Aches, sharp pain, and a foggy head.
Earaches are the absolute worst! If you are currently suffering from one, we truly sympathize.
Fortunately, we’ve put together this all-telling guide on the best home remedies for earaches, so you can get your head on straight, and back to living your beautiful life.
Let’s get started!
Break Out The Heating Pad
Heating pads can help reduce the inflammation in your ear, which is a great way to minimize or perhaps even stop the pain.
Heat the heating pad, and then hold it to your ear for 20-30 minutes. This should help manage the pain, and at the very least, will feel good on your head and neck.
Additionally, make sure that the heating bad isn’t scorching. Otherwise, you may burn yourself.
Let it sit for at least a minute after it comes out of the microwave before placing it against your ear.
Try An Ice Pack
It may seem counterintuitive, but cold can also help with the pain and inflammation of an earache.
To treat your earache using this method, place an ice pack in a ziplock bag or wrap it in a paper towel.
From there, place it on your ear for 15-30 minutes. You must use some method to cover the ice pack.
Otherwise, you risk getting melting water in your ear, which can further irritate it.
Additionally, some people benefit more from using cold to treat their earaches, some benefit more from heat, and some like trading off, so feel free to experiment and see what works best for you.
Chew Some Gum
Here’s a classic, and a classic for a reason!
Everyone knows that if they’re flying and their ears start to pop and ache, that they should try chewing some gum. Often, it works!
Why would it be any different for earaches? The truth is, it’s not.
It’s worth trying this method – chew on a few sticks of gum for about half an hour, and see how you’re feeling afterward.
The chewing motion may help relieve the pressure inside your ears, thus mitigating the pain.
Try Ear Drops
Ear drops are a great way to deal with earaches, especially if it is due to an excessive buildup of wax.
You can find several earwax drop products at your local pharmacy, or you can buy them online.
We recommend using some with natural elements, but you may find that other products work for your needs.
That being said, you should discuss with your doctor before using these drops, because they are only useful with earwax, and may not be recommended if your earache is due to other issues.
Eat Some Garlic
Garlic is a powerful antibiotic and may help speed up relief due to an infection.
Try eating at least a clove of garlic every day to prevent earaches in the future, especially if you are naturally prone to them.
Of course, this won’t be a cure-all if you are already suffering from an intense earache, but you can try using it in conjunction with some of the other recommendations in this guide.
Try Cough Drops
Many people swear that sucking on hard candy or cough drops can help reduce pressure inside the inner workings of your ear, thus help to stop the pain of an earache.
This method may not work for everyone, and probably won’t work if you have a severe earache, but it is worth trying since it is easily accessible and straightforward to do.
At the very least, it may help distract you from the earache, which can, believe it or not, significantly help manage the pain.
Should I Try Using Hydrogen Peroxide?
Often online, you will see people talking about how quickly and efficiently they got rid of their earaches using hydrogen peroxide. But is it a good idea?
In our opinion, you should not use hydrogen peroxide for your earaches.
Why? There are too many things that can go wrong.
Frankly put, if your earache isn’t due to earwax build up, hydrogen peroxide can make it significantly worse.
This is why it’s crucial to talk to your doctor before putting anything in your ears!
What Causes Ear Aches?
Although it’s hard to pinpoint an exact cause for your earaches, there are several common possibilities.
For example, it may be an excessive build-up of wax in the ears, which is what some people are prone to.
Additionally, it could be due to water being trapped in the ear, which is usually caused by swimming in a pool or the ocean.
Altitude is another common source of earaches, and many people suffer from them when flying in a plane or while driving over a mountain pass.
The good news is, most of these earache causes are relatively easy to treat at home. That being said, there is always the chance that your earache is due to allergies or an infection.
Should I Try Putting Things In My Ear?
You may see people talking about how they used a home remedy, such as onion juice, lemon juice, or hydrogen peroxide, to help relieve their earache.
We do not recommend putting anything in your ears unless your doctor advises you to do so.
The ears are complex, and you need to be careful with inserting foreign objects into them!
Just because something worked for other people, doesn’t mean it will work for you, so be careful.
When Should I See A Doctor For My Ear Ache?
Generally speaking, if your earache lasts for more than 24-48 hours, you should see your doctor.
That being said, this website does not provide medical advice, so if you have any medical issues, you should talk to your doctor immediately.
Conclusion
There are a variety of reasons why you may be suffering from an earache. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to help treat your ear pain at home.
Thank you for taking the time to read this guide and let us know if you have any other favorite earache home remedies, either by emailing us or leaving us a comment below.
We hope your ear pain ends soon!
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