Home Remedies For Earache

When considering home remedies for an earache, you'll need to first determine what kind of earache you are dealing with. What might work for an outer ear infection could be less effective with an inner ear situation.

Diagnose Yourself
If the ear hurts when you touch the outer ear, tug on the earlobe or press on the bump protruding from your ear just outside the ear canal, you're probably dealing with swimmer's ear. If the earache is deep inside the ear and hurts more when you lie down, you're probably dealing with a middle ear infection. If the earache coincides with a lot of swimming or time in a bathtub with your head submerged in water, you're probably dealing with swimmer's ear. If the earache coincides with a head cold or congestion, you're probably dealing with a middle ear infection.

Immediate Pain Relief for Both Kinds of Earaches
Take the recommended dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Home Remedies for Swimmer's Ear
The goal in all home cures for swimmer's ear is to re-establish an acidic PH balance in the ear canal and dry up any water in the ear. You can do so by putting a couple drops of rubbing alcohol into each ear and allowing the solution to dry naturally. It will suck the water right out of your ear canal and allow the ear canal to naturally restore the PH balance.

Home Remedies for Middle Ear Infection
The goal in all home cures for middle ear infections is to decongest your head and clear the Eustachian tubes. The following are natural ways to decongest your head, therefore clear the clogged tubes in your ears:

• Use a nettie pot: Use a nettie pot to rinse out your sinus passages. Spend time allowing your sinuses to drain and spitting extra mucus into the sink.
• Take a hot shower: Allow the humid air to break up the mucus in your sinuses. Spend time spitting excess mucus and allowing your sinuses to drain.
• Eucalyptus oil in hot water: Place one or two drops of eucalyptus oil in hot water. Close your eyes, place a towel over your head and breathe in the steamy, fragrant air.  Clear your sinuses as you breathe in and out.
• Sleep sitting up: This will allow your Eustachian tubes to drain.

Quick Pain Relief For Middle Ear Infection
For quick pain relief, try the following natural remedies:

• Warm compress: Warm a wet face cloth in the microwave, then use the warm compress to relieve pain from a middle ear infection. Reheat the towel as needed. Be careful not to burn your skin by heating the towel too much. A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel will work the same way.
• Warm mineral oil: Heat mineral oil to warm, not hot. Test it on your wrist to make sure it is not too hot, but feels warm. Drop a couple drops of the warm mineral oil into the affected ear for immediate pain relief.