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Home Remedies for Ear Aches

by Sharon Hopkins
Earaches can be slightly painful to extremely painful. An ear ache is caused by a fluid buildup due to some infection or pressure build up in the middle ear. Swimming, bathing, allergies or even cleaning your ear with cotton bud can lead to discomfort, bacterial growth and infection in the ear.


 
Earaches usually tend to be quite bothersome as they can range from being mild to even extremely painful sometimes.  One of the main causes of experiencing earaches is the accumulation of fluid which may be on account of an infection or even because of the build up of pressure in the middle ear of the individual. Sometimes cleaning ones ear with a cotton bud, bathing, allergies and even swimming may result in bacterial growth, discomfort and even an infection in ones ears.


One of the most common causes of earaches is the plugging of the Eustachian tubes which is again due to accumulation of fluid. The symptoms of earaches are pain in the ear and surrounding area, swelling elsewhere in the ear, itching and even loss of hearing in some extreme cases. One of the earaches home remedies is to apply moist and warm heat around the ear. This may be achieved by preparing a compress out of a towel that has been soaked and then wrung out in hot water and then held against the ear that is aching. This is one of the earaches treatments that are known to provide immediate relief from the associated pain. Another one of the natural cures for earaches is to obtain the juice of a piece of garlic and then pour this juice in the infected ear. This treatment is considered to be one of the most effective home remedies for earaches as garlic is a natural antibiotic and is hence very useful in getting rid of the infection and the pain. Similarly home remedies for earaches also include putting some mineral oil in ones ear before going in the water. One should also wear earplugs as far as possible while swimming and should strictly avoid swimming in dirty or polluted waters. One of the home remedies for earaches includes lightly warming a few drops of pure olive oil and then putting a few drops of this olive oil once it has cooled down, in ones ears via a dropper. This home remedy is known to be highly effective in relieving the pain. Another one of the causes for earaches is the accumulation of excessive ear wax. In such cases one of the home remedies for earaches is to pour a capful of hydrogen peroxide in ones ears and then drain it out after allowing it to set in the ears for a couple of minutes. Earwax accumulation can also be prevented by pouring a drop of alcohol in each ear after bathing. Home remedies for earaches also include pouring some slightly warm mineral oil in ones ear to soothe the soreness. While pouring the oil one may gently pull the outside of the ear as this will enable the mineral oil to go deep into the era and tackle the infection.  Individuals who are bothered by wind that tends to aggravate already aching ears may put some cotton in the opening of the ears or tie a scarf whenever they are moving outdoors as one of the home remedies for earaches. However wile putting the cotton in ones ears one should be careful not to push the cotton too far down the ear as it may become difficult to remove the cotton later. In case the ear ache is accompanied with some other symptoms such as discharge from the ears, diarrhea, and irritability and so on, one should immediately consult their medical practitioner. Another one of the home remedies for earaches is to extract the juice of some holy basil leaves and then pour this juice in the ear that is aching.

Most common cause of the earache is due to plugged ‘Eustachian’ tubes (a small tube connecting the ear to the nose). If and when your Eustachian tubes become blocked possibility of bacteria buildup or infection, fluid will gather resulting in a painful earache. Increase in pressure leads to pain, hearing loss, itching and swelling elsewhere in the ear. To avoid ear aches and infections, one should keep the Eustachian tube free of pollutants and irritants and regularly clean the nasal passage. 

Home Remedies for Earaches

  • The greatest pain reliever is warm, moist heat around the ear. A warm compress-such as a towel rung out in hot water and pressed against the ear-brings the most immediate relief.
  • After you take a shower or bath; blow dry your ears instead of rubbing them. Soothe the ear with the warm setting of a hairdryer.
  • Puncture a piece of garlic and pour the juice in the ear. Garlic being a natural antibiotic will help to take the pain away.
  • Put some mineral oil (oil derived from a mineral source, such as petroleum, because it is inexpensive and rarely causes allergic reactions) in your ear before going in the water. Wear earplugs while swimming and avoid swimming in dirty waters.
  • Warm few drops of olive oil in a spoon. Using the dropper, put 2-3 drops in each ear after the oil has cooled down. This will help relieve pain.
  • Excessive earwax can also cause hearing problems and aches. Put a capful of hydrogen peroxide in each ear, let it set for a minute or two, and then let it drain out. One drop of alcohol after bathing can also prevent excessive earwax.
  • A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel also makes a comforting pillow for an aching ear.
  • Press a dual-purpose first-aid gel pack that you can warm up in hot water or the microwave on your ear. It will make you feel better.
  • Warm up an oven-safe plate, wrap it in a towel, and rest your aching ear right on it. The plate should be warm and comforting, not hot,
  • Warm mineral oil may soothe a sore ear. Use a dropper to drip the oil in and gently pull the outside of the ear to make sure it goes down.
  • If wind bothers your aching ears, wear a scarf when you're outside, or put cotton in the opening of the ear, but avoid pushing the cotton down from where you can not retrieve it with your fingers.
  • If your ears hurt when the pressure changes, especially during descent and landing during an airplane flight, chew gum or suck on candy. The chewing or sucking will activate the muscles that send air to your inner ears, when you hear your ears "pop," you'll feel better.
  • If chewing doesn't work, close your mouth, relax your cheek muscles, hold your nose and blow one nostril at a time gently until you feel relief.
  • Bugged by a bug in your ear? Flood the ear till full of alcohol using the ear dropper to kill the bug, then gently fill the ear with water from an ear syringe.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer. 
 
Sharon Hopkins also writes and manages sites related to Aroma Therapy and Massage Health Therapy.

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