Swimmers Ear Home Remedy

Swimmers ear home remedy. There are not many home remedies for swimmers ear. It is actually an ear infection caused by presence of water or excess moisture in the ear canal. It often occurs to swimmers but can also happen to anyone, particularly after a bath. Swimmer's ear is a painful condition and it can have serious after effects if it is not treated. The ear is very close to the brain. Therefore, there is a risk that the infection may travel to the brain and lead to serious disease.

Swimmer's ear is also known by its medical name otitis externa. The symptoms of swimmer's ear are quite similar to middle ear infection, which makes differentiation tough. Swimmer's ear is much easier to treat at home than middle ear infections. However, many remedies are the same.

Swimmer's ear symptoms
These are the signs of a swimmer's ear.

Swimmer's ear can be easily treated at home, using these natural substances. 


                                                                                                          ( Photo Courtesy: 34652102@N04 )

Home remedies for swimmer's ear. 

 CAUTION - These remedies are only applicable for people who do not have ear tubes or a perforated ear drum. 


1. Dry the ear using a dryer
Many people would respond quickly to itching sensation and shake the ear canal with their fingers. This is not good as it could aggravate the condition. One can invest in an ear dryer, a device which dries out water inside the ear canal. 
You can also make do without an ear dryer. This is how to do it. 


It may only be able to provide relief and not treat the swimmer's ear. For that, you need to apply other remedies mentioned below. 





2. Salt Pillow
This is one of the popular grandma type remedies which have been utilized since the time of our grandparents. It has come down to us as a tradition. And it is quite effective at relieving swimmer's ear, and many other ear problems. 







3. Vinegar and Water
This remedy can only be used by people who do not have ear tubes. If your eardrum is secure, then you can use this remedy. 






4. Olive Oil
Plain olive oil also works for some people. This is how you can apply it.
Take a cotton ball. Soak it thoroughly in olive oil. Squeeze it gently so that many drops of olive oil go back into the bottle. Now, the olive oil swab has only few drops of oil. Place this cotton ball on your ear canal's opening. Gently squeeze the ball so that few drops enter the ear. Keep the cotton ball there as a plug. Keep lying down the same way for a few minutes. After about 5 minutes, get up and turn to the other side. Take out the cotton plug and let the oil drain out.
You may even see some ear wax come out.

Olive oil soothes the ear. It helps to drive the water out and coats the wall of the ear. There is much less itching and pain in the ear.

Do this remedy 1 - 2 times a day only.






5. Make a garlic oil cleaner for the ear 
Mix a few drops of garlic oil in olive oil and put around 5 drops in each ear. Let the oil sit in there for a few seconds, then drain it back out. Garlic oil is antibiotic and it is one of the best home remedies for garlic.

The procedure to use this is similar to the "Olive oil" remedy mentioned above. It just works much better than plain olive oil.

Why it works ? 
Garlic oil is the absolute best thing for outer and middle ear infections. It has been used for centuries for ear problems. However, it is quite pungent, so you got to add only a few drops to about 10 ml of olive oil. Then use this solution to fill a vial and use it for your ear.  Garlic is powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. So, it takes care of any bacteria or fungi which is causing the swimmer's ear.






6. Damp heat 
Take a cotton cloth. Place it in hot water so that it nicely absorbs hot water. Then apply it to the sides of the ear, but not on the ear. This helps the ear to automatically clear up the infection.

You should apply it on the temples, near the jaws, at the top of the ear near the mastoid bone ( search for it ) and down along the neck near the ear.

Moist heat along the sides of the ear helps to unclog congestion in the ear canal, detach wax and help water to drain out.

Do not use this on the ear directly, as you do not want any more water there.






7. Using baby oil
It can also help in a swimmer's ear infection. Just warm some baby oil and place 3 - 5 drops inside the ear canal. Plug the ear with a cotton ball and let the oil do its job.
Most oils have anti bacterial and anti fungal ingredients which help to overcome the infection.






8. Drain Out The Water Yourself
You can yourself drain out the liquid which is present in your ear canal. Tilt the head sideways in standing position.Then pull the earlobe of the ear which you want to drain. With the other hand, stroke the other ear in the downward direction. It is like hammering your head to drain out the water.
This is what many swimmers do just after they emerge from a swim in natural body. It is a good preventive strategy if you do not have swimming plugs.






9. Onion juice
Mix some onion juice into olive oil and apply it into the ear as drops. Onion has a similar effect to garlic and supports the body in clearing up the infection.
However, a stronger way to use onion is to use it directly.







10. Turmeric with milk
It is also beneficial in case of swimmer's ear. Take a glass of milk with a teaspoon of turmeric in it and drink it every day. Turmeric improves the body's infection fighting ability. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory substance which reduces swelling and redness.
It may not be able to treat the infection, but it sure reduces the pain and inflammation. It thins the blood, improves blood flow, prevents congestion and acts as a mild pain reliever. 





11. Cranial Sacral therapy
Swimmer's ear condition can also be relieved to some extent by helping fluid in the ear to drain in the throat. This is done through Special procedures which are performed by chiropractors, manipulators of the cranial bones and physiotherapists. One can visit a professional who specializes in this and he or she can perform these procedures to promote ear fluid to drain out. This condition also helps in other ear infections and sinus congestion.

Craniosacral therapy is performed by chiropractors. You can learn to do it, at least the basic procedures to help the ear drain out through the eustachian tubes. Then you can do it to yourself , or anybody else and get rid of that congestion in the ears. This really improves your hearing during swimmer's ear, or any other reason for congestion.





12. Things to avoid when treating swimmer's ear at home
Although many people have positive effects using these remedies, they can turn out to be harmful. If you are really fed up with your swimmer's ear and want to try them out, please take advice of a practising medical professional, like a nurse or doctor.

These things are potentially harmful, have side effects and must always be used under medical supervision. But, they can be effective. 





13. Witch Hazel
Take some witch hazel and apply it on a clean cloth. Now gently rub the outer regions of your ear with it. This takes away crusting and itching. Within a few days application, you get a healthy and infection free outer ear without any scaly skin. 





14. Essential Oils for Swimmer's Ear infection
You can make the use of essential oils to get rid of this painful condition. And the best part is that they need not be put into the ear. They work from the outside.
  • Eucalyptus essential oil - Take 2 - 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and add to about 10 drops of olive oil. Use this oil to massage the back of the ear, along to the side of the neck and down to the front of the neck. This helps the ear fluid to drain out into the eustachian tubes and down the throat. 
  • Lavender essential oil - Apply diluted oil along the sides of the ear. Do not put it inside. This oil helps to overcome pain and get sleepy. This is very important. If the pain is sharp, one is unable to sleep. Next morning, situation is even worse. 



15. Echinacea tea
If you suffer from multiple events of swimmer's ear, then it is better to drink echinacea. Frequent swimmer's ear infections is an indication that body's immune system is weak. 
It boosts the immune system, enabling it to fight the infection and also prevent occurrences in the future. 
This means a lot to people, especially kids who are unable to go swimming because they keep getting this infection. If their immune system gets stronger, they can go swim without any worry. 



If you experience symptoms like consistent pain, redness, swelling and narrowing of the ear canal, visit a doctor promptly.Swimmer's ear treatment is fast and quite effective. However, it is important to make a visist as soon as you feel that pain is aggravating. This is important to prevent the infection from migrating to other potentially dangerous regions, like the spine, although this is very rare.