| As a parent, your best choice for treating ear infections could be home remedy. It seems that children are prone to getting frequent ear infections, and the cost of seeing a doctor each time can really add up. It can be even more troublesome if you need a quick fix while you're on vacation. Fortunately, there are several treatments that you can apply yourself. However, it's still best to see your doctor at some point, especially if the pain doesn't subside.
People have been treating ear infections for ages, using nothing more than the products they could find in their homes. They had to because easy access to doctors was hard to come by, not to mention that medical sciences wasn't up to today's standards. That meant people had to find home remedies that worked, remedies that you can also take advantage of.
A good option, whether at home or on the road, is a warm compress. Wrap the compress in a towel, then have the child (or adult, if they're the ones with the ear pain) put the compress to their ear. Then have them lie down on their side, with the bad ear down. This will let gravity work to drain some of the build up out of the ear, which will also help in easing any pain that's present.
Chances are good that you have some hydrogen peroxide on hand. If so, gently placing a few drops in the ear is an easy method that can kill the bacteria that are causing the ear infection.
Lemon juice is a more natural alternative to hydrogen peroxide, but has a similar effect. The juice is highly acidic. The acidity stops the infection by neutralizing the pH of the bacteria.
This next all natural method for treating an ear infection sounds more like the start of a tasty recipe, but don't let that fool you. Simply simmer some onion and garlic with olive oil and water. After it cools use an eyedropper to apply a few drops to the problem ear. Leave it to work, and the infection can be gone in as little as twenty four hours.
Another common ingredient easily found at home is vinegar, which can also be used to make a solution for fighting infections of the ear. A simple mix of 50% water and 50% vinegar is all it takes to do the trick.
Vodka! Yes, vodka has even been used by some to ease the pain of an ear infection. Wait! Not by drinking it until they feel no pain (which would be a bad idea for treating youngsters anyway), but by dabbing some onto a cotton ball and holding it against the ear. It's also much safer than using 100% alcohol.
Use any of the above remedies and take note of which ones work best. You can then use them over and over, as needed. Keep in mind that not all home remedies for ear infections will work in all cases. Also, be sure to see your doctor or pediatrician if the pain persists. |