Have you ever had an earache? Well, if you haven’t, you better hope never to get one. It is one of the most agonizing things. Life, however, is full of uncertainties, and you need to brace yourself for such an instance. An earache does not necessarily indicate an infection. This means that you don’t have to visit an otologist every time it happens. What you need to do is know some common earache remedies to avoid further agony. This article will detail some of the best home remedies for a painful earache.
What Causes Earaches?
Earaches are common; however, they are not a normal occurrence. Mostly, pain in the ear is caused by either an infection or some deviation in the ear. Besides the two, the major causes of earaches include:
• Teeth infections
• Joint pains
• Eczema inside your ear
• If there is fluid build-up in the ear
• If you experience pain in your jaw
• Cold or throat infection
Common Remedies for Earaches
In case you or someone in your family suffers an earache, here are some of the common home remedies that could help relieve the pain.
1. Olive oil
If you experience an earache, olive oil is a great home remedy for earaches. The olive oil will help to eradicate any infection in the ear. Moreover, it acts as a lubricant to ease the ear. Sometimes when you experience pains in your ear, you may also feel buzzing sounds. In such a case, olive oil is an effective remedy that makes the buzzing and the pain to cease.
So, how do you go about it? You are required to put about four drops of warm olive oil into your ear canal. The keyword here is warm. You can also use a cotton bud as an alternative to the ear drops. All you have to do is dip some cotton bud in your warm olive oil, and put it into your ear.
2. Onions
Imagine a situation where you are home alone. All of a sudden, your child comes crying because of an earache. You rush to the medicine cabinet only to find empty bottles. The only thing at your disposal in the house are onions. Well, in such a case, worry not. Onions are an effective remedy when it comes to earaches.
To relief your child of the pain, you can cut the onion in half and put it over the painful ear. Alternatively, you can wrap the onion in a warm, moist cloth, and gently place it over the affected ear. You can also squeeze the onion and warm its juice. Gently, place a few drops in the ear canal. Moreover, you can heat an onion slice and tuck it into your child’s ear. After about 15 minutes of administering the treatment, ensure to clean the ear with warm water.
3.Peppermint
In case of an earache, you can use peppermint oil or peppermint leaves to ease the pain. If you are using the leaves, you need to extract their juice and place it in a dropper. Ensure that the leaves are fresh. Gently, put a few drops into the affected ear. On the other hand, if you are using peppermint oil, ensure to use a cotton bud. You should gently apply the oil to the opening of your ear. The peppermint oil should not get inside your ear.
4. A cold or warm compress
When you’re at home, you can easily relief an earache by using a cold or warm compress. If you’re wondering how to go about it, here’s the procedure. Take a hand towel and soak it in cold or warm water then wring it. Next, put the damp towel over the painful ear. If the cold compress doesn’t work, you can try the warm compress to see if it will work out.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has for ages been used as a remedy for painful earaches. It is an effective remedy because it is easily available, and you cannot miss it in a First-Aid box. If you want to treat your earache using hydrogen peroxide, you should soak some cotton in it. Use the soaked cotton to place a few drops into the affected ear, and let it rest for a few minutes. After the treatment, make sure to clean the ear with some warm water.
6. Over-the-Counter Medication
Pain in the ear can be as a result of inflammation inside your ear. To treat your pain, you can purchase over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Some of the most common over-the-counter drugs that are approved by the FDA include:
• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
If you intend to use these drugs to treat your child’s ear, particularly babies and those aged below two years, ensure to consult your doctor. It is imperative to be cautious because these drugs may have detrimental effects if used on babies. Nevertheless, this is an effective remedy for adults.
7. Garlic
Garlic is one of the healthiest plants, and it isn’t left behind when it comes to relieving earaches. It is a great home remedy for earache. Garlic has antimicrobial properties, and this makes it ideal to fight infections. There are two ways through which garlic can help reduce ear pains. One, you can cook a couple of garlic cloves in two tablespoons of sesame seed oil. Cook until they turn brown and then strain the mixture. Apply a couple of drops in the affected ear. Alternatively, you can eat a clove of garlic daily to help prevent ear infections.
Conclusion
Ear infections are common, and they are nothing close to pleasant. The pain that is associated with earaches is often excruciating, and it can easily leave you sleepless during the night and restless throughout the day. Fortunately, there are home remedies that get rid of painful earaches. If an ear infection is left untreated, the ear may develop further complications. However, you can use one of the aforementioned remedies to get relief.
