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Are you dealing with an ear infection that is causing you great pain and discomfort? Are in search for a natural remedy to this recurring problem? Well, look no further.
I will be sharing with you 15 of the best natural cures for ear infections. But before I proceed, I should point out that you should not treat every ear infection.
According to Dr. Jennifer Ashton, most of these infections are viral and will not respond to antibiotics. According to Consumer Reports , using antibiotics, in this case, could actually lead to ear infections in the future.
Now that that is out of our way, it’s time to look at the 15 natural remedies.
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1. Use garlic oil as a natural earache remedy
According to a study conducted by Washington State University, garlic is a hundred times more efficient at killing bacteria that lead to food borne diseases than two common antibiotics. This may not directly affect ear infections, but garlic oil can be effectively used to cure ear infections.
Put two cloves in two tablespoons of mustard oil and cook it until it turns black. Filter the solution. When the liquid cools down, put a few drops of it into the affected ear using a clean dropper.
2. Apple cider is the “go to” remedy
Your grandmother may have actually used this solution. In spite of its acidic taste and strong aroma, apple cider has healing properties including anti-fungal and antibacterial characteristics. It can be used to fight fungus that could lead to ear infections.
Mix water with apple cider and soak a ball of cotton into the solution. Place the ball in the affected ear and leave it for around five minutes. Remove it and lie on the opposite side to drain the residual vinegar from the ear.
3. Cod liver oil helps to clear the ear
According to Dr. Michael Gerber, lack of enough vitamin A affects your ear’s clearing mechanism. Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin A can also help in eradicating other illnesses such as measles.
There is a difference between pure vitamin A and beta-carotene. You can only find real vitamin A in animal products such as cod liver oil.
4. Utilize tea tree oil’s therapeutic properties
Tea tree oil has healing properties. They include antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, fungicide, antiviral stimulant, expectorant, balsamic and insecticide. The qualities make tea tree oil one of the most reliable herbal remedy you can use to treat your ear infection.
Mix one tablespoon of olive oil with several drops of oil and slightly warm it. Using a clean dropper, drop the mixture into the affected ear. Lie down with the infected ear facing upwards for around three minutes. Turn your head so that the oil can drain out.
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5. Clean the Eustachian tubes with Olive Oil
Many reasons may lead to an ear infection, but a particularly common cause is when fungal or bacterial growth attacks the wax in your ear causing the Eustachian tubes to block. You can quickly clear this obstruction by using olive oil.
Warm some olive oil using low heat. Drop the oil into the ear. The oils will soften the wax after hitting it. Use a cotton swab to remove the wax. Don’t put the swab deep into the ear as it may damage the eardrum.
6. Onions will reduce inflammation and soreness
The nutritional and medicinal resume of an onion is very impressive. Onions might make you cry, but they are useful for a variety of other reasons including curing an ear infection. According to research, onions are very high in flavonoid quercetin that can protect you from several severe conditions.
Quercetin may protect you from cardiovascular disease, cataracts and cancer, but it also contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help in healing an inflamed and sore ear thus reducing the pain and accelerating the healing process.
Watch this video to learn how you can cure an ear ache using an onion.
7. Experience the magic of Mullein Flower Oil
You will find many healing properties in the leaves, roots and flowers of the Mullein plant. The flower extracts are infused with oil or used to make tea. The analgesic properties of the oil made from the flower extracts can help in alleviating your pain.
Also, it contains anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation making it a very effective remedy for your ear infection. Dip a ball of cotton in mullein oil and place it in your ear for around five to ten minutes.
8. Radish is not for making salad only!
You must have used radishes in making your salad. Indeed, they make for a delicious addition. But they also have significant therapeutic value. They are usually used to treat conditions such as dehydration, constipation, high blood pressure and fever.
But you can also use them to reduce pain and inflammation in your ear. Mix one teaspoon of radish in two tablespoons of mustard oil. Warm them for around ten minutes. Strain the liquid. Using a clean dropper, put three drops of the oil in the affected ear.
9. Ginger root has anti-inflammatory properties
Ginger root contains very potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it a very effective remedy for your ear infections. If you want a taste of this healing properties, extract the juice from the ginger and put a few drops of it into your affected ear.
Alternatively, you can grate the ginger root and mix one teaspoon of it with two tablespoons of olive oil. Leave the mixture to settle for around ten minutes. Afterwards, put a few drops of the solution into the infected ear using a clean dropper.
10. Juice the peppermint leaves for an effective cure
Peppermint contains potent antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and even some anesthetic properties that can help cure your ear infection. Extract the juice from peppermint leaves and put it in a clean dropper.
Put a few drops of the juice into the affected ear (around the opening). It is important that you avoid getting the juice directly into your ear since it is quite strong and may actually cause more harm than good to your ear.
11. Chiropractic Care can also eliminate ear infections!
Another alternative form of treatment you can utilize is chiropractic care. Unlike other methods, you will require some help with this one. But it is a natural remedy all the same. Chiropractic adjustment has proved to be a very efficient method of treating ear infections.
A misaligning of the spine in the neck can affect the transmission of nerve signals from the brain to the affected area and as a result, affect the body’s healing process. A chiropractor will be able to make minor adjustments to heal your ear infection quickly.
12. Speed up the healing process with elderberry syrup
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center , elderberry syrup could contain antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that may assist you in speeding up the healing process of your ear infection.
Out of all the natural remedies that treat ear infections, it is very popular among those who naturally want to support the immune system. Elderberry syrup is also very delicious, which is just an icing on the cake.
13. Use hydrogen Peroxide to clear ear wax
You may have used hydrogen peroxide to treat cuts and scrapes. But did you know that you can also use it to treat an ear infection? Well, now you know. Hydrogen peroxide helps to break down wax and reduce discomfort.
To use it, mix water and an equal or 3% less amount of hydrogen peroxide in a cup. Place a cotton ball in the solution and squeeze a few drops of it into the affected ear.
You will experience a mild tingling sensation because of the peroxide bubbles. Repeat until the infection disappears.
14. Basil also has therapeutic qualities
The basil herb contains a lot of healing properties. It has potent antibacterial properties and contains antioxidants. Gently crush its five fresh leaves to release the juice and apply it around the infected ear.
Make sure not to drip the juice inside the ear canal. As an alternative, you can mix several drops of holy basil oil with coconut oil of equal amount. Soak a ball cotton oil in the mixture and use it to wipe inside and around the affected ear gently.
15. Nail down the Root Cause (Allergies)
Last and most definitely not least, you can choose to eliminate the root problem. One of the most common causes of an ear infection is food allergies. If you are allergic to certain things such as gluten, lactose, casein, citrus or even nuts, eating any of these can lead to an ear infection.
I would suggest that you go for a food sensitivity to test to determine what foods you are sensitive, allergic or intolerant to. In case you can’t afford the tests, you can choose to watch and listen to your body
Get Rid of Your Ear Infection For Good
If you have an ear infection and are dealing with a considerable amount of pain and discomfort, you don’t have to visit a doctor. By now you should be able to use any of the above natural remedies to treat the infection. Most of the required ingredients are actually readily available.
Not every method may be convenient for you. Pick one that works for you. You don’t have to live with pain and discomfort and any longer when the cure is just at your disposal. The remedy to your problem is right within your grasp. It is up to you to reach out and get healed.