Ear Ache Home Remedies
Home Remedies for Ear Ache
The best ear ache home remedies. Ear ache treatment is fast and easy with a cheap ear ache home remedy for good ear health.
Earaches can be caused by anything from a plane ride to a cold. Earaches typically hurt because of a fluid buildup in the middle ear.
Credit: Michelle
This causes pressure and pain. That fluid buildup is usually caused by a clogged eustachian tube (the tube that connects your ear to your throat), which prevents your ears from regulating fluids as they would usually. This can lead to bacterial infections and other serious conditions.
Ear Ache Cure
There are two main home remedies for an earache. The first is risk free because it is external: apply warm, moist heat to your ear. The heat source should be warm, not hot, because you don’t want to risk burning yourself and making things worse. Besides which, you don’t want scalding steam entering your ear.
One great way to do this is to take a plate and heat it in the oven until it’s warm. Then cover the plate with a warm, wet towel. Lie sideways with your ear pressed against the plate and let the warmth and moisture soothe your ear. I like to use smaller plates because they sink nicely into a pillow, and I find them more comfortable.
You can also use a hot water bottle wrapped with a towel to the same effect. Or, if you’re in a hurry, just hop in a hot steamy shower for some temporary relief. All of these external remedies are very effective, and can be combined with any treatment.
Home Remedies for Ear Aches
The second method involves placing oil in your ear for ear ache home remedies. If you’re reasonably confident that your ear pain isn’t caused by anything other than fluid buildup (say, a punctured eardrum), then this is a perfectly safe method to use. Remember that your ear is a delicate machine, and it’s a very bad idea to ever put any object in there. These oil remedies are for painful earaches only: trust in your body’s self-regulatory mechanisms unless you know for a fact that they’re not working.
The simplest oil you can use to soothe an earache is plain mineral oil. Mineral oil is unlikely to cause irritation, so it’s the best choice to use in your ear. Warm the oil to a few degrees above body temperature and test it on your wrist to make sure it’s not hot. Now, double-check! Make certain it’s not going to scald your ear canal! Once you are 100% positive that the oil isn’t hot, lean your head so that your ear canal is vertical and use an eyedropper to put a few drops in your aching ear (you can pull on your ear to help ease it down).
There are a variety of substances you can add to the oil to improve its healing properties, or you can also use garlic juice to this effect because of its antibiotic qualities. However, I would use these as a last resort. The problem is, if you use something that causes you pain or irritation, there isn’t much hope for wiping it off or rinsing it away. Play it safe and stick with simple substances that you know won’t make your earache worse.
The best thing you can do for an earache is get rid of the underlying cause and alleviate the pain while your body heals. If you have a cold or a sore throat, the resolution of that illness will help get rid of the earache. Earaches can also be caused by problems in your mouth and throat, which may require professional medical help beyond ear ache home remedies. While you’re getting better, take an OTC or herbal pain reliever and apply moist heat to your ear. The problem will probably clear up on its own!
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