The most popular home remedies for ear infection include the use of herbs, massage, avoiding processed foods, washing your hands regularly, using essential oils, and hot bag pressing, among others.
An ear infection occurs when a bacterial or viral infection affects the inner, middle or outer chambers of the ear. Also called otitis, outer and middle ear infections are seen more often than inner ear infections. They are more commonly seen in children than in adults. [1]
While painkillers and antibiotics provide quick relief from an ear infection, but they cannot address the root cause and might have harmful side effects. However, let’s look at some of the home remedies for ear infections that provide permanent relief from the problem without any sort of hazardous effects.
Home Remedies for Ear Infection
Here are some of the best home remedies for ear infection:
Pain in your ear can be caused by a cold, an ear infection, or both. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Gentle Massage
A gentle massage using the fingertips can help when the ache in the ears becomes severe due to a worsening infection. This is more effective if the infection is caused due to water trapped inside the ears. You can also use pain balms or oils to massage the area where the ear is joined with the face. This will not only relieve the pain gradually but also facilitate recovery.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Cleaning the infected ears with a solution of 50:50 hydrogen peroxide will help to reduce the severity of an ear infection as this has anti-bacterial properties. The solution should be prepared with warm water to soothe the pain in the ears.
Garlic Ear Drops
Garlic is an anti-bacterial remedy that is popularly used in treating ear infections. Garlic oil can be made at home by soaking pieces of garlic in olive oil or it can be purchased from stores. The garlic oil needs to be dropped inside the ear canal twice a day.
Hot Bag Pressing
Hot water bags can provide the sufferer with complete relief. Take a hot water bag filled with tolerably warm water and wrap it in a cover. Now, press the ears on them for quite some time until the bag remains hot. For a baby, the warmth of the mother’s breast is actually the best home remedy for earaches.
Avoid Contamination
Ear infections are contagious so it is important to consciously avoid close contact with an infected person. You should not use towels or combs from those suffering from this condition. Washing your hands at regular intervals also helps to combat infections. If someone has caught a severe cold, he or she can be prone to infections, so it is better to avoid direct contact.
Avoid Smoke and Pollution
Smoke and pollution can be key reasons behind ear infections. It is pretty tough to escape the air pollution, but you can keep away from cigarette smoke with conscious effort. Also, ask people not to smoke near you as passive smoking can be just as harmful as smoking.
Echinacea and Goldenseal
Echinacea and goldenseal are two popular herbs that cleanse the internal systems of the body and prevent ear infections. You can mix them with boiling water and drink the mixture slowly, thrice a day.
