Home remedies for ear infection

Ear infections are caused by bacteria or viruses in the middle ear. Ear infections occur more often in children than adults. Some causes and contributing factors that lead to ear infections are wax buildup, upper respiratory infections, food allergies, environmental allergies, fetal alcohol syndrome, genetics, nutritional deficiencies and internal injuries. Some common signs that someone is suffering from an ear infection are pain in the ear, tugging at the ear, difficulty sleeping, headache, poor response to sounds, high fever, fluid draining from the ear, vomiting, diarrhea and so on.
a red and slightly bulging tympanic membrane can be a sign that fluid is not draining well, but it’s not necessarily a sign of ear infection. And even if an infection is present, according to CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton most ear infections are viral in nature and won’t respond to antibiotics anyway
Earaches can be very uncomfortable. Most are due to ear infection and fluid buildup in the middle ear. Other causes include the common cold, wax in the ear, blockage in the nasal passage, physical damage to the inside of the ear, an increase in air pressure and so on. Earaches occur more commonly among small children than adults.
There are many possible causes for an earache. Cavities, sinus infections, earwax, tonsillitis, and teeth grinding are all relatively common causes. But the most common ear infection is acute otitis media (AOM), or a middle ear infection. It’s characterized by swollen and infected portions of the middle ear. The pain associated with AOM is caused by fluid becoming trapped behind the eardrum. Symptoms may include a fever, pain inside the ear, slight hearing loss, and feeling sick in general. Babies and children may be restless and pull at their ears.

Onion-

Some people simply cut an onion in half and place it over the affected ear. Others gently heat a small portion of the onion until warm but not soft, and tuck the heated onion into the ear. Some people wrap the onion in a warm, moist cloth, others use it directly on the ear. Another option is to squeeze out some onion juice, heat gently, and put a few drops into the ear. Recommended compress time seems to be around 10-15 minutes, or until the onion cools. Rest quietly while treating.

Olive Oil

Olive oil can provide fast relief from an earache. It serves as a lubricant and helps get rid of an infection in the ear. Olive oil can also be helpful in stopping buzzing sensations inside the ears.Put 3-4 drops of lukewarm olive oil as ear drops into the ear canal.
Alternatively, you can dip a cotton bud in the oil and put it firmly into the ear.
You can also use mustard oil in the same way.
Place garlic and olive oil in a small sauce pan on low heat. Cook overnight or for eight hours. Strain, squeezing well to get as much oil as possible out of the garlic. Add eucalyptus essential oil and mix well. Store in a tinted bottle

Heat

When I was a little girl, I remember having an ear infection accompanied by the one very sore ear. To help me feel better, my mom took a small throw pillow and warmed it up in the oven. She left it in just bit too long, though, and it started to singe. The fire was put out, and I got to rest my head on one slightly charred pillow – which really did help to relieve the pain. Nowadays most houses have microwaves, and you can buy or make a hot pack that can be quickly heated up that way. Core Products, a small business located in western Wisconsin, makes soft covered hot/cold packs that we use all the time as foot warmers at night and fortreating headaches. To make a simple hotpack, place popcorn or rice into an old sock or small pouch. Seal end and heat in short bursts until warm. Hot water bottles are a great option if you don’t have a microwave – just make sure you don’t get the water too hot. 

No Need for Antibiotics

The latest guidelines from the AAP suggest that doctors should focus on pain management, not antibiotics, for ear infections. This is because ear infections often go away on their own, and the overuse of antibiotics could lead to antibiotic-resistant infections.
Peppermint
Both peppermint leaves and peppermint oil can be used to soothe earaches.
Put the juice from fresh peppermint leaves in a dropper and then put some drops inside the aching ear.
Using a cotton swab, apply a few drops of peppermint oil externally around the opening of your ear. Avoid getting any of this oil inside your ear. You can also dilute the peppermint oil using olive oil and then apply.

Salt

Salt is probably the most readily available home remedy.
Heat up one cup of salt on a pan over low heat for a few minutes. You can also heat it in a microwave or double-boiler.
Place the hot salt on a cloth and seal the open end with rubber band (or tie a knot).
When it is bearably hot, lay down and put the cloth on the affected ear for 5 to 10 minutes.
Repeat this remedy daily as many times as needed. The heat generated from the sock will help draw out fluid from the ear and relieve swelling and pain.
As an alternative, you can use one cup of rice in the same manner described above.

Ginger

Ginger has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can be helpful in treating ear infections. It is also an excellent natural painkiller.
Extract juice from fresh ginger and put it directly into the ears to get relief from pain and reduce inflammation.
You can also mix one teaspoon of fresh grated ginger root with two tablespoons of olive oil. Leave it to infuse for 5 to 10 minutes and then put a few drops of the oil in the aching ear.

Garlic Oil

There are dozens of variations of garlic in olive oil for earaches. One of the ones I like best is the “Children’s Ear Oil” from Herbal Antibiotics, which combines garlic and eucalyptus for a double anti-bacterial, anti-viral punch. This should be stored in a tinted bottle in a cool dark location, or in the refrigerator, and used within two weeks.
According to a recent study conducted by Washington State University, garlic is 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics at killing bacterial strains related to foodborne illness. They also found that it often worked in a fraction of the time.
So what does this mean for ear infections? Nothing directly, but it does make me wonder how effective it is for other strains. Garlic also has been shown to inhibit some viruses, which some feel makes it a better choice than antibiotics, which only cover bacterial infections

Basil

You can also use holy basil to treat minor earache and ear infections. It can relieve ear pain as well as reduce infection.
Crush four to five fresh holy basil leaves gently to extract the juice. Apply the basil juice on or around the infected ear. Avoid getting the juice in the ear canal.
You can also mix a few drops of holy basil oil with an equal amount of carrier oil like coconut oil. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and gently wipe just inside the ear, around the outer edge and behind the ear. Repeat the process twice daily.

Hydrogen Peroxide

My friend, Julie, told me her mom used hydrogen peroxide on the ears of all 12 of her children. It’s also one of the most popular remedies on Earth Clinic. The easiest way to apply it is to soak a cotton ball and use it to squeeze a few drops into the ear. This will work to dislodge debris, so gently irrigating the area afterward with warm water to flush the debris clear may also be helpful.

Cinnamon Oil:

A midwife friend taught me this one. If you don’t have onions or garlic handy, then you probably have some cinnamon in your spice cabinet. Sprinkle a little cinnamon into some olive oil (or another vegetable oil if you don’t have any olive oil, but olive oil is best). Heat the oil over the stove at a low temperature. My midwife friend simply puts the olive oil and cinnamon in a tablespoon, holds it with a hot pad and heats the spoon over the stove. When the oil is hot, remove it from the stove and let it cool to body temperature. Strain it through a fine cloth and use the oil as ear drops.