Ear infection can occur in the inner middle or outer ear. But the middle ear infection (otitis media) is the most common. Middle ear infection occurs when a cold or throat infection causes the fluid to get trapped in the middle ear.
Children get affected by ear infections more frequently as compared to the adults. However children get back to normalcy faster than adults.
There are many home remedies to treat ear infections and garlic is one of the easy one. If you use it on children the use it with extreme care. Ear infection generally goes away with home treatments. Consult a doctor if garlic or other natural remedies don't fix your ear infection.
Table of Contents
- Common Natural Treatments for Ear Infections
- How Garlic Treats Ear Infection
- How to Use Garlic for Ear Infection
- Other Tips and Precautions
Common Natural Treatments for Ear Infections
Conventional treatment of ear infection is sometimes overkill. Unnecessary use of antibiotics is harmful in the long run as you will develop resistance to antibiotics and will not benefit from them when you really need them.
Alternative medicines and home remedies are good first aid solutions. Use the home remedies under a doctor's supervision to get the best of both worlds.
If home remedy works then you would have saved yourself from consuming unnecessary chemicals. If it doesn't work then the doctor can take charge and prescribe medication.
Following are some simple but effective remedies that can help you in pain relief as well as in clearing the infection fast.
- Apply warm compress to reduce inflammation and pain
- Use cold compress to numb the pain
- Massage gently to reduce pain
- Natural ear drops can reduce the pressure and reduce the pain
- Onions to reduce infection
- Eat probiotics to increase immunity to clear the infection fast
- Apply mullein tincture
Now let us look specifically on the use of garlic to get rid of your ear infection.
How Garlic Treats Ear Infection
Garlic possesses antiviral antifungal and antimicrobial capabilities. Garlic is also natural antibiotic.
According to a study by University of Copenhagen, sulphur compounds in garlic can even treat chronic infections.
The sulphur compound ajoenein in garlic has powerful antibacterial capabilities.
Other sulphur compounds < em > allicin have already been found to be antiviral and antimicrobial as well.
So, irrespective of whether your ear infection is viral or bacterial, garlic can help to get rid of it.
Let us know how to use it effectively.
How to Use Garlic for Ear Infection
1. Garlic Clove
A peeled garlic clove is the easiest remedy to treat your ear infection.
- Peel a garlic clove and cut it into 2 pieces horizontally
- Put one of the pieces in your ear with the cut portion facing outwards
- Keep it there for more than 30 minutes
- Remove the piece
- Do it 3-4 times a day
2. Garlic Oil
If you keep garlic oil at home then this can quickly relieve your earache from the infection and treat the infection as well.
- Lie down on one side with the sore ear facing up
- Add 2 drops of garlic oil in your ear
- Plug the ear gently with a cotton ball
- Stay put in that position for 15 minutes
- Do it 2-3 times daily
3. Garlic and Olive Oil
You can make your own garlic ear drops at home to treat your or your children's ear infection
- Crush one clove of garlic
- Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and put it in a small pan or a pot on low heat
- Heat it until you begin to get the fragrance. Make sure the heat is low and you don't want the oil to boil or burn
- Fill the warm oil in a small bottle.
- Take the oil in a dropper while it is warm (slight warm which your skin can tolerate)
- Lie down by keeping the sore ear facing the ceiling
- Put two drops from the dropper
- Plug the ear with cotton ball
- Get up after 15 minutes and remove the cotton ball
- Do it 2-3 times a day
Other Tips and Precautions
You can take following precautions to prevent and reduce future incidences
- Vitamin D from sun exposure increases your ability to fight infections. So get at least 15 minutes of Sun exposure to recover fast.
- Drink more water. It keeps your body well hydrated to clear out the mucus.
- Eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin c to keep your immune system strong to ward off infection.
- Reduce consumption of sugar as it increases inflammation.
Remember most ear infections can be easily treated at home by boosting immunity with food and other methods and taking some natural remedies like garlic. But in some cases if it doesn't go away within a week, then consult a doctor.