache.  Dry your ears gently using a hair drier holding at a distance. Be careful not to burn your ears accidentally. Dry with your hairdryer, for not more than 5 minutes.

15. Radish

Radish works well with mustard oil. Just chop a few radishes and heat with mustard oil. Once it cools down, strain the oil and pour a few drops into the aching ear.

16. Salt

Take a handful of salt and heat in a source pan till it turns to a slightly brown color. Then wrap it in a cotton cloth and press it over the infected ear. Press for about 5 minutes daily.

This is will improve blood circulation around the area and assist in relieving the pain.

17. Sleep in an Upright Position

Always sleep in an upright position to avoid pressure build-up on the ear canal.

18. Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is the base for many remedies you would have noticed here. Pick some castor plant leaves and heat them with Sesame oil for a very short time.

After that strain it and let it cool. Pour a few (2 to 3) drops into the aching ear using a dropper.

19. Have Foods Rich in Vitamin C

Fruits that are rich in vitamin C help to reduce ear pain. Increase the intake of fruits that are rich in Vitamin C such as oranges, lemons, etc.

20. Chewing Gum

If the ear pain is caused by pressure, then start chewing the chewing gum. Normally the pressure is felt in the ear when you are going up the escalator in a tall building.

You are advised to chew chewing gum when you are traveling by plane especially when the plane is taking off or landing. If you do not have chewing gum,  just pretend to chew by moving your jaws.  It helps very much to relieve you from the pressure felt in the ears.

21. Apple Cider Vinegar

As a home remedy, Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for various illnesses. it also helps in curing earache.

Make a mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar with rubbing alcohol. Put two or three drops of it into the ear with the infection. Repeat this remedy a few times a day as needed for better results.

22. Hydrogen Peroxide

Put a few drops of Hydrogen Peroxide into the infected ear. After a couple of minutes drained it off the ear. Hydrogen Peroxide is also commonly used to treat ear infections.

23. Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea is an herb that is very famous for curing earache just like garlic. It has echinacoside which is a phytochemical constituent that works as a natural antibiotic in the body. It can strengthen our tissues as well.

Echinacea has one more constituent and that is called Echinacea. This constituent neutralizes the germs on the tissues. Therefore Echinacea is effective in treating earache. Echinacea is a good home remedy for earache.

24. Mango Leaves

Heat and extract juice from mango leaves and use as drops for earache. This is very effective and gives relief from ear pain fast.

Homeopathic Remedies for Earache

Using Homeopathic remedies is much safer compared to various other medicines bought over the counter to treat Earache. It is highly recommended.

Here are a few effective Homeopathic remedies for ear pain.

1. Chamomilla

Chamomilla is a natural homeopathic remedy for ear pain remedy. It is very effective to give you relief from a severe earache. This is most of the time used when the pain is intolerable and one is unable to withstand the ear pain.

2. Belladonna

Ear pain is treated with Belladonna when the redness in the skin or fever is caused by an earache.

3. Aconitum napellus

Aconitum napellus is used when you get a fever due to an earache or a dry cough or if the pain is too much. This is also to reduce the sensitivity of the ear to the surrounding noise.

4. Mercurius Solubilis

This home remedy for an earache is used when having sharp pain with pus, bad breath, or swollen lymph nodes.

5. Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum

Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum is used when experiencing severe sharp pain in the ear. For the condition where the ear becomes sensitive to cold air and even when touching the ear.

Precaution:  All treatments should be applied with mild dosage and the results. The frequency of application of these home remedies for earache needs to be done accordingly based on the individual’s condition. Consulting a doctor is always advisable when the pain of too severe.