Suffering From Ear Infection, Try Out These Simple Home Remedies

An ear infection (sometimes called acute otitis media) is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear. Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections.

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.

Because ear infections often clear up on their own, treatment may begin with managing pain and monitoring the problem. Sometimes, antibiotics are used to clear the infection. Some people are prone to having multiple ear infections. This can cause hearing problems and other serious complications. Here we are going to tell you about some home remedies which can help you to get rid of Ear Infection.

# Salt

- 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.

# Garlic

- Make garlic oil by cooking two garlic cloves in two tablespoons of sesame oil or mustard oil until it turns blackish. Strain the solution. When it is bearably hot, use two to four drops of this oil in the infected ear as ear drops.

- Alternatively, you can also boil two or three fresh garlic cloves in water for five minutes, then crush them and add some salt. Put the mixture in a clean cloth and place it against the affected ear.

- Consuming two to three cloves of raw garlic daily also helps speed up the healing process.

# Basil

- 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.

# Apple Cider Vinegar

- Mix one part apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water or alcohol. Soak a cotton ball in the solution.

- Put the cotton ball in your ear like a plug and leave it for about five minutes.

- Remove the cotton ball and lay down on your opposite side to drain the liquid from the ear. Use a hair dryer to dry your ear as much as possible.

# Olive Oil

- Warm some olive oil slightly. Put a few drops of the warm oil into the infected ear.

- The oil will cause the wax to soften. Remove the infected wax with cotton-tipped swabs. Be careful not to put the swab too far in the ear or you might damage the eardrum.

# Neck exercises

Neck exercises that rotate the neck can help relieve pressure in the ear canal that’s caused by ear infections. Here’s how to do neck-rotation exercises:

- Sit or stand up straight.

- Rotate your neck to the right, so it’s parallel with your right shoulder. Hold for five to 10 seconds.

- Repeat this exercise on the left side.

- Raise your shoulders high like you’re trying to reach your earlobes with them. Hold for five to 10 seconds.

- Repeat these exercises throughout the day.

# Cold or warm compresses

- Both warm and cold compresses can relieve pain from an ear infection.

- Hold either a hot pad or cold washcloth against the ear for 10 to 15 minutes or alternate between hot and cold for an easy ear infection remedy, especially for children.

Apart from these there are few other ways which can help you to relieve from ear pain

# Mullein

Oil made from the flowers of the mullein plant has shown to be an effective pain reliever for ear infections. Mullein is available at most health food stores as a stand-alone tincture or as an ingredient in herbal ear drops.

# Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can help keep ears clean and prevent dirt or additional bacteria from entering the middle ear. It’s especially helpful for preventing swimmer’s ear. Swab a tiny amount of hydrogen peroxide onto the ear canal, but be careful that too much doesn’t get into the ear itself.

# Changing sleeping positions

If you’re a side sleeper, try sleeping with your affected ear facing up instead of down into the pillow. Sleeping with your affected ear on a pillow could aggravate your ear even more. Suggesting this to children who may not think of it intuitively can help alleviate their pain at night.

# Gargling with saltwater

Since ear pain can occasionally be related to a sore throat, gargling with warm saltwater could help ease your symptoms, Rose says. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends.