What natural remedies help relieve earache in children and adults? Do home remedies such as onions, potatoes and garlic help? Can herbs help relieve earache? Find out more about home remedies for earache and how to use them.
There are many different causes of earache. Often there is an inflammation of the middle ear or the outer ear canal. These inflammations are usually the result of an infection and occur after a cold or prolonged contact with water. Pressure changes when flying or diving, an earwax plug and injuries to the eardrum can also trigger pain and feelings of pressure. Nerve pain or pain radiating into the ear from jaw and dental disorders are less common causes. Typical symptoms of ear pain include stabbing, throbbing or dull pain, a feeling of pressure, dizziness, hearing problems or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
For mild complaints with no fever or hearing problems, grandma’s home remedies for earache can provide relief. Consult a doctor, however, if the pain is severe and persists over several days or if you have a high fever, pus-like discharge, hearing loss or dizziness.
Ear pain is unpleasant. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies that can soothe earache – whether through warmth or their antibacterial or anti-inflammatory properties. Below, we present some tried-and-tested home remedies.
Onions are a tried-and-tested home remedy for earache. They have a pain-relieving, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. Here’s what to do:
This home remedy also relieves earache in children and babies, but make sure that the compress is not too hot.
Garlic is another tried-and-tested natural home remedy for earache. It has an antibacterial and disinfectant effect and can help both children and adults. Cut a clove of garlic into small pieces, place it in a gently warmed cotton towel and form a small compress that you place on your ear.
Another home remedy for earache is potatoes: the heat from boiled potatoes has a soothing effect. It’s not clear whether the potatoes themselves also provide relief for earache. Here’s what to do:
Important: check the temperature on your forearm before using the compress so you don’t burn yourself. This home remedy for earache is suitable for adults and children.
For earache during pregnancy, warming products such as a heat pillow or potato compress, above all, can help. These methods are particularly gentle. Onion compresses are also suitable for treatment during pregnancy. Be careful with potato compresses: check the temperature on your forearm before using the compress so you don’t burn yourself. Take it easy and get some rest. If the complaint worsens, talk to your doctor.
Heat is also an effective home remedy for earache. It stimulates blood circulation in the ear, which supports the healing process and alleviates pain. Heat is a particularly gentle way to treat earache in adults and children. How to use heat to relieve earache:
If an earache is caused by a cold, salt can help. Salt is a tried-and-tested home remedy for colds and flu and helps if your ear hurts when you have a cold. This is because, if your nose is blocked, it creates pressure in the ear. Once your nose is clear, the pressure and pain in the ear decrease. Here’s what to do: dissolve nine grams of salt in one litre of boiled water and let the mixture cool. Put a few drops up your nose using a pipette.
Apple cider vinegar is a trusty home remedy for earache after diving. The acidity in apple cider vinegar can help restore the ear’s natural pH balance and has a drying effect. This makes it harder for the bacteria that get into the ear during a prolonged stay in the water to spread. Here’s what to do: mix one part boiled and cooled water with one part apple cider vinegar. Drop this solution into your ear in the morning and evening, then lie down on each side for five minutes. Place a towel underneath you. It’s best to get someone to help you.
By the way, this home remedy is also suitable for children. They are particularly susceptible to earache after diving or snorkelling.
Sometimes you may experience earache when you swallow. This may take the form of pressure – for example, when you have a cold or when you experience a rapid change in pressure, such as when flying. In these cases, chewing gum may provide relief. This is because chewing opens the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat. This helps to balance out the pressure and relieve it.
Please note that this home remedy is not suitable for babies or small children due to the risk of swallowing and choking.
What else can you do about earache? Herbs can also be used as home remedies to relieve earache. As a herbal remedy, chamomile, for example, has a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect. Here’s how to use chamomile for earache:
By the way, chamomile compresses are a good alternative to onion compresses if you or your child don’t like the smell of onions.
In some cases, complementary medicine may help alleviate earache. Examples include acupuncture and acupressure, natural health products based on naturopathy, such as plant-based ear drops, and homeopathic drops. Craniosacral therapy also helps some people with tinnitus to cope with their symptoms. However, the effectiveness of complementary medicine for earache is largely based on empirical evidence and has only been scientifically proven in a few cases.
Home remedies often help relieve earache. However, it is better to consult your doctor in the following cases:
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. If your baby or toddler has earache, you should always consult a doctor.
Home remedies are also insufficient for stress-related earache. If your earache occurs more often during periods of stress, speak to your doctor.
In most cases, the effect of home remedies has not been scientifically proven. However, experience shows that home remedies can naturally alleviate earache in many cases. Therefore, use tried-and-tested remedies and seek advice from your doctor if necessary as, in some cases, earache requires medical treatment.
The specialist provided the editorial team with advice and input for this article. Nicole Heim (naturopath, PTA) works for the Helsana health consultation service. She helps customers with issues to do with prevention and complementary therapies.
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