Home Remedies for Earache
Home remedies for earache are useful when a sudden ear ache strikes. Earache home remedies relieve the pain and some also help resolve the infection causing the pain.
An ear ache develops when the eustachian tube which is between the eardrum and the back of the throat becomes congested with mucous or pus. This usually happens due to a cold, the flu, or allergies. The most common other causes of earache are:
An earache usually comes on at night. This is because you are lying flat and the eustachian tubes have a more difficult time of draining. Elevating the head with an extra pillow or two can help with this.
One of the best home remedies for earache is garlic oil. You can make your own with fresh garlic and mineral oil or olive oil. Puncture a garlic clove and squeeze out some of the juice into a small amount of oil. Make sure the oil is at room temperature and drop some of the mixture into the ear with an eye dropper. You can then place a small piece of cotton in the ear to keep it in. Garlic is both a natural antibiotic and antiviral.
You can also use garlic capsules as a home remedy for ear ache. Just warm the capsule up by holding it in your closed fist for several minutes. Prick the end of the capsule with a sterilized needle and squeeze the oil into the ear. See Health Benefits of Garlic.
If you don't have any garlic in the house, use mineral oil or olive oil by itself to help relieve the pain. Warm the oil in its container just as you would warm a baby bottle and check it on your wrist to make sure it is not too hot. Then drop a few drops in the ear.
One of the most popular home remedies for earache is chamomile oil. Just put a couple of drops in the ear. Or, if you have dried chamomile flowers on hand for making tea, make the tea as you usually would. Then place the flowers inside a cloth and hold against the affected ear. Also, drink the tea. No chamomile flowers? If you have chamomile tea bags, make the tea and apply the cooled down tea bag to the ear. Benefits of Chamomile.
The next thing to do is apply heat. You can do this by soaking a towel in really warm water, wring it out and place it over your ear. You can also use a hot water bottle with a towel wrapped around it or a heating pad set on a low temperature. Do not use a high temperature on the heating pad - you could get burned.
Stay out of the wind when you have an ear ache. If you must be outside, place a small piece of cotton in the ear and wear a scarf. Be sure to blow your nose only one nostril at a time to keep from forcing more fluid into the eustachian tubes.
If you fly in an airplane when you have a cold, you may experience ear pain while taking off or landing due to the change in air pressure. Chewing gum during this time usually prevents this. Just to be on the safe side, take a decongestant starting the day before the flight. Be sure to stay awake during takeoff and landing.
Sometimes an earache is caused by water entering and not exiting the ear when swimming. You can prevent this by putting a few drops of mineral oil in each ear before going into the water.
The signs that a young child has an earache are:
When to See a Doctor for an EaracheSee a doctor if you have something stuck in your ear, have an earache without having a cold or flu, have a heavy discharge from the ear, are having dizzy spells or swelling. If the pain is severe, do not try home remedies for earache. See a doctor as soon as possible.
More information:
Home Remedies for Nasal Congestion Sinus Infections Home Remedies
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