Earache & Ear Pain: Symptoms and 10 Home Remedies for Relief
Earaches are a pain, but they’re not typically dangerous health conditions. They tend to affect children more than adults who are more capable of working through the pain and ignoring the symptoms. Earaches and pain are caused by numerous issues from swimmer’s ear to injury to a simple cold to a toothache, and most people are in the market for quick home remedies to get rid of the pain and the symptoms associated with ear pain. A trip to the doctor is helpful, but there’s not always much that can be done for ear pain you can’t do yourself at home.
What are the symptoms of earaches?
There’s not a right or wrong answer to this question. The symptoms associated with earaches and pains might come from any number of sources, but there are a few things to look for if you suspect you have an earache.
– Redness
– Swelling
– Ear pain
– Jaw pain
– Sore throat
– Itching in or around the ear
– Draining from the ear
– Ringing noises
– Impaired hearing
The symptoms you notice depend on the type of earache you have and the cause behind it. If you have a problem with one of your teeth, you might notice the sharp pain shooting from your jaw to your ear in addition to jaw pain. If you’re dealing with a cold or other common illness, you might notice a sore throat or fever in addition to the pain and swelling. You might not even notice any symptoms other than pain in the ear. The good news is that ear pain is easy to self-diagnose, and a home remedy for earache is easy to find.
Use Olive Oil
If you have pain and an infection in your ear, try pouring a few drops of olive oil in your ear. Three or four drops of warmed oil are all it takes to lubricate the ear and neutralize infection. If you don’t want to pour anything in your year, soak a cotton ball in olive oil and place it in the ear.
Add Garlic to Your Ears
It doesn’t smell great, but it works. Mince a few cloves, heat them up with some sesame oil, and use the oil in your ear. Soak a cotton ball in the oil and place it in your ear. It works as a type of antibiotic for your ear when you have ear pain.
Use Hot Water
Warm a bottle of water in the microwave or in a pot of boiling water for a few moments to use on your ear. When it’s warm, wrap it in a towel and use it as a compress. The heat and the moisture can help reduce the swelling and the pain in your ear. It’s a natural pain reliever.
Use Onion Juice
Grate your onion, and get the juice from it. You want to warm the juice over low heat for a while before you use it. The onion juice works as an antibacterial agent to kill the infection and brings you relief. You’ll soak a cotton ball in the juice and use it in your ears to help relieve the pain and get rid of the ache.
Use Your Hair Dryer
Your hair dryer is something you probably didn’t know would help your earache, but it will. All you need to do is take a shower to add a little moisture to your ears, then place the blow dryer in front of your ears and blow. The moist heat helps kill the infection and help you find relief as quickly as possible.
Use Peppermint Oil
Do not get any peppermint oil inside your ear. You want to use it only on the outside of your ear along the opening to help relieve the pain of an earache or infection. Do not get this oil in your ear. The best way to do this is to put two to three drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and rub it along the exterior of your ear’s opening. It helps soothe pain without requiring you take any medication.
Use Bishop’s Weed
This is not nearly as well-known as some of the other remedies listed, but you never know what people have on hand. If you have access to some Bishop’s Weed, use it to cure your earache. Mix the oil from this item with a little sesame oil. It works best when it’s been warmed up, and all you need to do is put a few drops in your ear for the relief you need.
Use Ginger
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory agent you can use to help reduce the swelling and pain in your ear when it’s aching. It’s simple to use, too. You need only extract a few drops of juice from some fresh ginger and put it directly in your ears. It almost instantly helps relieve the pain and soothe the problems you’re experiencing in your ears.
Use Neem
If you don’t know what neem is, perhaps you know what Indian Lilac is. It’s the same thing, and it’s great for fighting ear infections. You’ll crush the leaves of this plant and use the juice directly in your ear. You can put it on a Q-Tip and use it inside your ear. You can also put it on a cotton ball and place it in your ear to neutralize the pain.
Use Basil
Get a few pieces of fresh basil, crush the leaves, and place a cotton swab into the juice. Use that swab in your ear. It’s an anti-inflammatory designed to help relieve pain and stop swelling. You can safely do this a few times each day for relief.
Home remedies for earaches are everywhere, but always read the instructions first. There are some things you place directly in your ear, and there are some things you don’t want in your ears at all. Once you know how to use these remedies, you can handle your own earaches in no time.