11 Top Home Remedies for Ear Pain

November 15, 2022

An ear pain causes discomfort in the ear. It can affect the outer, middle or inner part of one both ears and range from a dull, mild ache to crippling, throbbing pain. Ear pain can be accompanied by a feeling of fullness or burning in the ear, which can progress slowly or come on all of a sudden.

Ear irritation, infection, injury or referred pain are some of the most common causes of ear pain. Referred pain is secondary pain caused by another underlying condition in another body part. Whatever the cause may be, people should know about some remedies to get relief from it.

Here are the top 11 home remedies for ear pain:

1. Garlic

With its inflammation-alleviating property, garlic is one of the best natural home remedies for ear pain. It contains Allicin, a compound that fights bacterial infections, a possible cause of earache. Victims of ear pain can either take a clove of raw garlic regularly or mix garlic in coconut oil and apply the same around the ear.

2. Neck Exercises

It is easy to treat earaches caused by pressure in the ear canal with different neck rotation exercises. You can follow these steps to perform neck rotation exercises:

Sit up straight with both feet on the ground.
Now rotate the head and neck slowly to the right until the head is parallel with the shoulder.
Try rotating the head the other way around until it is parallel with the left shoulder.
Next, raise the shoulders high and make the same movement slowly. Hold on to the movements, gently stretching more and then relaxing.

3. Heat and Cold Packs

Holding a heating pad or a cold pack against the ear for a minimum of 20 minutes can offer temporary ear pain relief. While the heat from a heating pad relaxes the muscles and improves blood flow to relieve ear pain, cold temperature numbs pain and reduces inflammation. Heat and cold packs are the safest home remedies for ear pain, especially for children.

4. Chewing Gum

Chewing gum eases ear pain that occurs during or after aeroplane travel or due to moving to places at higher elevations, and it pops the ears and reduces pressure to relieve ear pain.

5. Changing Sleep Positions

Changing sleep positions can help relieve ear pain by reducing pressure within the ear.

Individuals can decrease pressure on their ears by resting their heads on two or more pillows or by keeping their heads at a higher position than the body. Ear pain victims should also avoid sleeping on the side of the affected ear.

6. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil possesses powerful antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties, making it one of the best home remedies for ear pain. Those with ear pain can mix a few drops of this oil with any base oil, like coconut, olive or sesame oil and pour the blend into their ears to soothe earache.

7. Saltwater Gargles

The best way to ease the symptoms of ear pain caused due to strep or sore throat is gargling with warm salt water. Individuals can also apply warm salt socks to the affected ear, which shifts pressure in the ear and draws out fluid to ease ear pain. Even vegetable broths and warm soups can relieve sore throat and reduce associated earache.

8. Ginger

Ginger is among the most effective home remedies for ear pain because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It not only reduces inflammation in the ears but also fights ear infections and offers relief from pain and discomfort in and around the ears. People with ear pain can take fresh, raw ginger, extract its juice and use it on the skin close to the ear for instant action. For ginger oil, people can add ginger to a teaspoon of oil and warm the mix. This oil may be used around the ear canal for ear pain relief.

9. Apple Cider Vinegar

Next on the list of home remedies for ear pain is apple cider vinegar due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties. It alters the pH of the ear canal and creates an environment where viruses and bacteria can't survive. Individuals can apply it to the affected area after diluting the organic apple cider vinegar with water. The best is to plug a bud soaked in apple cider vinegar inside the ear, so the solution penetrates deep into the ear to offer long-term relief.

10. Cloves

Cloves contain anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that treat ear infections and soothe earaches. Individuals can sauté a clove in a teaspoon of sesame oil; bring it to a boil and allow it to cool. Next, they must filter the oil and add a few drops of the oil to the affected ear. Doing this 3 to 4 times regularly for three days can offer effective relief.

11. Over-the-Counter Medicines

Pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medicines can also help relieve discomfort and pain in the ears. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen, can reduce ear pain temporarily.

Surgery for Severe Earache

The use of different home remedies for ear pain depends on the cause of the condition. If home remedies do not help, people should get in touch with an expert without delay. An ENT or ear, nose and throat specialist who sub-specialises in the ear can determine whether or not an individual may require surgeries like Myringoplasty, Tympanoplasty, Bilateral Myringotomy and Tubes, Metaoplasty, Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy, Normal Mastoidectomy. These surgeries can repair eardrums and ear tube infections that may cause pain.

The Bottom Line

So, these are the best home remedies for ear pain people can use to get rid of their ear pain. But never try to use all the remedies at once as this can aggravate the situation. Also, be patient while using home remedies. Sometimes the ear pain can go on its own, while, sometimes, the home remedies can take 3-10 days to work. And if the ear pain persists even after 10 days, visit an expert at https://www.apollospectra.com/.