Earache: home remedies for children and adults

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 for earache

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:

• Chop an onion and place it on a thin towel.
• Heat this over steam, for example in a sieve.
• Fold the towel containing the onion into a compress and place it on the aching ear. Make sure that the compress extends beyond the ear to the hairline.
• Secure the compress with a headband, a hat or a scarf.
• Leave the compress on the ear for at least 20 minutes and ideally for one to two hours.
• Repeat the process two to three times a day.

This home remedy also relieves earache in children and babies, but make sure that the compress is not too hot.

Garlic for earache

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.

Potatoes for earache

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:

• Boil some potatoes until soft.
• Crush them on a towel, for example with a fork, and let them cool a little.
• Fold the towel into a compress and place it on the aching ear for 30 minutes.

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.

Heat for earache

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:

• Red light: place a red light lamp 40 to 50 centimetres in front of the aching ear. Warm the ear for about ten minutes.
• Hot water bottle: hot water bottles and heat pillows are also great home remedies for earache. Make sure that the temperature is comfortable and not too high.

Salt for 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 for earache

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.

If your ear hurts, chew gum

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.

Chamomile for earache

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:

• Put some petals on a handkerchief.
• Fold the handkerchief into a compress and warm it up: heat a little water in a pan, place the compress in a sieve, and place the sieve over the steam.
• Then place the compress on the aching ear and replace it as necessary.

By the way, chamomile compresses are a good alternative to onion compresses if you or your child don’t like the smell of onions.

Home remedies often help relieve earache. However, it is better to consult your doctor in the following cases:

• If the earache is severe, or worsens,
• If you have stabbing or throbbing earache,
• If you have a sore throat and earache at the same time,
• you have a fever,
• If you have pain, pressure and swelling behind your ear accompanied by a protruding outer ear as well as hearing loss – this could be an inflammation of the middle ear and the adjacent bones. This is rare, but requires medical treatment.

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.