Ear infection happens when bacteria and viruses enter the middle ear. The most common symptoms are: pain, reduced hearing, headache, fluid draining, difficulty sleeping, fever, vomiting, diarrhea etc. The ear is made up of three parts: outer, middle and inner ear.
Each of these parts have a different function an all of them can become infected. However, the infection of the inner ear is the most serious. Any kind of ear infection should be treated immediately because lack of treatment can cause damage or rupture of the ear drum. This can progress chronic recurrence that can result in deafness. Consulting a doctor is essential but there are also natural remedies that can provide immediate relief. Here are 10 of the most effective home remedies for ear infection:
- Salt
This is the a very cheap and efficient home remedy for ear infection. You can also use 1 cup of rice instead.
- Heat 1 cup of salt over low heat for several minutes or you can either microwave it or heat it in a double-boiler.
- Place the hot salt in a cloth and seal it.
- Put the cloth on your ear and keep it for 5-10 minutes.
- Repeat this procedure as many times as you need to. It will help draw out fluid from the ear and reduce the pain and swelling.
- Garlic
Garlic has numerous health benefits and treating ear infection is one of them.
- Cook 2 garlic cloves in 2 tablespoons of sesame or mustard oil until they turn brown. Strain the liquid and add 2-4 drops of warm oil in the infected ear.
- You can also boil 2-3 fresh cloves in water, crush them and add a little salt. Put the mixture on a clean cloth and place it on the affected ear.
- You can also speed up the healing process by consuming 2-3 cloves of raw garlic.
- Basil
Basil can stop the pain and reduce the infection.
- Extract the juice from 5 fresh basil leaves and put the juice around the ear but make sure it doesn’t get inside the ear.
- You can also mix equal amounts of basil and carrier oil such as coconut oil. Then, soak a cotton ball in the mixture and wipe the outer area of the ear and behind it. You should repeat this procedure two times a day.
- Apple cider vinegar
The best solution for an ear infection caused by fungus is apple cider vinegar.
- Mix equal amounts of ACV and water or alcohol and soak a cotton ball in the mixture.
- Place the cotton ball like a plug in your ear and keep it there for about 5 minutes.
- Remove the cotton ball and lay down on the opposite side until the liquid drains. Dry your ear as much as you can with a blow dryer.
- Olive oil
Sometimes the infection happens because of wax buildup in the ear which can be removed with olive oil.
- Warm some olive oil and then put a few drops of it in the infected ear.
- The oil will soften the wax making it easier to remove.
- You can use mustard oil instead of olive oil.
- Warm water bottle
You can prevent micro-organism infestation and also reduce the pain with the help of warm water bottle.
- Place a heating pad or warm water bottle against the ear.
- You can also use warm compress. Dip a clean washcloth in warm water, drain the excess water and then place the cloth on the infected ear.
- Don’t keep the heat too long. Keep it 5 minutes, remove it for a while and then place it again.
- Onion
- Chop an onion and microwave it for about 1-2 minutes. Once it cools, strain the juice and place a few drops of it in the infected ear. Leave it on for a while and lie down in the opposite direction to drain the liquid.
- Bake an onion for half an hour, cut it in 2 halves and place one half in a thick cotton cloth then place the cloth on your ear for 5 minutes. Wait 10 minutes before repeating the procedure.
- Tea tree oil
Tea tree provides an immediate relief from earache due to the antibacterial properties.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with 3 drops of tea tree oil, 1 teaspoon of ACV and 1 teaspoon of colloidal silver. Warm the mixture for a while.
- Put a few drops of the mixture in the ear and leave them for 5 minutes. Drain the liquid by turning your head on the opposite direction.
- You should repeat this procedure 2-3 times a day for 2 days.
- Mango leaf juice
The extract from mango leaf can provide a fast and efficient relief.
- Extract the juice from 2-3 mango leaves by crushing or grinding them. Warm the juice a little.
- Place 3-4 drops into the infected ear and you will quickly feel relief from the pain.
- For a full relief from an ear infection use this remedy 2-3 times a day.