Ear pain/infections are very painful! You need to try these 9 home remedies for an ear infection! It is amazing how much these home remedies relieve the pain and heal the infection without having to even leave your house!
When that ear pain creeps up, it becomes not only annoying but extremely painful! If you are anything like me, you are trying to find more holistic approaches to most medical issues before heading to the doctor’s office for medication. After reading this post, you will know how to safely and effectively use home remedies for an ear infection!
This post is all about home remedies for an ear infection,
***IF you have had tubes put in your ears or have a ruptured eardrum, these home remedies are not recommended for use.
1. Heat
Heat brings the most immediate relief with ear aches. You can heat up a soft water bottle, or a rice pack and place on your ear. You will want to make sure it is a comfortable heat, not one that is going to cause any more pain. Leave on for 10 minutes, then take a little break from the heat before applying again. If you don’t have a rice pack, check out the ones in my store to have something readily available for you when problems arise.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide
Using hydrogen peroxide is the home remedy I turn to first (other than heat) for my family. It has always worked well and quickly so it will be my go-to before the rest of this list. To use, dilute hydrogen peroxide with water. Put some drops into the infected ear. I typically use a syringe for this, but you could also soak a cotton ball and let the mixture drip into the ear. Let the mixture sit in your ear for about 20 seconds, then tip head to the other side to let it drain out. Repeat a few times if necessary. It is recommended to drop a few drops of rubbing alcohol into the same ear when finished. This is necessary so the excess moisture from the hydrogen peroxide is dried up to prevent further problems.
3. Warm Salt Pack
This is a similar home remedies for an ear infection to the “heat” section above. Heat brings the most relief quickly so turn to something similar to this home remedy first. Put some salt into a leak-proof bag. Warm up in the microwave. Be careful not to get it too hot. You want a mild heat on your ear. The warm salt will help to draw out any liquid in the ear to reduce any swelling or pain that’s present.
4. Holy Basil Oil
There are two different ways to get basil oil. The first way is to carefully crush some fresh holy basil leaves to extract some of the juice out. Apply the juice AROUND the effected ear. Do not put the juice inside the ear canal.
The other way to use basil is to purchase holy basil oil. Dilute the oil with a carrier oil such as coconut oil. Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and rub around, behind, and a little around the inside part the ear. Do not pour the oil mixture into the ear.
Here is the organic holy basil oil I recommend to use.
5. Olive Oil
This home remedy is to help relieve pain from wax build-up. To perform this home remedy for an ear infection, you need to do this very cautiously. On low heat, warm up olive oil on your stove. Let it cool to the touch. The temperature of the olive oil should not be warmer than your skin temperature.
Carefully dribble some warmed olive oil directly into the ear. This will soften the wax build up and allow you to use a cotton swab to get the compacted wax out of your ear. Make sure you don’t put the cotton swab too far into your ear. You don’t want to cause damage to your ear.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Using apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for an ear infection is a remedy that has been passed down from generation to generation. To use this, mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and place in ear. Use the cotton ball like an ear plug. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes before removing. Lay down on the floor with infected side down with a towel underneath. This will allow the excess apple cider vinegar to drain out of your ear.
If you happen to know that your ear infection lies within your Eustachian tubes, you can gargle the apple cider vinegar as well.
7. Garlic
Garlic is not just amazing in food, but there is so many healing properties in the little cloves!
There are a few different ways you can use garlic for a natural earache remedy.
The first way is to heat up mustard oil and add 2 chopped up garlics. Sauté garlic until they turn brown. Strain the garlic out of the oil. When the temperature is comfortable, put some drops into your ear.
Secondly, you can boil garlic for 5 minutes. Crush the garlics and add a good salt (sea salt, Himalayan salt) to the crushed garlics. Put this mixture into a clean cloth and place over the infected ear.
Alternatively, you could just eat a garlic clove. Garlic can boost your immunity as well as help you find relief quickly.
8. Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree oil is another amazing oil filled with all kinds of healing properties! To use tea tree oil as one of the home remedies for an ear infection, dilute the oil by putting 3 drops into a carrier oil such as olive oil. Using a dropper, put a few drops in the ear canal. After three minutes, turn your head with your infected ear towards the floor to allow the oil to drain out. Repeat daily as necessary.
9. Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
To use this mixture, combine equal parts of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. Drop 5 mL into your ear and let it sit for 1 minute. Turn your head to let any extra liquid drain out. Repeat in other ear. repeat daily.
Conclusion
Ear infections can be painful and effect other areas of your life such as sleep. Find relief quickly by using these home remedies for an ear infection! Use whatever you have on-hand and follow-up with some kind of a heat pack. Repeat home remedies as needed until the pain stays away.
To learn about how to find relief from headaches, hop over here to herbal remedies for a headache.
