Home Remedies For Ear Infection In Adults And Children

Home remedies for ear infections in adults and children. There are hundreds of remedies for ear infections. That is because ear infections are common, particularly among children, especially toddlers ( during the milk drinking years ). Many times, people just have an ear ache and not an infection. But, these home remedies for ear infection also work for reducing ear ache. Some clean the ear canal off ear wax. Some relieve pressure inside the ear and eliminate congestion.

Ear infections are not generally a matter of grave concern. They may resolve on their own in adults. But, kids are still developing their immune system , so their body may not be able to get over an ear infection quickly and completely.

The symptoms of a middle ear infection ( known as otitis media ) are subtle in the beginning. The initial sign may just be increased pressure in an ear, difficulty in hearing ( especially when you know that there is no ear wax ) and slight redness when you look inside the ear canal using a lamp. As the infection progresses, symptoms worsen and often, there is discharge from the ear. In toddlers, they may start crying and become little more fidgety than they normally are. Ear infection in the inner ear ( known as otitis interna or labyrinthitis) almost always causes vertigo.  This is a serious issue, something that should not be ignored at all.

Ear infection is of three types depending on which section of the ear it affects. These are otitis externa ( swimmer's ear or infection of the external ear ), otitis media ( infection of the middle ear, the one that affects most kids ) and otitis interna ( infection of the inner ear, the one which causes dizziness ).

Using home remedies, we target the infection causing pathogens, the inflammation and the pain that occurs in some cases.
Middle ear infection
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Natural home remedies for ear infection

1. Warm cloth ( The simplest remedy for earache )
Take a cotton cloth. Warm it up slightly and place on the ear, not inside the ear. This relieves even severe pain due to an ear infection and common ear aches. It is the simplest and quite effective home remedy for earache from an ear infection. This is how you can use it more effectively.



"Ear infections usually resolve on their own. This home remedy helps to reduce the pain and discomfort. It is great for toddlers. "

Warm washcloth for ear infection
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2. Clean the ear off earwax
In some people, excess build up of ear wax can promote an ear infection. In that case, taking out that ear wax can help a lot. There are many ear wax softening products. Use a good one to remove ear wax from the ear. Just follow a regular procedure by lying down, putting in the drops in one ear, wait for some time and then turning yourself around to let the fluid drain out.



3. Heated salt in a cloth ( usually a sock )
Take a few tablespoons of common salt. Heat it up on the pan until it is slightly darker in color. Now, fill it in a cloth in two layers ( people generally use a sock). That is, make sure there are two layers of cloth between the surface and salt. Now, check this cloth for temperature on your hand. If it is bearable, use it to massage the ear from outside. Perform a thorough massage, taking the cloth behind the ear, below the ear and also above. As the temperature of this cloth lowers, it becomes more bearable.Now, one can keep it over the ear for extended period. Keep it over your ear and relax. After some time, the pain may be gone. This home remedy works good even for kids and toddlers.
Why it works ?
Keeping the heated salt cloth behind the ear helps to drain out fluid build up behind the ear. Placing it over the ear helps to minimize pain.

Salt for ear infection
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 4. Stretching your ear in different directions
Sometimes, the pain is just because of some fluid build up behind the ear and this comes from interconnected passages between our ear and throat. All you have to do is to drain the fluid that is accumulating in the Eustachian tubes ( passages behind the ear ). This can be done in many ways. One of them is stretching.This is how to do it.
With your fingers, hold you outer ear in different parts and just stretch it in outward direction. Then , twist the head from side to side. Ears are very sensitive to movement. They should usually drain by this procedure. 


5. Drain the Eustachian tube with help from a chiropractic
This is a maneuver which helps the body to drain the fluid in the Eustachian tube to the throat. Eustachian tube is a passage behind the ear which connects to the nasal cavity. This is done through a chiropractic maneuver. One can contact a chiropractic to know about this and learn it. Once you know how to do it, then you can do it to yourself or your kids. When the fluid drains out, pressure behind ear is significantly relieved. This eventually relieves pain. Many herbal practitioners perform even more advanced maneuvers to get this done. It is also applicable for children.

