Home Remedies for Earache

The ear is one of the most sensitive organs of the body. Often, the Eustachian tubes (the canals that lead from the nasal cavity to the middle ear) get swollen up because of common cold and cause pain in the ear. These tubes are responsible for allowing the passage of air through the ear, thereby aiding the equalization of pressure between the delicate ear drum and the atmosphere outside. When they become inflamed, the middle or the outer ear begins to hurt. Sometimes factors like sudden changes in atmospheric pressure, caused by air travel or mountaineering and infections like swimmer’s ear can also cause earache. Sinus infections and the accumulation of earwax can also lead to this condition.

There are a few simple ways of curing Earache at home. Just chewing your food vigorously, swallowing food or yawning sometimes helps unclog the Eustachian tubes. A popular home remedy is to pour a few drops of garlic juice into the ear that is hurting. Garlic is a strong antibiotic agent which kills harmful bacteria and cures infection. Alternatively, you could also heat a few small pieces of garlic in a two spoonfuls of mustard oil till it turns black. After the solution cools down, pour two drops of this oil into your ear. Putting a few drops of onion juice into the ear also has similar remedial effects. If you swim regularly, make sure you put a few drops of mineral oil into both ears before entering the water. The application of a few drops of hydrogen peroxide or of holy basil leaves’ juice is also known to help. Another useful remedy is to extract the juice of a few fresh and tender mango leave and warm it gently over a low flame. Then pour four drops of this juice into the ear at regular intervals. Applying a few drops of mildly heated olive oil into the ear is also a popular home remedy. The oil of Bishop’s weed, when mixed with an equal portion of sesame oil and warmed gently, serves as an effective ear drop to cure pain. Simply using lukewarm mustard oil for external application every day prevents ear infections. It also helps to increase the intake of vitamin C and zinc in your diet to enhance your immunity. While vitamin C is helps reduce the inflammation of the Eustachian tubes, zinc prevents the infection from spreading further.