An ear infection can be exceptionally painful and affect health in a variety of different ways. Generally caused by a virus, or some sort of bacteria, this infection is much more likely to occur in children than in adults. If you are experiencing an ear infection, there are plenty of ear infection home remedies that can provide relief until you have a chance to get it checked out.
Salt
Since almost every home is going to have salt, this will be one of the most readily available home remedies. Take about one cup of salt and heat it on the stove using low heat, or place in the microwave for a short period of time. Bundle the salt into a clean cloth and close the end of the bundle, using either a rubber band or by tying a knot. When the salt has cooled to a comfortable temperature, lie down and place the cloth on the ear and keep it there for about 5-minutes. This will help draw out the moisture from the ear.
Onion
Many people do not realize it, but onions have medicinal properties that make them good for treating an ear infection. You can do so by chopping a small onion into pieces and then heating the pieces in the microwave. Allow the onion to cool until it has reached a comfortable temperature for touching and then remove some juice from it. Put a few drops of the onion juice into the affected ear, and let it sit for about 5-minutes. Afterwards, turn your head so that the fluid drains out.
Cold/Warm Compresses
The use of cold and warm compresses can be effective for all sorts of pain relief applications, and this includes earaches. While it will not address the cause of the earache, using an ice pack or a warm compress can be good for providing immediate relief. Just place the warm or cold compress on the ear and relax for a few minutes. When you get up, you should notice that the pain has noticeably reduced.
Oil Drops
There are a variety of different oils that can be used to address an ear infection; such as garlic or olive oil. Apply them by ensuring the oil is at a lukewarm temperature, and then dropping it in the ear canal. It can help to work against the infection and also provide relief from the pain.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an effective home remedy that can be good for a variety of different purposes. Instead of putting it in the ear as you would with the garlic oil, you apply it by rubbing the oil on the area around the ear. This is an effective antiseptic and it can provide relief for an earache.
Mango Leaf Juice
Mango leaves have been used by traditional healers in different parts of the world for a long time. To treat an ear infection, you could take 2-3 mango leaves and grind them up to extract the juice. Warm a small quantity of the juice and put 2-3 drops in the infected ear. Let it sit in the ear for about 5 minutes and it should help to relieve some of the pain associated with the infection.
Dealing with an ear infection can be really unpleasant. However, you do have a few options when it comes to reducing the pain that you can try right from the comfort of your own home.
