12 Natural Remedies To Treat Ear Infection

An ear infection often is often caused by inflammation or irritation of the parts of your ear which are responsible for balance and hearing. In other, more rare cases, ear infections can also be caused by viruses or bacteria. Luckily, we’ve compiled 12 home remedies for ear infections that can help to treat the symptoms.

# Warm Compress

Using a warm compress can help to tackle the swelling caused by an ear infection and thus helps to reduce the pain. It’s a simple method too which is one of the great benefits of a warm compress. Simply wet a cloth with warm water and drain it. Place the warm, damp cloth against your ear for ten minutes at a time. Do this as often as needed to reduce the pain and swelling.

# Keep Your Head Upright

Keeping your head upright while sitting can help to train your ear and remove any fluids that may be blocking the ear canal and contributing the infection.

# Salt-water Gargle

Gargling with warm salt-water can help to clear the ear canal and reduce pain and irritation. It’s also helpful for soothing a sore throat which may be linked to your ear infection.

# Stress Management Techniques

Controlling your emotional stresses can play a large role in combating your ear infections. This is because stress can worsen your symptoms. Try breathing techniques to help relieve your stress and anxieties.

# Warm Olive Oil

Warm olive oil can help to break down a build-up of wax and soothe any pain caused by your ear infection. You can either drop a little of the warmed oil into the ear using a dropper or dip a cotton ball and placing that in your ear to let the oil drip further in. Make sure the oil is no warmer than your natural body temperature in order to avoid burning your eardrum.

# Cold Compress

Use this in the same way you would a warm compress. Many people find that alternating between the two can significantly help to reduce the pain caused by an ear infection.

# Tea Tree Oil

Diluted tea tree oil can also be dropped into the ear to soothe an infection. Although they aren’t necessarily as effective as other forms of eardrops.

# Ginger

An oil containing ginger can also make a great home remedy for ear infections. Many people suggest that you avoid pouring the oil into the ear canal. You can also use some warmed oil or ginger juice and apply this the area around the outside of the ear. Thanks to ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties, this method can help to soothe the pain and swelling.

# Garlic

A number of studies suggest that a little garlic oil, dropped into the ear canal can help relieve an ear infection. This is largely down to the antibacterial properties of garlic. You can soak a garlic clove in some olive oil, warm this and strain out the garlic. You can then drop a little into your ear canal using a dropper.

# Change Your Sleeping Position

There are suggestions that shifting your position when sleeping can help reduce some of the pain of an ear infection. Sleeping with the affected ear facing upwards can help manage much of the pain.

# Naturopathic Drops

Naturopathic ear drops are often thought to be more effective than drops made from tea tree oil and other essential oils. They’re made from herbal extracts and can be bought from most health stores.

# Chiropractic Treatment

Seeing a chiropractor might help more than just your back. It could prove an effective remedy for an earache too. Some studies have found that after a few sessions of chiropractic treatment, some people experienced a reduction of ear pain.