Earache Home Remedy Tried And True
The last few months, I have been surprised that some young Moms don’t know about this home remedy for earaches that saved me many a night when my kids were little.
Common Problems That Can Cause Earaches
- Sinus infection
- Fluid buildup
- Air pressure
- Viral infections
- Low Immune system
- Swimmer’s ear
All kids have earaches, and there is nothing worse than one of your kids waking you up in the middle of the night in pain. Earaches are the worst!
They would wake my kids up every time. I was very lucky to find a Dr. that I adored when my kids were young. He didn’t like just doling out meds for every little thing, so he would teach me tricks to keep them out of his office!
He told me a couple of drops of warm oil in the ear would soothe it enough for them to go back to sleep, and often by morning, they never remembered they woke up with an earache at all. All signs and symptoms would be gone!
I have had people ask me what kind of oil I used. In the middle of the night, I will be honest, while listening to their painful cries, I didn’t care what kind I used! I have heard garlic oil has healing properties as well as anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s a good choice.
Oils Often Used To Treat Ear Aches
- Warm Tea tree oil
- Warm Coconut oil
- Warm Sesame oil
- Warm Olive oil
- Essential oils
Here’s what I did:
Warm the oil – not too cool, not too hot, just comfortably warm. Make sure they are lying down with the affected ear exposed.
Dip a cotton ball in the oil and use it to drop a few drops in the ear canal, place the cotton ball in the ear so no oil seeps back out. I would always make sure they kept their head laying with the affected ear up until they fell asleep.
My kids would be asleep in just a few minutes! It worked like a charm every time, with all 4 kids! It saved us many sleepless nights, trips to the Dr., and lots of money, too!
More Natural Remedies For Earache Relief
- Heating pad
- Cold pack / Ice pack
- Warm compresses / Hot water bottle
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cold compresses
- Cloves of garlic
- Basil leaves
What To Watch Out For:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Swollen lymph nodes
- High body temperature
- High fever
It’s a good idea to seek medical treatment or medical care if your young children or older children have any of these symptoms. This could be an indicator of something else like an infected ear that needs medical care or tmj pain. This would have to be treated with ear drops and over the counter medication.
What earache remedies have you tried?
Note: I am not a Dr. and I don’t play one on the internet. This information is not intended to replace your Dr.’s advice.
Alisha says
We also use the oil trick, but I make our own garlic infused oil and it has worked wonders for ear aches. We too have a doctor that isn’t all about giving medicine unless it’s necessary, so he gives us ways to treat minor things that don’t require a doctor visit.
Dian says
Alisha,
I have never used the garlic oil, but, I have heard that it is great to use with all of its healing properties.
Thanks for sharing!
Dian
Phebe says
I also have used white rice in a sock or in homemade bag sewed up. Warm it up in the microwave 30-50 seconds. Apply to hurting ear. Works good for night leg pain too.
Dian says
Phebe,
I LOVE my rice sock for shoulder pain! I have never tried it for an earache! good to know! Thanks!
Dian
rose weaver says
i have use rice sock for a long , long , long time a bout 5 yrs or 6 had a bad ear thank GOD for my husband he fix me a rice sock ,lord my ear was better [for got to say he heated it ].
Dian says
Rose,
I have never tried it for an earache, I will have to remember that!
Thanks!
Dian
Tammy says
My mom use to get an iron warm and then wrap a towel around it and we would lay against it with our ears and it would help.
Pat says
We always used peroxide in the ear and then a some cotton would always work. A old Doctor told me this when my children were young. About 40 years ago.
Brend garmon says
I’ve had ear aches over 50 years the best thing for them is a warm water bottle.
Teresa says
My Grandma told me of this. She told me to use Sweet Almond Oil – has always worked wonders!
Cindy says
If you smoke blow smoke in the ear then put cotton in it to hold the smoke in.
Rita says
I was one of 6 kids. My mom treated earaches similarly to your oil treatment, but used warmed glycerin. It’s thick, so may not run as quickly as oil. It absorbs water, so may help decongest the ear. My theory is that the warmth of whatever you use increases circulation to the area, the body’s best tool in treating infections.
Dian says
Rita,
What a great tip! Thanks so much for sharing!
Dian