Top 5 Home Remedies for an Earache

During the past couple of days, a family member developed an awful earache. I felt so bad for her, and made a couple of suggestions on remedies – garlic, ginger, peppermint oil… She decided on peppermint oil, and within several hours her earache was gone. Awe, sweet relief!

There are different causes of different kinds earaches:

Common causes of Otitis Media (inflammation of the middle ear):

• Bacterial Infection
• Common Cold
• Allergies

Common causes of Otitis Externa (inflammation in the passage of the outer ear):

• Throat or nose infection
• Injury to the jawbone
• Common Cold
• Accumulation of water in the ear due to swimming or showers

Common causes of Otitis Interna – also known as labyrinthitis (inflammation of the inner ear)

• Medications and substances
• Viral and bacterial infections
• Trauma to the head

No matter what, a persistent earache is cause to make an appointment with your doctor – especially if accompanied by other ailments. These few simple remedies should help to alleviate the pain, until you can be seen by your family practitioner.

1. Heating pad or blow dryer – The warmth gives great relief from the pain of an earache, while helping to improve blood circulation
2. Garlic – Garlic is a potent analgesic (pain killer), therefore, gives fast relief from on earache. Take a small bit of crushed garlic and heat it in an oil like sesame seed oil. After the mixture has cooled down, strain the it and either place 2-3 drops into the pained ear, or saturate a cotton ball and place it in the ear.
3. Ginger – Ginger is also a strong painkiller. To use ginger, extract the juice from the vegetable and place a few drops into the pained ear. If extracting ginger juice proves to be too complicated, you can also mix freshly grated ginger root with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Let the mixture set for 10-15 minutes, then put a few drops into your ear or a cotton ball.
4. Onion – Onions have a rich amount of flavonoid quercetin; quercetin has been shown in studies to reduce cardiovascular disease and keep cancer at bay. They also contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to relieve an inflamed and pained ear. Bake an onion for 15 minutes at 450 degrees, then allow it to cool once done. Once the onion is cool enough to handle, cut it in half, squeeze it over a small bowl and test the temperature of the liquid – it needs to be warm but not HOT. Tilt your heard to the side, and drop the liquid into your ear, keeping your head tilted long enough to allow the juices to penetrate the inner ear.
5. Peppermint – The common theme in these remedies: ANTI-INFLAMMATORY and ANTIBACTERIAL. Peppermint isn’t any different, in this aspect. Whether using organic and trusted brand of peppermint oil or brewing your own from fresh leaves, peppermint is another awesome painkiller for an earache.

Next time you’re in search of a quick and holistic earache remedy, give one of these a try and let us know how it works!

Happy 2017!