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Ear Infections - Editor's Choice

| Modified on May 18, 2025
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Ear Infection Natural Remedies

Ear infections can be painful and frustrating, but natural remedies have been used for centuries to provide relief. Ingredients like garlic, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar can help combat infections and reduce inflammation. This guide explores the best natural treatments for ear infections.

Causes of Ear Infections

Ear infections can result from bacteria, viruses, or fungi. They often follow colds, sinus infections, or flu. The two most common types of ear infections include:

  • Middle Ear Infections (Otitis Media): Usually occur after a respiratory infection.
  • Outer Ear Infections (Swimmer's Ear): Often caused by bacteria or fungi from excess moisture.

Top Natural Remedies for Ear Infections

1. Garlic

Garlic is a natural antimicrobial that fights bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It can be used in several ways:

  • Garlic Oil Drops: Place a few drops of garlic-infused oil into the affected ear.
  • Garlic Poultice: Wrap a peeled garlic clove in a tissue and place it near the ear (not inside).

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it effective against infections:

  • Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water.
  • Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and place it at the ear entrance for 10 minutes.
  • Repeat twice daily.

3. Olive Oil (Sweet Oil)

Olive oil can help soften earwax and soothe inflammation:

  • Warm olive oil slightly and place 2-3 drops into the infected ear.
  • Use a cotton ball to keep the oil inside for 10-15 minutes.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can help clear infections and break down excess earwax:

  • Use 3% hydrogen peroxide and add a few drops to the ear.
  • Let it sit until the bubbling stops, then drain.

5. Onion

Onions, like garlic, have antimicrobial properties:

  • Onion Poultice: Heat an onion slice, wrap it in a cloth, and place it over the infected ear.
  • Leave it for 15-30 minutes for relief.

6. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects:

  • Place a few drops into the infected ear.
  • Massage around the ear for better absorption.

7. Mullein Oil

Mullein oil is commonly used to treat ear infections due to its anti-inflammatory properties:

  • Apply a few drops of mullein oil into the infected ear.
  • Repeat 2-3 times daily.

8. White Vinegar & Alcohol Solution

This remedy is especially useful for swimmer’s ear:

  • Mix equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol.
  • Add a few drops to the infected ear 2-3 times daily.

9. Steam Therapy

Steam helps clear nasal congestion that may contribute to ear infections:

  • Soak a washcloth in hot water and wring it out.
  • Place it near the ear and let the steam enter.

10. Cayenne Pepper Tonic

Cayenne pepper promotes drainage and fights infections:

  • Mix 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in 6 ounces of juice.
  • Drink daily to boost circulation.

Dietary Adjustments for Ear Health

What you eat can impact your susceptibility to infections:

  • Avoid dairy: Dairy can increase mucus production and worsen infections.
  • Limit sugar & processed foods: These can weaken the immune system.
  • Increase vitamin C intake: Supports immune health.

When to See a Doctor

While natural remedies can be effective, consult a healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Severe ear pain lasting more than 48 hours.
  • High fever (over 102°F).
  • Hearing loss or persistent drainage from the ear.

Final Thoughts

Natural remedies like garlic oil, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and hydrogen peroxide can be highly effective for mild ear infections. However, if symptoms persist, seek medical advice. Prevention, such as avoiding excessive moisture in the ears and boosting immunity through diet, is key to long-term ear health.

Have You Tried These Remedies?

Share your experience with natural ear infection treatments in the reader reviews section below!

Related Links:

Natural Remedies for Ear Pain in Children

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Alcohol with Tincture of Iodine

Posted by rob (Kentucky) on 12/20/2020
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Rubbing alcohol (use 70% or higher if available) dries the ear and kills both bacteria and fungi. An inflamed ear may sting a bit at first, but usually “toughens up” over time. If it really hurts, alcohol may not be the best choice for your ear – discuss with your doctor.

With a stubborn infection, your doctor may recommend using alcohol in your ear twice a day. In those who are infection prone, some folks use this once a week or once a month. I like to add 2% Tincture of Iodine to the alcohol at 2 drops iodine to 20 drops alcohol. Put the alcohol mixture in ear, allow to set for a minute or so, tilt head up right to drain liquid out of ear and use a hair dryer to dry my ear out even more.

