| Whether you are an adult or a child, an ear infection can be excruciatingly painful. Ear infections often begin to hurt at night, usually when doctor surgeries are closed, so it can be difficult to find a doctor and you will often need to wait until the morning. This is where home remedies come in handy so you can at least relieve the pain somewhat until such a time that you can get to see a doctor.
There are a number of different home remedies that you can try to ease the pain of ear infection and they are all much more effective if you use them at first sign of an earache. If your earache is severe then you might not get much relief until you have visited your doctor.
One cause of ear infections is swimmers ear which is the result of a fungal infection that has developed from moisture left in the ear canal. This can occur after a person has been swimming and some water is left in the ear. Although having fungus in the ear sounds really gross, this type of infection is quite easy to treat if you start treatment early. One of the best home remedies for swimmers ear is a mixture of water and vinegar. You mix together equal parts of water and vinegar and then place a few drops into the sore ear. Let the mixture sit in the ear for a few minutes and then gently rinse with warm water.
The mixture of water and vinegar works by changing the pH level of the excess water in the ear and then the fungus cannot thrive in this new pH level. If you treat this type of infection early enough the results are usually quite fast and it can clear completely overnight. The same basic principal works for lemon juice, just squeeze a few drops of lemon juice into the ear and this also changes the pH level, killing off the fungal bacteria.
Another good home remedy is to use a warm compress against the ear. If you don't have a wheat bag you can easily create your own with a sock and some rice. You just pour a cup of rice into a sock and then tie off the top of the sock so the rice can't spill out. Put the sock into the microwave and heat it for about one minute. Placing the rice sock against the ear will help soothe the ear and relieve the pain. If you do this repeatedly it will also help encourage draining of any buildup within the ear.
Our last home remedy for ear infection uses onion, garlic and olive oil. First, chop the onion and garlic finely and then cook them in the olive oil on a low heat. When the mixture has reduced, drain the oil into a glass container. Then when the mixture is cool, place a few drops into the affected ear. This will give some pain relief and also help to shift any wax buildup in the ear.
If you don't get results from any of these home remedies or if the pain is very severe then you should consult a doctor and get some prescribed antibiotics. Don't give up after just trying one remedy though as some remedies work better for different people, if one doesn't work another might. Once you know which one works for you then you will have a great remedy on hand for the next time you have an earache. |