The most common causes of ear infection are bacteria and viruses in the middle ear. Common symptoms are earache, diarrhea, headache, tugging at the ear, poor response to sounds, fluid drainage from the ear, vomiting, problems with sleeping, high fever etc. Children suffer more from ear infections than adults.
The ear contains three parts: outer, middle and inner and each part has important role in the process of hearing. The outer ear looks like a leaf and it captures the traveling sound waves.
An ear part called pinna enables the sound waves to enter the ear channel. Then the sound waves reach the eardrum in the middle ear, where other important pats are located: hammer, anvil, stir up, semicircular, and middle canal.
The sound wave then travel towards the inner ear where other very important parts are located, the cochlea, Eustachian tube, and nerves. As soon as the sound wave reaches the nerves, the brain starts with the processing after which we can recognize and understand the sound.
Every single part of the ear is prone to infections, but the most serious one appears in the inner ear. Damaged and raptured ear drum, as well as other complications can be prevented by proper treatment. If you neglect the infection it can become chronic and it can lead even to hearing loss.
Fortunately, there are homemade remedies which can help against ear infection and earache, and the most effective ones are the following:
Garlic
Garlic is very effective in treating earache and ear infections.
Take 2-3 fresh garlic cloves and boil them for 5 minutes, then crush them and add some salt. Then put the mixture in clean cloth and place it on the infected ear. To accelerate the healing process, consume 2-3 cloves of garlic every day.
You can also cook two garlic cloves in mustard or sesame oil until it becomes brownish in order to obtain garlic oil. Leave it to cool down in order not to apply it too hot, and apply four drops in the painful ear.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is the right choice if the ear infection is caused by fungus.
Prepare a mixture from apple cider vinegar with same amount of wafer or rubbing alcohol. Next, soak a cotton ball in the solution and place it in the ear for 5 minutes.
After removing the cotton ball, lay down on the painful ear so that the solution could come out from the ear. You can use a hair dryer to dry the ear.
Breast Milk
Breast milk is quite efficient against ear infections, for it contains natural antibodies. It can reduce swellings and pain and can defeat ear infection in 2 or 3 days. This remedy is excellent for both, children and adults. Moreover, breast milk is also efficient in cases of minor burns, eye infection and minor cuts.
Put several drops in the painful ear using a dropper. Repeat the procedure every few hours.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a superb way to clean the blocked Eustachian tubes from wax.
Put some warm olive oil in the infected ear. After the wax becomes soft, remove it from the painful ear. Mustard oil can also serve as an alternative to olive oil.
Salt
Salt is the most simple and available remedy for ear issues.
Put some salt in a pan and heat it at low temperature for several minutes. Put the warm salt in a cloth and close the open end tightly. While it is still warm, put the cloth on the ear for 5 to 10 minutes. This procedure should be repeated several times during the day. The heat will help the liquid to come out from the ear and to alleviate the pain and the swelling.
You can also use rice instead salt to obtain the same results.
Basil
Basil is another natural remedy, since it successfully prevents pain and reduces infections.
Mix several drops of holy basil oil with coconut oil or carrier oil. Wipe the inside part of the ear, around the outer edge and behind the ear with previously soaked cotton ball in the mixture. Repeat the treatment twice a day.
You can also prepare basil juice from 5 basil leaves. Apply it around the ear, but take care not to put juice inside the ear.
Warm Water Bottle
Place warm cloth or warm water in bottle against the ear.
You can also use warm compress. Soak a clean cloth in warm water, squeeze the excess water out and put the cloth on the painful ear. Remove it after 5 minutes, and wait for a few minutes. Then, put it again. Heat alleviates the pain quickly and it also stops the growth of micro-organisms.
Onion
Onion is extremely beneficial against ear infections.
Bake an onion for half an hour, cut it in two equal halves and put one of the half in a thick cotton cloth. Keep the cloth on the ear for 5 minutes. Then make a 10- minutes break and repeat the procedure.
Another way to use onions for this cause is to chop the onion and place it in a microwave for 1-2 minutes. Wait it to cool down and prepare onion juice. Apply 2-3 drops from the juice in the painful ear; wait for a while and then place the head in a proper position so the juice could come out from the ear.
Mango Leaf Juice
The extract obtained from mango leaves is very effective and quick remedy against ear infections.
Prepare the mango leaves juice by crushing or grinding two or three leaves. Then warm the juice slightly. Put 3-4 drops in the painful ear using a dropper. The pain will disappear in a few minutes. If you want to defeat ear infection completely, repeat this treatment 2-3 times a day.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree Oil has mild antibacterial properties, so it can help immediately in cases of an earache.
Mix 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil, two tablespoons of olive oil, one teaspoon of colloidal silver and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and warm up the mixture slightly.
Apply it in the ear and wait for 5 minutes. Then lay on the other side so the whole mixture could come out of the ear.
This treatment should be repeated 2-3 times a day for two days.
All the above natural remedies can help you treat minor ear infections. However, if your earache does not disappear, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
