Ear infections are uncomfortable for sure. Sleepless nights, pain that interferes with your train of thoughts and even pulsating headache and numbness in the head are all part of the inconveniences that ear infections can cause. There are 3 main types of ear infections: acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion and otitis externa (also known as the ‘’swimmer’s ear’’). Young children are specifically susceptible to ear infections but the ones with family history of this disease as well as the ones suffering from cold are at risk of getting it. Garlic is a must-have for ear infections and this is how you can use all its benefits.

Garlic oil for ear infection

Garlic oil and olive oil

How to prepare it

The preparation of this oil is pretty straightforward and doesn’t require some crazy cooking abilities. All you need is some olive oil and garlic clove. The oil needs to be warmed up to the point that it is not too hot for your ear. Chop the garlic into little pieces and mix it in a glass with the olive oil. Remember to close the glass so no air can penetrate it. Leave the 2 together for at 2 hours until the garlic releases all the necessary ingredients for the recuperation. Then you should apply this on the outside of the entrance of your ear. A few drops are allowed to enter but it must not be too much. The 2 hour waiting period is the minimum and it refers to urgent situations. The best option is to wait for 24 hours until you use the garlic oil.

The benefits of garlic and olive oil respectively

Garlic has been documented by even by the oldest civilizations as a very potent vegetable. Back in the day, it was actually much more popular as a medicine than as a delicious seasoning with a strong smell and delicious flavor. What makes garlic so powerful is the allicin – a sulfur compound responsible for the majority of the anti-inflammatory benefits that garlic has.

Olive oil is primarily used in the Mediterranean region where the life expectancy is much longer because people there eat foods rich in monosaturated fats. Olive oil is also famous for anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it is often used for inflammation-induced outbreaks on the face. Having this in mind, people started to use olive oil in ear infection treatment and it turned out to be very rewarding.

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Garlic oil and mullein

This is an easy recipe for a treatment you can repeat a few times a day. Take some garlic, mullein flowers and put them in a double boiler. Cover the 2 with some olive oil and let them cook together for 20-30 minutes. Strain the mixture and finally freeze it in order to preserve freshness. Flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils are all the ingredients you can find in mullein that grows in eastern Eurasia. It has emollient and astringent properties that make it an unbeatable natural remedy for ear infections which is why it is a part of many over-the-counter medications that treat this issue.

Garlic oil capsules

Garlic oil capsules are definitely the best bet for people who don’t like to put it in their meals and make the whole house smelly. However, if you’re planning on completely escaping the smell with the capsules, you have to know that odorless capsules are usually less effective. These are usually heated in order to eliminate the smell but that way the precious allicin is lost. Some companies coat the capsules with chlorophyll but this hasn’t proven to be any good against the smell. To prevent the garlic from being released prematurely, scientists came up with the enteric coat which serves this purpose. Finally, when you’re searching for proper garlic oil capsules make sure they have 4.000mg of allicin which is the most often suggested dosage to consume so as to fight off all the bacteria.

Extra Strength Garlic Oil by Buddha’s Herbs

With this garlic oil supplement, you’ll get about 3.000mcg of pure allicin in easy to swallow softgels. It is soy-free and also contains olive oil in its formula for extra efficiency. The customers report that the garlic aftertaste is pretty strong which is why this is the best for those who like garlic or just mind neither the smell nor the taste. As we said, the capsules are in a soft-gel form which is why you should be taking the pills with your meals 2x times a day.

Mullein/Garlic Pure Earl Oil by Herba Farm

This will pretty much save the whole time you’d normally waste on mixing together all the elements which are included in the oil: mullein, garlic, olive oil, calendula, and St. John’s Wort flower extracts. The product is 100% organic and easy to manage because it comes with the ear-dropper you’ll use to apply the product in the ear. If you have kids who are scheduled for the tubes, this might be a game changer. Many parents confirmed that the oil helped their kids a lot when it comes to the fluid levels in their ears and were finally released from the pain.

Garlic Oil by NOW

This product gives you 1.500mgs of allicin per capsule which is definitely a lot considering that you should take this 3x a day with your meals. It does strongly resemble garlic in every way except the looks which is why it may even give you the garlic-smelly burps but you and everyone around you will have to put up with it for a higher purpose. The only bad thing about the product is the fact that it contains soy which is probably something that makes many patients oppose using this one.

Odorless garlic extracts by Sundown Naturals

Garlic brings too many tears to some people which is why they prefer a life without its smell. If you are one of those people then this product is just what you are looking for. It has neither sweeteners nor starch and the manufacturer claims that regardless of being odorless, the pills contain enough of garlic’s goodness. You’ll get 1000mg of allicin per a pill which is enough to make your body more resilient to bacteria. These pills also have soy unfortunately, but as its concentration isn’t too high it won’t have a destructive effect. You can compensate for this with a healthy diet during the infection and after it.