People may think that earaches are no big deal but they can cause you pain. While waiting for medical care or the medicines to work, some of the home remedies can help too. Ear pain can feel unbearable, making it difficult to sleep, eat or do anything but only think about the pain.
According to the best ENT specialist in Karachi, a lot of children find difficulty in expressing earaches or severe pain. It is important to talk to your doctor whenever you feel pain, but a number of remedies are also available that you can try. These include:
- Heat
The heat from an electric pad or hot pack can reduce inflammation and pain in the ear. Apply a hot pad to the ear for about 20 minutes. For best results, touch the neck and throat with the hot pad.
It should be kept in mind that the hot pad shouldn’t be unendurably hot. Never sleep with a heating pad alongside you. Never allow a child to use hot packs without adult supervision.
- Cold
A cold pack is equally helpful with the pain of an earache. Try ice packed in paper towels or freeze a cold pack and then cover it with a light cloth when using. Hold this on the ear immediately and the area around the ear. Do this for almost 30 minutes for great results.
The cold shouldn’t be hurting you while applying the cold pack. Direct ice should never be applied on bare skin directly.
Some people say that heat provides them with greater relief than the cold. And for some, altering hot and cold packs (20 minutes hot and 20 minutes cold) is more beneficial and provides the best pain relief.
- Massage
Gentle massage can help with ear pain that is radiating from the jaw or teeth, or that causes a tension headache. The tender area can be massaged as well as the surrounding muscles.
For Example, if the area behind your area hurts, try and massage the muscles of the jaw and neck. Massage also helps with ear infections.
A type of massage can also be performed that helps to drain the excess fluid from the ears and prevent the pain from getting strong.
- Using a downward motion, apply pressure starting from just behind the ears and down to the neck.
- Continue to apply pressure downwards, work forward to the front of the ears.
- Garlic
Garlic has been used in folk medicine to relieve pain. It has antimicrobial properties that can fight infections. It should never be used as a substitute for antibiotics. Instead, add it to your antibiotic regimen for quick relief. To prevent ear infections and aches, try eating a clove of garlic every day.
Garlic ear drops can also be used to reduce pain and prevent an infection from getting worse. Take two tablespoons of mustard oil and add two to three cloves in it until it gets brown. Strain the mix and apply a drop or two in each ear.
- Onion
Like garlic, onions are also very good at curing infections and reducing pain. And just like garlic, onion can never be used in place for an antibiotic. Heat and onion in the microwave for a minute. Then, strain the liquid and apply a few drops to the ear.
A person might want to lie down for 10 to 12 minutes and allow the liquid to come out of the year. This should be repeated as needed.
- Breast Milk
Breast milk contains antimicrobial properties. Some researchers suggest that a mother’s breast milk changes based on the microbes to which the baby is exposed.
This means that breast milk is effective in babies. However, some of the research suggests that it’s even beneficial for adults. Infants and children should continue nursing to get the most out of milk.
People can also try drops of breast milk in the ears to get relief in case of pain and infection.
Final Thoughts
If you try out all the natural ways mentioned above and still feel that you have the infections active. It’s time to visit a doctor and know the exact reason for the earache and infection.
