How to Ease Ear Pain with Essential Oils

Ear pains are usually accompanied by inflammation of the external or of the middle ear. Pains in the external year may be caused by localized infection in the form of local external abscess or inflammation with redness and swelling. A swelling may occur after frequent contact with water or as a result of an allergic reaction. There are also cases of foreign bodies in middle ear duct, which often happens with the little children.

The most common ear pains are result of middle ear infections (otitis media), which arise as complication of colds and nose-throat inflammations, something little kids often suffer from. The inflammation of nose internal mucous membranes blocks the Eustachian tube, allows accumulation of fluid – a favorable environment for viruses and bacterium – and increases the tympanum pressure.

Though there are highly effective treatments of ear infections known, like homeopathic and aurvedic treatments, acupuncture, acupressure - the application of essencial oils in the moment when strong pain has just started may have immediate effect and even stop further inflammation.

Along with the main treatment you apply on prescription of your doctor (traditional or alternative) the therapy with essential oils helps to ease the pain and to calm down the child. Very often fear accompanies the pain and make things worse. Essencial oils from lavender and tea tree will sooth the sick person.

Following are three techniques that are easy applicable in domestic environment. They can be used along with any therapy prescribed by your physician. Just remember not to use tea trea oil during the first 20 weeks from the pregnancy.

Note: The lavender essential oil is manufactured from L. angustifolia, commonly known as L. officinalis (curative lavender) and from L. vera (Holland lavender, according to some a variety of L. spika, which is used for homonymous essential oil). There is also essential oil named lavandin, extracted by destilation of a hybrid between L. officinalis and L. spica. It’s not that delicate as the lavender essential oil, and is widely used for manufacture of home fragrances, soaps, domestic cleaning products and perfumes. Lavandine oil is often sold as lavender essential oil, but has much less healing power and is considerably cheaper.

Inhalation

Boil 0.5 l water and place it on a table. Add 5 drops essential oil from lavender, tee tree or chamomile. Let your child stay above the pot and to breath in the vapors for up to 10 minutes.

Dripping

Take two tea spoons of olive oil or St. John’s wort oil. Make sure the oil is warmed up but not more than 30-36 degrees by Celsius. Add 3 drops essential oil from lavender or tee tree and stir well. Several drops from such prepared mixture apply in the ear duct, by bending the head with ill ear upwards.

Smear oil lotion on the skin around inflamed spot

Prepare lotion from two tee-spoons sweet almond oil with added three drops essential oil from lavender or tee tree. Rub in the lotion on the skin around the ear and throat.

Always remember about the possibility of foreigh body penetrated into the ear channel, when treating little children.

If the ear pain is unbearable and continues more than 2 days without relief, by all means search for advice from physician.

For relieving headache with essential oils you may check here.