Earaches are often dismissed as a small annoyance, but they can be really painful. Some home cures can help while you wait for medical attention or antibiotics to take effect.
Ear pain can be excruciating, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or do much else other than think about it. An earache is particularly tough for many children to live with.
People with significant ear pain should always consult a doctor, especially if it is their first time. However, there are several home treatments that can be used to relieve less severe earaches or to reduce pain.
This article looks at nine excellent home remedies for people who are suffering from ear pain.
Causes of ear pain
The most prevalent cause of ear pain is ear infections. Inflammation and pressure building in the ear when it becomes infected can cause excruciating pain.
Because infections from other parts of the body can impact the ear, people with ear infections frequently experience other symptoms such as sinus pressure or a sore throat. An ear infection can also be treated as a separate condition. The majority of ear infections are caused by bacteria rather than viruses.
An ear infection can only be diagnosed by a doctor. Antibiotics should not be taken without a prescription, nor should symptoms be mistaken for an ear infection.
Earaches, on the other hand, are not usually caused by an ear infection. Ear pain can be caused by a variety of factors.
These are some of them:
- Referred pain: Infections or inflammation elsewhere in the body could cause this. A toothache, for example, might cause agonising pain in the ear.
- Chronic conditions: TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder is one of them.
Infections of the skin: If they’re in or near your ear. - Allergic reactions: These could come from a variety of sources, including soap, shampoo, and jewellery.
- Water: If it becomes stuck in the ear, it might cause pain.
- Pressure: Changes in altitude might have an impact on ear pressure. This normally goes away on its own, with a popping sound.
Ear infections can spread to the jaw and other parts of the body if not addressed. They can also cause the ear and result in dangerously high fevers.
People should see a doctor if they have symptoms of an ear condition that do not go away on their own after a day or two. People should seek medical help right once if the pain is severe, accompanied by a high fever, or includes hearing loss.
9 earache home treatments
If an earache isn’t too bad, or if a person is waiting for medical treatment to work, they might want to try these home remedies to reduce the pain.
Here are nine great home remedies for people who are suffering from ear pain:
1. OTC (over-the-counter) drugs
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications) can temporarily relieve earache pain. People who are suffering from ear pain should attempt the following remedies:
- aspirin
- acetaminophen
- ibuprofen
It’s important to remember that giving aspirin to newborns and young children is dangerous. This is due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.
Before giving over-the-counter medications to a kid under the age of two, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises parents to consult a doctor.
In newborns and young children, these medications can have substantial negative effects. It’s also worth noting that the recommended dosage for children is frequently lower than the recommended dosage for adults.
2. Heat
Heat from an electric heating pad or a hot pack can help to relieve ear inflammation and pain.
For 20 minutes, place a heat pad in the ear. People should use the heated pad to massage their neck and throat for the best benefits.
The heating pad should not be too hot to bear. Never fall asleep with a heating pad on your body, and never let a child use a hot pack without adult supervision.
3. Cold
An earache can be relieved with the use of a cold pack.
Wrap ice in paper towels or use a cold pack that has been frozen and then covered with a light cloth. For 20 minutes, apply this to the ear and the area immediately beneath the ear.
The cold should not be painful, and parents should not apply ice to their children’s skin.
Heat, rather than cold, provides relief for some people. Others find that alternating heat and cold packs (20 minutes hot, 20 minutes cold) provides the most effective pain relief.
4. Ear drops
Fluid and earwax can cause pressure in the ear, which can be relieved using ear drops.
Before using ear drops on a child, people should read the recommendations carefully and consult a doctor.
People should only use ear drops for a few days because they are not a substitute for prescription ear drops or antibiotics. People should see a doctor if their symptoms reoccur.
It’s important to note that ear drops should not be used on a youngster who has tubes in his or her ears or whose eardrum has ruptured.
5. Massage
Ear pain that radiates from the jaw or teeth, or that causes a tension headache, can be relieved with gentle massage.
The tender area, as well as any surrounding muscles, can be massaged. Massage the muscles of the jaw and neck, for example, if the area behind the ear hurts.
Massage may also aid in the relief of ear infection pain.
- Apply downward pressure starting just behind the ears and moving down the neck.
- Work your way forward to the front of the ears while continuing to apply downward pressure.
This form of massage may aid in the drainage of extra fluid from the ears, as well as preventing the pain from worsening.
6. Garlic
Garlic has long been used as a pain reliever in folk medicine. It may have antibacterial characteristics that can help fight infection, according to some research.
It should not be used as a substitute for antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. Instead, consider include garlic in your antibiotic regimen to hasten relief.
Try eating a garlic clove every day to prevent ear infections.
Garlic ear drops may also help to relieve pain and prevent infection from worsening. Cook two or three cloves till brown in two teaspoons mustard or sesame seed oil, then strain. After that, put a drop or two in each ear.
7. Onions
Onions, like garlic, can help fight infection and relieve pain. Onions, like garlic, are not a substitute for medical care.
Microwave an onion for a minute or two to soften it. After that, filter the liquid and put a few drops in each ear. Allowing the liquid to leak out of the ear after lying down for 10 minutes is a good idea. As needed, repeat the process.
8. Sucking
Sucking can assist relieve pressure in the Eustachian tubes by reducing pressure in the tubes.
Allowing and encouraging nursing babies to nurse as frequently as possible may make them feel better. Hard candy or cough drops can be sucked by both adults and children.
9. Breast milk
Antimicrobial characteristics are found in breast milk. According to certain studies, a mother’s breast milk alters depending on the bacteria that a newborn is exposed to.
This suggests that in babies, breast milk is the most effective. Adults, on the other hand, may benefit from breast milk, according to some authorities. To gain the maximum benefits from breast milk, infants and children should continue to nurse.
Topical administration of breast milk to nursing babies, children, and adults may also be beneficial. Breast milk is unlikely to cause any major negative effects, even if it doesn’t.
People can try putting a few drops of breast milk in each ear and repeating the procedure as needed.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10594976
- http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/tc/ear-infections-home-treatment
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4232055/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318057
- https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm263989.htm
- http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/09/21/earache-home-remedies.aspx
- http://www.reyessyndrome.org/aspirin.html
