20 home remedies for ear infections

If you’ve ever had an ear infection, then you know how uncomfortable they can be. Earaches are painful for adults and children alike, but they are easy to treat if you know what to do. Let’s take a look at the best home remedies for ear infections, as well as some ear infection medications, such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin. 

Bacterial or viral infections most commonly cause ear infections (acute otitis media). Ear infections often happen due to allergies, colds, or upper respiratory problems. When the tubes inside the ear fill up with fluid and mucus, this causes an infection. 

Kids get more ear infections than adults, and most will have at least one ear infection before they turn 3, according to Cedars Sinai. One of the main reasons children get more middle ear infections than adults is because they have shorter eustachian tubes. 

Ear infections can cause the following symptoms:

• Inner ear pain
• Fever
• Hearing loss
• Trouble sleeping
• Difficulty balancing
• Fluid draining from the ear
• Sore throat

20 home remedies for ear infections 

These are the most common ear infection remedies that can help relieve pain-associated symptoms:  

1. Cold or warm compresses
2. Neck exercises
3. Mullein
4. Vitamin D
5. Garlic oil
6. Chiropractic care
7. Hydrogen peroxide
8. Ginger
9. Naturopathic ear drops 
10. Changing sleeping positions 
11. Apple cider vinegar
12. Acupuncture
13. Facial gua sha
14. Saltwater gargle
15. Olive oil
16. Distraction
17. Onions
18. Breastmilk 
19. Basil
20. Tea tree oil

1. Cold or warm compresses

Both warm and cold compresses can relieve pain from an ear infection. Hold either a hot pad or cold washcloth against the ear for 10 to 15 minutes or alternate between hot and cold for an easy ear infection remedy, especially for children. A heating pad or ice packs can be used as well.

2. Neck exercises

Neck exercises that rotate the neck can help relieve pressure in the ear canal caused by ear infections. Here’s how to do neck rotation exercises:

1. Sit or stand up straight.
2. Rotate your neck to the right so it’s parallel with your right shoulder. Hold for five to 10 seconds.
3. Repeat this exercise on the left side.
4. Raise your shoulders high like you’re trying to reach your earlobes with them. Hold for five to 10 seconds.
5. Repeat these exercises throughout the day.

3. Mullein

Oil made from the flowers of the mullein plant is an effective pain reliever for ear infections. Mullein is available at most health food stores as a stand-alone tincture or an ingredient in herbal ear drops.

4. Vitamin D 

Vitamin D coupons

Vitamin D may seem unrelated to ear infections, but it boosts the immune system. A healthier immune system is less likely to be susceptible to ear infections. A 2017 study published in Acta Paediatrica showed that the risk of ear infections might be reduced by increasing serum levels of vitamin D through food consumption, supplementation, and direct sunlight.

5. Garlic oil

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With antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, garlic oil ear drops can be applied to the ear canal to help kill bacteria or viruses that might be causing an ear infection. You can also soak crushed garlic cloves in warm olive oil to make your own garlic oil ear drops.

6. Chiropractic care

Chiropractic adjustments may help relieve tight muscles around the ear, allowing trapped fluid to drain. One study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that chiropractic care may decrease ear infection symptoms in young children.

7. Hydrogen peroxide

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Hydrogen peroxide can help keep ears clean and prevent dirt or other bacteria from entering the middle ear. It’s especially helpful for preventing swimmer’s ear. Swab a tiny amount of hydrogen peroxide onto the ear canal, but be careful that too much doesn’t get into the ear itself.

8. Ginger

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Well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger in the form of juice or infused oil can be applied to the outer ear canal, but it should never be put directly into the ear.

9. Naturopathic ear drops

Naturopathic ear drops contain a variety of different herbs or essential oils that can help treat ear infections. They may have garlic, ginger, tea tree oil, mullein, or other herbs. The best place to find natural ear drops would be at a health food store or supplement shop.

10. Changing sleeping positions 

If you’re a side sleeper, try sleeping with your affected ear facing up instead of down into the pillow. Sleeping with your affected ear on a pillow could aggravate your ear even more. Suggesting this to children who may not think of it intuitively can help alleviate their pain at night.

11. Apple cider vinegar

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Apple cider vinegar may help treat ear infections because it contains acetic acid, which is antibacterial. Try this home remedy by mixing equal parts warm water and apple cider vinegar and then applying a few drops to the affected ear with a dropper bottle. Alternatively, you could soak a cotton ball with the warm water-vinegar solution, put it on the outside of the ear, and let it sink into the affected area.