Iodine kills bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and even spores of bacteria and fungi, including anthra spores. Iodine was used successfully against influenza, herpes, small pox, and chicken pox viruses. When iodine was suspended in a solution, viral inactivation occurred at dilutions of 1/1,000,000. (Gershenfeld, L.: Iodine. In Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation. Edited by S. S. Block. Philadelphia, Les & Febiger, 1977, pp.196-218.)

Oregano Oil

Posted by Joyce (South Carolina) on 05/23/2018 5 posts
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have used oregano oil orally many times for inner ear infections.

I just put a tsp of olive oil in a cup and a few drops of PURE oregano oil, mix with 1/2 cup of water and swallow. Has to be mixed well, because it can be VERY hot in your mouth. I have taken many more drops than this when I had internal infections of different kinds. It has always been successful in killing the infection. The negative to it is it can be hard on your stomach especially if you have a tender stomach and I do not know the long term results on ones kidney..

All I know is I have used all the natural methods of getting rid of internal infections, and the two best that I have ever found is Oregano oil, and I would put Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) as number two on my list. Often I will use 10-15 drops of GSE in water first every few hours to see if it will stop the infection first..if that does not work, then I go for the more potent oregano. I also have a trick where I put the drops of oregano on bread and then roll it up in pill like fashion and swallow.

BTW- many oregano products know that the public can be very stupid, so they have it already mixed with olive oil. I prefer to mix my own so I know how much I am actually getting. You can buy oregano already capsulized too.

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Kerry (San Antonio, Tx) on 12/10/2017
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I began to feel an ear ache that became increasingly painful to the point that I couldn't ignore it. I had colloidal silver on hand (10ppm) and put a couple drops in the affected ear. I felt a slight bubbling but within minutes lying on my side to allow the silver to penetrate, I felt the pain subside. I then began to resume my activities. I felt it return once more, I repeated the same procedure and soon enough pain subsided but this time never returned. I believe the colloidal silver quickly conquered an ear infection.

Alcohol and White Vinegar

Posted by Jackie (Ca) on 11/30/2016 11 posts
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I think this recipe is fairly well-known/common, but I thought I would share it here because I use it every time I get an ear infection (which is not that often), and it has cured me of all of them since I discovered it. One time several years ago I got a strange blister-like cyst in my ear canal, and this recipe cured that and brought almost immediate relief to the pain as well. The recipe is very simple: just combine equal parts of vinegar (I use regular white/yellow vinegar, but probably any kind would do), and Rubbing alcohol (70-90%), and put a drop in each ear and let it run down into the ear canal. When I had the strange cyst thing, I got a Q-tip soaked in the alcohol/vinegar mixture and then pressed it gently against the bump in my ear canal. Like I said, it felt better almost instantly, after having bothered me for weeks. That's when I first tried this recipe. Since then I have cured several other ear infections (including one my boyfriend had, who also said his ear felt better immediately). Both ingredients in the mix kill germs and the alcohol also has a drying effect, which I think is important if you have fluid build-up in the ear from the infection or swimming, etc.

Cayenne Pepper

Posted by Onyx (Madrid, Spain) on 03/08/2012
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hello fellow sufferers. Just felt obliged to share my experience. I've been having excruciating pain in both of my ears for the last 5 months, it was usually much worse during the evening. I was in physical and mental agony, because it really can drive you up the wall that pain. I found this website by accident looking for pain relief or at least some explanation (docs didn't help). The same evening I bought ground Cayenne Pepper and decided to give it a try... I put a bit less than half a teaspoon in a glass of luke warm water and downed it... I could feel it working from the first go!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wasn't nice, I'm not used to spicy stuff and my eyes were about to pop out, but it passed a minute or so later. That heat the pepper gave cleared the pressure in my nose immediately.

The next day another 2 glasses of the magic stuff later I was laying on my right side and I felt a sudden sharp pain in my ear, like a pop, like someone stuck a screwdriver in my right ear and a strong sensation of relief.... Then..... Nothing.... Absolutely nothing. It was 2 weeks ago. I've not had pain since, not even once. I can't believe it!!!!!! It was ruining my life, I was grumpy the whole time, and not to mention very scared that it was something much more sinister than some infection. In my opinion it was an infection getting out of control, like candida or something. I was very stressed out at the time it started 5 months ago, so it can easily be stress related candida symptom. I do get an occasional itch in my ears, but small itching is normal now and again. I also take a glass of water with 1 tbspoon of ACV and 1/2 teaspoon of soda bicarbonate twice a day now, I can honestly say that I've never felt better. Thank you EarthClinic! THANK YOU! Good luck and good health everyone x


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