This article was medically reviewed by Mark Ziats, MD, PhD. Dr. Mark Ziats is an Internal Medicine Physician, Scientist, Entrepreneur, and the Medical Director of xBiotech. With over five years of experience, he specializes in biotechnology, genomics, and medical devices. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Baylor College of Medicine, a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Cambridge, and a BS in Biochemistry and Chemistry from Clemson University. He also completed the INNoVATE Program in Biotechnology Entrepreneurship at The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School. Dr. Ziats is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Ear pain is often the result of an ear infection and these can range from mild to severe. Most ear infections will clear up on their own within one to two weeks, so most doctors recommend a “wait and see” approach.[1] You will still need to find ways to manage pain during this time and there are several things that you can do in the comfort of your home. Just make sure that you see a doctor if your pain is severe or if your condition does not improve. It is important that if you are experiencing ear pain you do not attempt any treatment that involves introducing anything into the ear canal until a doctor has been able to examine your ear canal with her otoscope to ensure that the tympanic membrane is still in tact.
Steps
Using Traditional Approaches
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1Apply a warm compress. Using a warm compress is the easiest way to provide relief for ear pain caused by an ear infection. To use a warm compress, get a clean cotton washcloth and hold it under warm running water until it is wet. Then, wring out the excess water and place the warm, moist cloth over the affected ear. Hold it there until the washcloth loses its warmth. You can use a warm compress as often as you like.[2]
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2Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen will provide some relief for ear pain as well. Make sure that you read and follow the package instructions for any over-the-counter pain reliever that you use. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about the dosage or if you have questions about which over-the-counter pain reliever you should take.[3]
- Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 20 since it has been associated with an increased risk of Reye's syndrome.
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3Ask your doctor about ear drops. Your doctor may be able to prescribe ear drops to help with pain cause by a severe ear infection. Ear drops may not be advised for those with ear tubes. Do not use ear drops without checking with your doctor first.[4]
Getting Medical Help
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1See a doctor for serious symptoms. In some cases, serious symptoms may indicate that you need to seek immediate medical attention for ear pain. Some situations where immediate medical attention may be required include:[5]
- hearing loss
- severe pain
- dizziness
- stiff neck with a fever
- redness, swelling, and/or pain around the ear
- not being able to move the facial muscles around the ear
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2Ask about ear tubes. Ear tubes are often advised when ear infections continue to come back. For example, if someone has more than three ear infections in six months or more than four ear infections in a year, then ear tubes may be necessary.[6]
- Ear tubes are implanted during an outpatient surgical procedure and some will come out on their own after six months to a year. Some kinds of tubes require surgical removal.[7]
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3Take antibiotics if necessary. For a severe ear infection, antibiotics may be necessary. Doctors are often cautious about prescribing antibiotics for simple, first time ear infections, because they will often resolve on their own and/or are caused by viruses, and therefore the increased risk of antibiotic resistance is not warranted. Ask your doctor if you think antibiotics may help you, but try not to pressure your doctor to prescribe them if he or she thinks they are unnecessary.[8]
Trying Unverified Natural Remedies
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1See your doctor before attempting any of these remedies. It can be very dangerous to put anything in your ear canal — even something as seemingly harmless as olive oil or garlic — unless a doctor has examined your ear canal and made sure there is no damage. Some risks include permanently damaging your hearing if the membrane is ruptured, likelihood of changing the local micro-biome, and possibility of causing additional inflammation. There are some natural remedies that may help to relieve ear pain, but as with any kind of complementary medicine, you should check with your doctor first.[9]
- Keep in mind that ear oils should not be used on a ruptured eardrum — which you likely will be unable to identify without seeing a doctor first. Ear oils can also make it harder for your doctor to examine your ear.
- Some natural remedies may end up causing irritation of the canal and therefore more pain/discomfort.
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2Use olive oil. Olive oil may help to relieve ear pain and treat an ear infection. Try putting a few drops of olive oil into your ear using a medicine dropper. Repeat the dosage a few times per day. If you do not have an ear dropper, then you can soak a cotton ball in some olive oil, squeeze out the excess oil, and then place the cotton ball into your ear. You can also infuse olive oil with different herbs to make this treatment more effective.[10]
- Garlic. Garlic has antifungal properties. Mince a few cloves of garlic and allow it to sit in a tablespoon of olive oil for about 15 minutes. Then, pour the oil through a sieve to strain it before using.
- Ginger. Ginger has pain relieving properties. Mince about a teaspoon of fresh ginger and allow it to sit in a tablespoon of olive oil for about 15 minutes. Then, pour the oil through a sieve to strain out the ginger pieces before using.
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3Make an onion compress. Applying an onion compress to your ear may also help to relieve ear pain caused by an ear infection.[11]
- To make an onion compress, chop up a half of an onion and then fry it in some olive oil until the onion is soft. Then remove the onion from the heat and allow it to cool down to room temperature.
- When the onion is cool, place the onion in a cheese cloth or thin cotton towel. Secure the cloth or towel so that the onion is gathered in one spot and so that it will not fall out.
- Then, place the onion compress over your ear for about 10–15 minutes and allow the juices from the onion to run into your ear.[12]
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5Try a commercial ear oil product. If you are not comfortable creating your own ear oil or using kitchen items as natural ear drops, then you may want to consider purchasing a commercially produced natural ear oil. You can buy products that are already infused with herbs and that may help relieve your ear pain.[15]
Warnings
- Again, remember to always get checked out by your doctor before trying any remedies that require you to put something in your ear, and let your doctor know about any complementary medicines you may have tried when you go for a visit as well.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/ear-infection.html
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-home-remedies-for-an-ear-infection/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-home-remedies-for-an-ear-infection/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-home-remedies-for-an-ear-infection/
- ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/earache
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8613-ear-infection-otitis-media
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8613-ear-infection-otitis-media
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/ear-infection.html
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-home-remedies-for-an-ear-infection/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279354/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279380/
- ↑ Pizzorno, JE, Murray, MT, and Joiner-Bey, H, (2003), The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine, ISBN 978-0443067235
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28695767/
- ↑ Pizzorno, JE, Murray, MT, and Joiner-Bey, H, (2003), The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine, ISBN 978-0443067235
- ↑ Pizzorno, JE, Murray, MT, and Joiner-Bey, H, (2003), The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine, ISBN 978-0443067235
About This Article
To relieve ear pain, make a hot compress by running a washcloth under hot water, squeezing out excess water, then holding the cloth up to your ear until it loses its heat. If you’re still experiencing ear pain, try using a medicine dropper to put a few drops of olive oil or honey, which have soothing and moisturizing properties, into your ear. Additionally, use over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to relieve your pain, following the dosage instructions on the package. If your pain is still severe, visit your doctor, who may recommend ear drops or antibiotics. To learn some other natural remedies to try, keep reading!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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