"A large number of parents feel elated that they went to a chiropractic for the management of frequent ear infections in their kids. "


6. Onion vapors ( The best home remedy for ear infections )
Onion is a traditional remedy for ear infection. It has got healing volatile compounds which can be released by smoking or gently heating it up.



Onion fumes for ear infections
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7. Garlic Oil in Olive Oil
I know some people would be averse to putting oils in their ear, but this remedy really works great.

  • Ingredients
    Garlic oil ( You can get 100 % pure essential garlic oil. If not, then you can use garlic oil pearls or capsules )
    Olive Oil
  • Directions / How to use
    Take about 15 ml of olive oil. Add 5 -6 drops of garlic oil. Mix it thoroughly. Now, add 2- 3 drops of this oil in the infected ear. Keep it in for 5 minutes. Then turn your ear to the other side and release whatever comes out of the ear. Repeat this 2- 3 times a day for any kind of ear infection.
  • Why it works ?
    Garlic is a really powerful natural antibiotic. Hardly any infection causing pathogen escapes its wrath.



8. If you do not have garlic oil
You can still use garlic for treating your ear infection, because it is so powerful against any kind of infection. This is how you can do it.

  • Ingredients
    1 garlic clove
    1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Directions / How to use
    First, mince the garlic clove and add it to the olive oil. Now, keep this oil on a large spoon and heat it over gas for a few minutes. Make sure that the heat is low, as you do not want to cook the oil, just low heat it. Remove the heat after 5 minutes. Filter the oil so that there is no garlic fiber in there. Now, there are 2 ways of using this.
    Method 1 : Drop 3- 4 drops of this oil into the affected ear, with the ear facing the ceiling. Make sure that the oil is neither too hot nor cool when putting in the ear. Keep the oil in for 10 minutes. Then turn your ear upside down and release any wax, puss or gunk that comes out.
    Method 2 : Dip a cotton ball in this oil. Place it over the ear like a plug. Make sure it is big enough that it does not go inside the ear. The oil will drip from the cotton ball and down into the ear canal to heal the infection.Keep the cotton ball for an hour or more. It really helps to curb the infection right in its tracks. In the meantime, if you feel that something is pushing to come out of the ear, then pay heed to this sign. Take off your cotton ball and release the fluid coming out. Throw away the cotton ball and prepare a new one for use.


"Method 2 is more applicable for a stubborn infection, one that doesn't go away easily. This is common in teens and adults. "

Garlic in olive oil for ear infection
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9. Tea Tree Oil for ear infections
Tea tree oil is an antiseptic and an antibacterial. However, it is very strong to be applied directly on the skin or inside the ear. So, this is how you can use tea tree oil to your advantage for an ear infection.

  • Ingredients
    Pure tea tree oil ( essential oil )
    Olive Oil
  • Directions / How to use
    Take 30 ml of olive oil. Add 8-10 drops of tea tree oil to the olive oil. Warm this up a little bit. Now, massage this oil around the infected ear, that is under the ear, on your sideburns area and over the ear bone. Rub a little oil on the outer ear only. The aromatic vapors of tea tree oil penetrate into the tissues underneath, providing relief from the ear infection.
  • Why it works ?
    Tea tree oil is a potent antibacterial against many kinds of bacteria.



10. Mullein Oil
Use mullein oil just like I detailed for garlic oil. Never use it directly inside the ear, it can be too strong to bear unless you have grown up doing that. Mullein oil has been the most renowned traditional Native American remedy for ear infections and numerous other health concerns.

11. Salt Water Gargle
This is not a very powerful home remedy , but it sure helps to recover faster from an ear infection. It can be easily done by kids.

  • Ingredients
    Salt ( 1 pinch )
    Water
  • Directions / How to use
    Pretty simple, just prepare the gargle water and gargle with it. Do it many times a day.
  • Why it works ?
    Doing a salt water gargle helps to bring more blood to the throat and ear region. This helps to combat the infection as the blood tries its best to overcome the infection.


