Ear pain can be caused due to various reasons, and can be very irritating. The remedies mentioned in the following Buzzle article, not only provide a great amount of relief, but can even cure this painful condition completely.
Ear pain is a common ear problem that everyone experiences at some point or the other, and it could be a symptom of various conditions. It can be due to different reasons, both direct and indirect, and is common in adults as well as children. It should be treated appropriately to avoid further complications that could also result in hearing loss. The pain in the ear can cause a lot of discomfort, especially at night, and could also disrupt your daily routine. Before resorting to remedies to cure it, it important to identify the cause of earache. The following remedies can help cure mild ear pain, but medical help would be required to treat and cure severe, persistent pain.
The Causes
Ear pain in adults and children can be caused due to an ear infection, sinus infection, tonsillitis, mumps, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), impacted earwax, ear injury, a tooth infection, ulcers in the mouth, swimmer’s ear, or strep throat. Earache can also be caused due to very cold weather, traveling in airplanes, due to a foreign object entering the ear canal, or due to the ear being subjected to very loud sounds. The most common cause of earache in adults and children is ear infection and impacted earwax. Relief can be obtained with the help of some easy and all natural home remedies.
Treatment Options
- For earache that is caused due to traveling in airplanes, try chewing gum or a sweet candy when the flight takes off and during landing. Chewing will activate the ear muscles and will balance the pressure in the ear.
- Hold a warm compress against your aching ear for better relief. Soak a towel in hot water, squeeze off the water, and hold it to the ear. The heat from the towel will provide quick pain relief, especially for pain caused due to an ear infection.
- One of the most effective remedies for pain in the ear is using a liquid pillow. Place a hot water bag or a hot water bottle, wrapped in a towel, on your pillow. Place your aching ear on the pillow while sleeping.
- For earache that is caused due to chest congestion or sinus congestion, take decongestants to clear the congestion. Once the congestion is relieved, the ache will subside on its own.
- In case of severe earache caused due to cold, cough, or fever, medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be of help. Ear drops could also reduce such type of ear pain.
Herbal and Other Natural Remedies
- Mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water. Use an eyedropper to drip this mixture into the ear, and with a cotton swab, gently wiggle your ear. The mixture will help alleviate the pain and reduce inflammation.
- Putting a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into the ear is a well-known home remedy.
- Warm some olive oil and drip a few drops into the ear with the help of a cotton ball to relieve pain.
- Soak a cotton ball in vodka, and pour some of it into the ear canal. This will help reduce and cure the pain caused due to sinus infections or tonsillitis.
- Grind some holy basil leaves and extract its juice. Put two drops of the juice into the ear and wiggle it gently. This will help eliminate the impacted earwax from the ear canal.
- Warm some fenugreek seeds in mustard or linseed oil, and let it cool for a while. Once it has cooled, filter it, and put a few drops of the oil into the ear to eliminate the ache.
- Squeeze some lemon juice into your ears, let it stay for a minute and then drain it out completely. This will help to clean the ear canal, and free it of impacted earwax and dirt.
If severe pain is prevalent for more than a day or two, and does not reduce even after using the above-mentioned remedies, you should consult a doctor for further medical treatment, without any delay. Remember to take adequate precautions to prevent ear infections and the associated pain.