Let us be the first to say it, ear congestion is not a walk in the park! It can cause quite a discomfort, affecting your capability to hear and make you feel less like your amazing self and more like a grandpa lost in the supermarket. As we know, ears help us with spatial orientation, and good hearing is essential for our general safety, so while your ears are congested, driving or riding a bicycle in the city are probably not the safest option.
Ear congestion occurs due to several reasons, such as the buildup of ear wax, infection of the sinuses, accumulation of the water in the ear canal, and last but not least, those pesky allergies. Note that if your ears are bleeding and you are experiencing severe pain, you should contact your doctor immediately, but if that is not the case, some home remedies might just solve your problem. Today, we are looking into best essential oils for ear congestion.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a strong antimicrobial and antiseptic agent with anti-inflammatory properties. All of this means that it can cure an infection in your ears easily and with minimal effort. Since tea tree oil is known for its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, it is also good for curing your sinus infections, or any other respiratory problems as well.
When it comes to clogged ears, you can use tea tree oil in two ways. For the first one, you will need a glass of boiling water to which you will add a few drops of tea tree oil. Stir well. Tilt your head so your ear is just above the glass and let the steam enter your ear. When you do this, you should feel instant relief. Do this several times a day until you feel better.
The second method involves olive oil. Simply dilute a few drops of precious tea tree oil in a tablespoon of warm olive oil. Stir the two oils well, and using a dropper, introduce the oil mixture to your ears. This tincture will drain out the Eustachian tubes of the mucus and help your ears de-congest.
Garlic Oil
We all know that garlic is a perfect natural antibiotic with strong anti-bacterial properties. It can help clear ear infections and even prevent them if used regularly. Warm garlic oil can help with the congestion-related discomfort while at the same time destroying the germs that caused the infection in the first place. Making your own garlic oil is easy.
Take two cloves of garlic and mash them. Let them sit for about 10 minutes to allow the substance called allicin to form. Allicin is a compound that is a strong antibacterial and antibiotic agent which has enough power to eliminate any strain of infection resistant to regular antibiotics.
After ten minutes, place the crushed garlic cloves in a saucepan and add five tablespoons of olive oil. Warm over very low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes to let the garlic infuse into the oil. Once the time as passed, remove from heat and let the mixture cool down to room temperature.
Drop a few drips on a cotton ball and put it in your ear for about a minute to loosen any wax or mucus and drain. You can also put minced garlic into olive oil for three hours and then use it if you want to avoid heating.
Basil Oil
Basil essential oil is a natural antibacterial agent and a muscle relaxant with anti-inflammatory properties. All of this can help with ear congestion and ear infections! To use basil oil for this problem, put a few drops of oil on a cotton ball and place the ball in your ear. As the vapors from the oil reach the inside of your ear, you should feel immediate relief. Just make sure you do not pour any oil into your ear canal.
Mullein Oil
Mullein essential oil is used for respiratory issues and many other ailments, and ear congestion is one of them as well. This one you can also make yourself by infusing the flowers and buds in good quality olive oil. To do this, gather enough flowers to fit a small jar up to a half and fill with olive oil. You can also add one clove of minced garlic for added benefits.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is also a powerful natural ailment destroyer, so why not try using it for ear congestion as well? Make sure that you are always using a carrier oil when dealing with essential oils, as you would not want to apply them directly onto your skin.
To make this special lavender oil rub, you will need quarter of a cup of good quality olive oil, and ten drops each of lavender oil and tea tree oil. Mix all the ingredients well and apply them around your ears to fight of the infection and reduce inflammation. You should feel better in no time!
Ear Oil Relief
If making your own home remedies is to troublesome and complicated for you, you can always opt for a commercially produced oil relief. NOW Foods has its Ear Oil Relief that can clean the ear without causing irritation to your ear canal. This oil blend includes Mullein oil, Garlic Oil, Calendula Oil, St. John’s Wort, Tea Tree Oil, Vitamin E, and Olive oil.
Provided that your eardrum is not punctured, warm the oil and shake the bottle well. Introduce three to four drips in each ear and plug them with a cotton ball.
Prevention
The best cure has always been prevention! There are a number of things you can do to avoid ear congestion, for example:
- Avoid extreme temperatures around your ears
- Take a warm fifteen minute shower to relieve blocked ears
- Be careful when scuba diving or diving. Always make sure to go slowly so that your ears have enough time to adjust to the pressure.
- Eat garlic, jalapenos, chilies, peppers, onions, radishes
- Eat warms soups and drink warm coffee and tea
- Don’t be afraid to yawn
- Chew a gum when flying
- Don’t use waterpik on your ears
- Don’t scratch your ear drum with nails or sharp objects