11 Best Ear Infection and Ear Ache At Home Remedies

Earaches can be extremely uncomfortable and painful. While there are plenty of prescriptions that can tackle ear pain sometimes you just want something immediate that you can get from your home. Fortunately there are plenty of remedies that have been proven to help with ear problems. Here are 12 home remedies and treatments for earaches and infections.

Natural Ear Infection Remedies | Dr. Josh Axe

Cold or Warm Compresses

Warm compresses, like a heating pad or damp washcloth can help relieve ear pain. Place a cold or warm damp wash cloth over the ear for 5 to 10 minutes. If cold doesn’t work try warm, you can use just one compress or alternate between the two.

Warm Olive Oil

The use of olive oil for earaches is an old folk remedy. There’s no hard scientific evidence behind it but many have shared positive results from using it. Putting a few warmed drops of olive oil in the ear is safe and could be moderately effective

Sleep Upright

Sleeping sitting up instead of lying down can encourage fluid in your ear to drain. This could help ease pressure and pain in your middle ear. Propping yourself up in bed with a stack of pillows, or sleeping in an armchair that’s a bit reclined could relieve earaches.

Equal parts Rubbing Alcohol and Vinegar

Applying a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol and raw organic apple cider vinegar in the infected ear could help with repeat infections of swimmer’s ear (medically called otitis externa), which occurs when water gets stuck in the ear canal and bacteria grow. The rubbing alcohol helps the water in the ear evaporate, while the vinegar prevents bacteria from spreading.

 

Onion Juice

There are many many articles and YouTube videos that say that onions are the secret to curing an earaches. They contain a flavonoid called quercetin, which is anti-inflammatory. One process is heating an onion at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes. Then, once it is cool, cut the onion in half and squeeze the juice into a bowl. Put a few drops of the juice into the ear. Or, you could place the onion half directly over the infected ear.

Tea Tree Oil

100% natural tea tree oil kills the bacteria that cause ear infections. It’s naturally anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. Its anti-inflammatory properties mean it reduces inflammation, pain and irritation. Finally, it helps remove the impurities that clog the ear and helps drain them safely from the middle ear and eardrum.

 

Neck exercises

Some earaches are caused by pressure in the ear canal. Certain neck exercises can be used to relieve this pressure. Neck rotation exercises are particularly beneficial.

 

Ginger

Ginger is considered to have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Applying ginger juice (shredded ginger in warmed olive oil and strained), around the outer ear canal can relieve pain. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties.

Garlic

The analgesic properties of garlic help relieve pain Soak crushed garlic for several minutes in warm olive or sesame oil. Strain the garlic out and apply the oil into the ear canal.

 

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has the ability to degrade earwax. This helps in relieving earache that is caused due to earwax build-up. It also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Place several drops of hydrogen peroxide into the affected ear. Let it sit for a few minutes before letting it drain into a sink. Rinse your ear with clean, distilled water.

Coconut oil

Unrefined coconut oil has antimicrobial properties and is analgesic and anti-inflammatory, making this a complete home remedy to treat ear infection and its related symptoms. If possible have a friend or family member drop the oil in your ear. lie down, and carefully place several drops of the liquid oil into the affected ear. The person with the infected ear should continue reclining for several minutes to allow the oil to absorb into the ear.

 

Not every method may be convenient for you. Pick one that works for you. It also helps to properly care for your ear’s health. If you are dealing with other issues like clogged ears there are also natural ways to unpop your ears.