Gargling for ear infection
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12. Putting vinegar in ears ( for the itching )
One of the early symptoms of an ear infection is troublesome itching. It can be relieved by using a very simple home remedy.

  • Ingredients
    Vinegar ( white or apple cider vinegar )
    Water
    Cotton ball
  • Directions / How to use
    Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water. Soak a cotton ball in it and plug it over the ear. Keep it for 5 minutes, then remove it. Drain your ear. It should relieve the itching.
  • Why it works ?
    It just works great for many people. You can get itching occasionally, but generally after swimming or bathing. This helps to keep your fingers off your ears.


Vinegar for itching in ears
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13. Echinacea
This herb is well known as an immunity stimulant. Taking it can make the body's immunity work harder in clearing up the ear infection. Hence, it helps. This is a simple strategy which helps to keep such ear infections at bay because the body's immunity is more powerful. However, one should not give herbs to babies and only give to kids and adults after consulting the doctor.
You can use it in many ways - Echinacea extract , or a homemade Echinacea tea from fresh flowers.

Echinacea for ear infection
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14. Basil Juice
This is a less commonly used home remedy for ear infection. It seems quite of strange, but it may work. By the way, there is nothing being inserted in the ear.

  • Ingredients
    Fresh basil leaves ( you can use holy basil, sweet basil or Thai basil )
    JuicerWarm
     Cotton Ball
  • Directions / How to use
    Extract the juice from a handful of basil leaves. It will be pretty less juice. Pour the juice over a pre-warmed cotton ball.Now, rub the juice over the outer ear surface, below the ears and behind them, close to the mastoid bone. The warmth from cotton ball provides some relief from the pain.
  • Why it works ?
    It seems that the anti pathogen properties of basil are at work here. It is not very effective, but it can be performed many times a day to give significant results in terms of relief from ear infection.


Basil juice for ear infection
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15. Good old coconut oil
In nearly every health concern, coconut oil springs up as a wonderful remedy. You can put coconut oil directly into the ear just like regular ear drops. It is a potent antiviral and antibacterial as well as anti fungal, all three effects combined. So, no matter what kind of pathogen ( bacteria or virus ) is causing the ear infection, coconut oil is sure to fight it.
Just make sure that you use cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil and not any other form of coconut oil.

Coconut oil for ear infection
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Getting over an ear infection is generally quite easy. It is only in rare cases that the ear infection goes bad. So, when should you be really concerned a lot about an ear infection and immediately visit a doctor.

Knowing when an ear infection turns bad ( in toddlers and adults ) .

  • If there is pus coming from the ear, the infection seems to be quite severe. 
  • If there is vertigo, it is a sign of inner ear infection. 
  • Other symptoms like nausea, vomiting and especially fever should not be overlooked. 

 A startling revelation about ear infections 
Growing up, most of us have suffered from ear infections, at least that is what we were diagnosed with. But, the biggest surprise is that most of the times,  the symptoms are not a indication of ear infection. It is just a build up of lymphatic fluid behind the ear. 
Another major non pathogenic cause of ear infections are allergies, specially to certain food groups. It can be that you kid is allergic to certain food which is causing frequent ear infections. So, I suggest trying to eliminate food groups like dairy, wheat, gluten and peanut containing foods one by one. It may be that it was all due to an allergy to dairy or something.

People generally wonder " are ear infections contagious " ?  The answer is NO, they are not contagious. So, you can easily let your kid play, if he or she feels like to. Kids generally have a lot of energy and can shrug off infections at great speed.

Ear infection in dogs and cats
What to do when your beloved pet shows signs of an ear infection ? Well, you can use the apple cider vinegar home remedy for their ears. However, it may not be that effective because in most of the cases, pet ear infection is caused by an allergy. So, you have to figure out what may be causing an allergy in your pet. Once the allergen is eliminated, they recover their health.

Middle era infection is the most common reason for which parents take their toddlers to the doctor. However, mild cases of ear infection can be treated early at home using home remedies.