Home Remedies for Ear Infection | Home Remedies

The most popular home remedies for ear infection includes usage of herbs, avoiding all sorts of processed foods, washing hands regularly, usage of essential oils and tea tree oil and many more in different forms. Ear infections often have different reasons like germs, contamination from others and severe cold as well. The common name of ear infection is Otitis. Ear infection manifests in headache, fluid secretion from ears, sleep disorder, pain and hearing trouble. Generally children are prone to infection in the middle ear and in adults it is observed in other parts of the organ. Increased consumption of zinc and vitamin c, healthy and calcium rich diet, avoiding contamination, usage of Otikon, Echinacea etc. are few of the best home remedies to treat and prevent ear infection.

About 90% of the American children suffer from OME (Otitis Media with Effusion) before they even go to the schools, states the American Academy of Paediatrics. They are often treated with antibiotics that are strong and sometimes have harmful side effects on the kids. There are adults as well who suffer from Otitis but the number is smaller than that of children according to the Natural Standard, The Authority on Integrative Medicine. Now this is a true fact that the painkillers and antibiotics provide quick relief from the earache caused by infection but they cannot cure it from the root. But as far as the home remedies for ear infection are concerned, they provide permanent relief from the problem without any sort of hazardous effects. The prominent symptoms of ear infection include severe ache, fluid drainage from the ears, problem with hearing, fever and many more. There is a different home remedy for every type of ear infection as there might be various reasons behind it.

Gentle Massage: When the ache in the ears becomes severe because of the worsening infection, a gentle massage with the tips of the fingers can help. This is more effective, if the infection is caused due to trapping of water inside the ears. You can also use the pain balms or oils to massage the area where the ear is joined with the face. This will not only release the pain gradually but also facilitate recovery.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Cleaning the infected ears with a solution of 50:50 hydrogen peroxide will help reducing the severity as this compound has certain anti-bacterial property. The solution should be prepared with warm water to provide a soothing effect to the paining ears.
Garlic Ear Drops: Garlic is another anti-bacterial element and it is popularly used in treating the ear infections. The garlic oil can be made at home by soaking pieces of garlic in olive oil or it can be purchased ready-made from the stores. The garlic oil needs to be applied inside the canal of the ears in few drops twice a day.
Hot Bag Pressing: Hot water bags often provide the suffered with complete relief. Take a hot water bag filled with tolerably warm water and wrap it in a cover. Now press the ears on them for quite sometime till the bag remains hot. For a baby the warmth of the mother’s breast is the best home remedy for earache.
Avoiding Contamination: Infections often spread from one person to another. Hence it is quite important to consciously avoid close contact with a person having ear infection. You should not use the towels, combs etc of others. Washing hands at regular intervals helps to combat the infections. If someone has caught severe cold, he or she can be prone to infections; so it is better to stay away from him.
Avoid Smoke: Smoke and pollution can be another vital reason of ear infections. It is pretty tough to escape the air pollution but you can keep away from cigarette smoke with conscious effort. Also ask people not to smoke in front of you as this means passive smoking which is as harmful as smoking.
Echinacea and Goldenseal: Echinacea and goldenseal are two of the popular herbs that cleanse the internal systems of the body and prevent ear infections. You can mix them with boiling water and drink the mixture slowly thrice a day.