Bacteria and viruses in the middle ear are the most common cause of ear infection. Children suffer more from ear infections than adults. Common symptoms are earache, poor response to sounds, diarrhea, headache, tugging at the ear, fluid drainage from the ear, vomiting, problems with sleeping, high fever etc.
The ear contains three parts: outer, middle and inner.
Each part has important role in the process of hearing. The outer ear captures the traveling sound waves and looks like a leaf. The sound waves enter into the ear channel through an ear part called pinna. Then the sound waves reach the eardrum in the middle ear where other important pats are located: hammer, anvil, stir up, semicircular, and middle canal. The sound wave then travel towards the inner ear where cochlea, Eustachian tube, and nerves are located and are very important parts. When the sound wave reaches the nerves the brain starts with the processing after which we can recognize and understand the sound.
Each part is prone to infections but the most serious one appears in the inner ear. Proper treatment can prevent some complications as damaged and raptured ear drum. If you neglect the infection it can become chronic and it can lead even to hearing loss. Luckily there are homemade remedies which can help against ear infection and against earache as well.
These are the top 10 remedies against ear infection
1. Salt
The most simple and available remedy is salt
Put some salt in a pan and heat it at low temperature for several minutes. You can use double-boiler or microwave.
Put the warm salt in a cloth and close the open end tightly.
While it is still warm put the cloth on the ear for 5 to 10 minutes.
Repeat as many times as you need throughout the day. The heat will help the liquid to come out from the ear and to alleviate the pain and the swelling.
Rice can replace salt as well.
2. Garlic
Garlic is used against pain and ear infection as well.
Cook two garlic cloves in mustard or sesame oil until it becomes brownish in order to obtain garlic oil. When is not too hot apply four drops from this oil in the painful ear.
You may also take 2-3 fresh garlic cloves and boil them for 5 minutes after which you should crush them and add some salt. Then put the mixture in clean cloth and place it on the infected ear.
To accelerate the healing process, consume 2-3 cloves of garlic every day.
3. Basil
It prevents pain and reduces infections.
Prepare juice from 5 basil leaves and apply it around the ear but be careful not to put juice inside the ear.
Another way is to mix several drops of holy basil oil with coconut oil or carrier oil. Wipe the inside part of the ear, around the outer edge and behind the ear with previously soaked cotton ball in the mixture. Repeat the treatment twice a day.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
If the ear infection is caused by fungus than the apple cider vinegar is the right choice.
Prepare a mixture from apple cider vinegar with same amount of wafer or rubbing alcohol and then soak a cotton ball in the mixture and place it in the ear for 5 minutes.
After you remove the cotton ball lay down on the painful ear so the liquid could come out from the ear. You can use a hair dryer to dry the ear.
5. Olive Oil
You can use olive oil to clean the blocked Eustachian tubes from wax.
Put some warm olive oil in the infected ear.
After the wax becomes soft remove it from the painful ear.
Mustard oil can be used instead of olive oil.
6. Warm Water Bottle
Heat alleviates the pain quickly and it also stops the growth of micro-organisms.
Place warm cloth or warm water in bottle against the ear.
Warm compress can be used as well. Soak a clean cloth in warm water, squeeze the excess water out and put the cloth on the painful ear.
After 5 minutes, remove it. Wait for a few minutes and put it again.
7. Onion
Onion is good in cooking but it is also quite beneficial against ear infection .
Chop the onion and place it in a microwave for 1-2 minutes. After it cools make onion juice. Apply 2-3 drops from the juice in the painful ear; wait for a while and then place the head in a proper position so the juice could come out from the ear.
Another usage is to bake an onion for half an hour and after you cut it in two equal halves put one of the half in a thick cotton cloth. Keep the cloth on the ear for 5 minutes. Then make a 10 minutes break and repeat the procedure.
8. Tea Tree Oil
If you have earache Tea tree Oil can help immediately as it has mild antibacterial properties.
Make a mixture from 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil, two tablespoons of olive oil, one teaspoon of colloidal silver and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Warm the mixture slightly.
Apply the mixture in the ear and wait for 5 minutes. Then lay on the other side so the whole mixture could come out of the ear.
Make the treatment 2-3 times a day for two days.
9. Mango Leaf Juice
Extract obtained from mango leaves is effective and quick remedy against ear infections.
Obtain juice from crushed or grinded two or three mango leaves. Then warm the juice slightly.
With dropper put 3-4 drops in the painful ear. After a few minutes the pain will disappear.
Apply this treatment 2-3 times a day if you want to defeat ear infection completely.
10.Breast Milk
Because it contains natural antibodies, breast milk is quite efficient against ear infections. It can reduce swellings and pain and can defeat ear infection in 2 or 3 days. This remedy is great for children and adults too.
With dropper put several drops in the painful ear.
Every few hours repeat the treatment.
Minor burns, eye infection and minor cuts can be treated with breast milk.
These homemade remedies can help against minor ear infections bt if the pain is still there after a few days consult a doctor.