12. Acupuncture

“Acupuncture is especially helpful for both earaches and ear infections,” says Sarah Emily Sajdak, DAOM, a licensed acupuncturist at Aquarius Acupuncture in New York. “Acupuncture allows for both the release of the muscles, which allows for the flow of blood and lymph to decrease inflammation, and it can also help decrease the infection using specific internal medicine points on the body to ‘clear heat,’ as it’s called, to clear the infection.”

13. Facial gua sha

Sajdak also recommends facial gua sha, a massage technique using a jade stone or rose quartz to relax muscles and improve circulation. “It can be used to release the jaw and neck muscles,” says Sajdak. “Often, tight muscles of the neck and jaw clenching stagnate the blood and lymph, thus hindering healing.”

14. Saltwater gargle

If an ear infection is related to a sore throat, gargling salt water can help relieve pain and inflammation. Ear infections are sometimes caused by the eustachian tube getting clogged. This tube runs from the middle of the ear to the back of the throat. It normally drains fluid made in the middle ear, but fluid buildup can lead to an infection if it gets clogged. Be careful not to put salt directly in the ear. 

15. Olive oil

While research is limited on how effective olive oil is for treating ear infections, it has been shown to reduce pain in ear infections. It has soothing properties and can help soften earwax, helping to remove it.

16. Distraction

Having an ear infection can be painful and uncomfortable. One method to reduce the discomfort is staying busy with distractions. Studies have shown that the more distracted you are, the less pain you will feel. Some ideas to stay distracted include watching a movie, playing a board game, taking a walk, or talking to a friend. 

17. Onions

There is documentation dating back hundreds of years that shows onions being used to treat ear infections. Cook an onion, let it cool, then cut it in half. Either place a few drops squeezed from the onion into your ear or hold the onion up to your ear. Many people agree that this is a fast and effective way to relieve pain from an ear infection. 

18. Breast milk

Breast milk is packed with antibodies that help fight infections. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce ear infections in babies who are breastfed and children who were breastfed as babies. However, contrary to popular belief, it is best not to place breast milk in the ear because there is a risk of increased bacteria. 

29. Basil

Basil is another home remedy used to treat ear infections. It is full of antioxidant and antibacterial properties. One study had promising results showing that basil is effective at treating ear infections caused by common bacterial infections. Crush a few basil leaves and strain the juice from them. Then, add one to two drops in the ear. 

20. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil can be used to help relieve ear infections. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial components make it a main ingredient in many skincare products. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil into a tablespoon of olive oil, warm slightly, then add a few drops into the affected ear. After three minutes, turn your head to the side to drain your ear. Be careful because tea tree oil’s toxic effects on the ear are not well known. There is some evidence that high concentrations of tea tree oil can cause ototoxicity (hearing loss, balance problems, or ear damage), but more studies are needed to determine the specifics of this. A few drops of tea tree oil diluted into olive oil should be okay but watch for any signs of worsening symptoms, increased pain, or hearing loss. If these occur, seek medical treatment. 

Ear infection medicine

If natural remedies for an ear infection don’t work, over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription medications may be needed as treatments. Here are some of the most popular ear infection medications.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs can help relieve pain and fevers that are caused by ear infections. These are three of the most common NSAIDs: 

RELATED: Is Tylenol an NSAID?  

Antibiotics

Antibiotics can help clear the infection if it’s caused by bacteria. If you or your child are prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection, you must take the entire dose of antibiotics. Not finishing the prescribed antibiotics can leave some bacteria alive and lead to antibiotic resistance. These are some of the most popular antibiotics for ear infections: 

Decongestants

Decongestants reduce swelling in the mucus membranes, which help open up the passages leading to the middle ear and relieve symptoms. Here are some examples of decongestants for ear infections:

When to see a doctor for an earache

Sometimes, no amount of self-care or over-the-counter medication can help an ear infection. Knowing when to see a healthcare provider can help prevent further complications. 

If your earache is severe or accompanied by other symptoms, such as a high fever, hearing loss, discharge from the ear, worsening symptoms, and symptoms that last longer than two to three days, you should see a doctor. You might be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor.

In some cases, people with chronic ear infections may need surgery. Doctors can put small tubes into the eardrum that will help prevent ear infections. The tubes allow air to flow into the middle ear and drain the fluid. 

Leaving an ear infection untreated can cause the infection to spread or cause permanent problems with balance and hearing loss. It is important always to monitor the signs and symptoms of an ear infection. If it does not get better in a few days or worsens, you should seek medical care.