An ear infection could be caused either by bacteria or viruses and it starts right behind the eardrum. Fluids accumulate in this area which affects the whole middle-ear causing pain and discomfort. There are acute and chronic ear infections. Potentially more dangerous is the chronic ear infection that can lead to permanent hearing damage. Allergies, cold and changes in air pressure are all the reasons you could get an ear infection. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics to soothe the ear infection pain but lately, it’s been discovered that many at-home remedies could do the same.
Start with what you can find in drugstores
Antibiotics are the easiest way to go about the ear infection pain. You can use either ibuprofen or acetaminophen but make sure you’ve read the label thoroughly. This is vital when you’re treating a child’s ear infection in which case the dosage of antibiotics will differ in most cases. Luckily there are ‘’kids’ version’’ of all the medications including antibiotics and they usually involve lower dosage and maybe even some alternation in the make-up of the medication itself.
Cool it down!
This is definitely the safest method to relieve the pain. It is suitable both for children and the adults. All you need is an ice-pack which you’ll put on the affected region. You should do this for ten minutes.
Cold and warm compresses
If you don’t like cold compresses too much, then you can add up some warm compress. During ten minutes, change between the 2. For the warm compress, you can use a heating pad instead of going straight for dampened cloth but make sure it’s not overly hot!
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Olive oil
This oil is known for its antibacterial properties and is widely used as a folk remedy for all sorts of illnesses. It is not exactly proven that it works which is why you should consult your doctor before you use it, especially if you’re giving this to children. The way people usually use it for treating ear infections incorporates heating up the oil no more than your body temperature and putting a few drops down your ear. Remember- under no circumstances should it be too fiery because in another case it could hurt your ear-drums.
Naturopathic ear-drops
If you’re willing to do some more serious online research, you can find this type of ear-drops at very reasonable prices that would do a great job. They are usually made from herbal extracts such as olive oil, but the ingredients usually vary among manufacturers. For example, Walgreens Homeopathic Earache Drops are one of the most popular you can detect on Amazon.com. They’re made in the USA and can be used by both children and adults. Tilt your head to the side, let 4-5 drops get in your ear and stay like that for up to 2 minutes for the best results.
Chiropractic treatment
This sounds rather ludicrous at first but this way of dealing with an ear ache is not to be written off so lightly. Your spine is closely connected to your ears as it is a part of your head, and you’ll find that not only this treatment will help you with back problems but will also make your head feel more relaxed including ears.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has been used as a home-remedy for the longest time to cure many diseases. The name goes back to the 18th century and the sailors who made nut-meg smelling tea from leaves of a tree that is native to Australia. This oil is used for acne, fungal infections of the nails, herpes, vaginal infections etc. As we can see, the oil has a wide application when it comes to infections, which is why many doctors recommend it for ear issues. Of course, you should first test yourself for the sensitivity to this remedy and as an alternative, you could mix it with a bit of olive oil.
Help your ears drain faster while you are sleeping
If you try to elevate your head a bit with, pillows or sleep with the infected ear facing upwards it will drain faster. It has been proven that sleeping on the affected side can aggravate the ear and you may end up with even more pain.
Find things to do until the pain goes away
Children may find it particularly hard and annoying to deal with an ear infection because of the pain. Try to spoil them as much as you can during this period by treating them with favorite snacks from time to time, letting them watch their favorite shows and play with toys. Even adults could find this situation irritating which is why you should find yourself a compelling book to read and rest until you’re free from the infection.