Earaches can happen in the most unexpected moment and place. While doctor is your best advisor, you can not visit them in the middle of the night. So, head to your kitchen to see what you have to relieve your earache. Most of the times, I'm against any home remedies and alternative medicine, because they can make you feel even worse. But when the sickness strikes and your doctor is far away from you, I think our grandmoms' remedies can help a lot. Of course, even if you use any of home remedies and the pain seems to disappear, it's still crucial that you pay a visit to your doctor. Ear infection requires professional treatment. If you often suffer from simple earaches caused by air pressure changes or blockage in the nasal passage, here's what you can try:
1. Ginger
Ginger is a natural painkiller that has fantastic anti-inflammatory properties and helps to prevent and treat ear infections. There are two ways to use ginger to relieve earache. You can either put fresh ginger juice directly into your ear or make the mixture of grated ginger and olive oil and leave it to infuse for a few minutes. Both methods help to reduce inflammation and pain so you can sleep till the morning until you see your doctor.
2. Olive
oil Olive oil is a must have in every kitchen. It's used in beauty rituals, healthy meals and as a natural earache remedy. Olive oil helps to stop buzzing in the ears, prevent infection and relieve the pain. Put 2-3 drops of olive oil or a cotton bud dipped in olive oil in the aching ear to feel an instant relief. Make sure your olive oil is not cold.
3. Basil
Not all of us love basil and keep it in the kitchen, but if you have and earache strikes in the middle of the night, and you have neither ginger nor olive oil, basil can be your best cure too. Crush some fresh basil leaves to get the oily juice. Put 3 drops of it into the infected ear.
Garlic is a favorite food of many people. It helps to boost immune system, prevent cold and flu, kill intestinal worms, cleanse the kidneys and relieve toothache. When it comes to earache, garlic is effective too. Due to its anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-oxidizing properties, garlic helps to treat the bacteria that causes ear infection. Put 2 drops of fresh garlic juice into the aching ear. Or, heat minced garlic with sesame oil (mustard and olive oils can be used too.) Let it cool, strain and put 2 drops of the oil into the ear.
5. Peppermint or peppermint oil
Peppermint oil and fresh peppermint leaves are also used to relieve earache. Crush some fresh peppermint leaves and put 2 drops of the juice into the ear. Peppermint oil, however, are not put directly into the ear. It's too harsh and can increase the pain. If you are going to use peppermint oil, use it externally around the opening of the infected ear. You will need a clean cotton swab.
6. Onion
I do not know any person who has no onions in the kitchen, and I'm sure you have at least one right now. If so, perfect! Now, grab 1-2 onions, depending on the size, grate them and make a juice. Put 2 drops of it into the infected ear twice a day. Or, put crushed onions in a piece of clean cloth and hold it over the ear for 5-7 minutes. Onions have great antibacterial and antiseptic properties that will hopefully help to soothe your earache.
7. Warm it up
Are you a poor student who has nothing except earache, water bottle, and actually, water? Here's a way out for you. Wrap a hot water bottle in a clean towel and place it around the aching ear for several minutes. It should provide some brief relief so that you could survive the night before you go to the hospital.
8. Honey
Raw honey has a host of health benefits. It's not the best food to put directly into your ear, but when the pain is really intense I think you are ready to put just anything to get rid of it. Swab a little bit of raw honey around the perimeter of your ear canal to reduce the inflammation and the pain.
9. Herbal steam
Herbal steam inhalation helps to soothe nasal swelling caused by dry air and improve airflow to the eustachian tubes. Add a handful of dry or fresh herbs like elderberry flowers or chamomile to hot water, cover the head with a towel and lean over the bowl to inhale the herbal steam. Do it for 3-5 minutes.
Use any of these remedies once or twice a day but no more. Just like headache, earache can cause a lot of trouble and lead to some serious disease, so do not ignore the problem. Even if some of these natural remedies will help you, it does not mean you can skip visiting the doctor. Health is better than wealth. What homemade remedies do you use to relieve earache?
Womanitely does not provide any professional medical advice. The tips mentioned above are strictly informational. We only share what we use and what we know. So be sure to consult your doctor before using any of these remedies.