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Ear Infection Remedies: Safe Home Care and Reader Tips

| Modified on Jun 08, 2026
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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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Garlic
Posted by Fahim (Concord Ca.) on 07/22/2017
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had a very bad earache. I put clove of garlic in to my ear. Couldn't believe how fast the pain was gone. Also used it on my tooth and my gum. Fascinating what God had created for pain and killing any bacteria.

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

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 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.)

Linda's Ear Infection Protocol
Posted by Linda ( Toronto, Canada) on 06/10/2021
 ★★★★★

Here's my otitis story:

It began with excess cerumen (ear wax). I am 50 yr old healthy female with no known ailments. Age 30 was my first needed wax removal. Seems in the last few years I need it removed every 3 years or so. No history of ear infections or any other ear/nose/throat issue. Tonsils removed age 13 (unfortunately). No known allergies. So that's the background…

Beginning of the month, ear began feeling full. Two weeks later, more feeling of fullness. Ear candling performed and removed great amounts of wax. Fullness remained in the left ear which felt like fluid in the inner ear. Approx 3 weeks with fullness, the pain began. Intermittent but not strong. I began to use peroxide which really helped settle the pain. Since I was still unable to hear very well out of my left ear, I decided to make an appointment with my MD. I rarely go to an MD but I wanted someone to have a LOOK in my ear with the otoscope to ensure nothing obvious obstructing. Antibiotic ear drops were prescribed but did not help. I chose to give them a try based on the length of time I had been with the issue (they actually caused me more pain! ) I stopped and went back to peroxide but more frequent protocol. Went to an ENT. Yup, fluid in eustachian tube. The next correlating moves are; steroid nasal spray for one month, and if not helpful, attend office to look up nose and perhaps put in tube in the ear to drain. Ok ~ full stop. That is where I really started to ponder. This is the same therapy used on children back in the 80's!! That's it? Hmmmm…. There are so many other options to help the body heal.

This is less relevant but I will tell you I'm a Holistic Healer and a fan of hydrotherapy and herbals. Here's what I did FOR 7 DAYS:

Each morning:

~ 1TBSP organic turmeric powder + 1/8 tsp cayenne + ½ tsp ginger in mug of hot water

~ 1 cup bone broth

Daily Herbals

(both antiviral and antibacterial to support the body as a whole):

~ 1 ml Goldenseal (St. Francis) 3X/day (antibacterial)

~ 2ml Virafect (St. Francis) 3X/day (antiviral)

~ 1ml Astragalus 3X/day (antiviral)

~ 1 Tbsp Sambucol Elderberry syrup (antiviral)

~ ½ ml Bee propolis 2X/day (antbacterial)

Daily every 4 hours

~ St. Francis Ear oil; this oil is infused with herbs to sooth the ear tissues such as mullein and elements such as garlic to fight infection (I did peroxide followed by ear oil every time but do what is best for you)

Daily 2 to 4 times

~ Peroxide to kill fungus/bacteria (VERY effective! )

~ 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide flush (this may be too strong for some in which case I recommend diluting to 1.5% by using half water/half 3% peroxide

~ fill the ear canal with 3-5 ml (I just pour until it is almost dripping from my ear)

~ retain for 5 to 30 mins in order to reap the most benefit

~ if you can retain until the bubbling stops, that is ideal, but if infection is high the bubbling may not stop for 30 or so minutes

~ drain peroxide from ear completely by tilting your head over a sink; towel dry with a face cloth and follow with ear oil to lubricate the canal as well as to further protect from bacteria

ALSO:

ZERO sugar/alcohol; EAT wholesomely!!!

Daily visualization of fluid draining and issue resolving

Daily hot packs on the ear and neck area (3 times?)

Exercises to help eustachian tubes. Google videos on how to open up eustachian tubes. Chiropractors seem to have the best videos.

Hope this helps many of you.

Turpentine
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 09/21/2020
 ★★★★★

I have had issue's with Meniere's Disease (undiagnosed) but closes to the symptoms I've experienced like loss of hearing, dizziness, tinnitus and balance with general inner ear pain. I've tried olive oil, olive oil with garlic, essential oils of tea tree, eucalyptus, basil, lavender in different combination's. Out of all of them, Georgia Diamond Turpentine mixed with olive oil 1:1 ratio has worked the best. Hope this helps someone looking for answers.

Witch Hazel
Posted by GEG (North Carolina) on 07/12/2021
 ★★★★★

Try witch hazel, it is cheap and miraculous. I got shingles and it went to my ear. Kept getting in inner ear infections every couple of months. Started putting witch hazel on a cottonball and leaving it in my ear at least 30 minutes. Have not had an infection since I started doing this. Witch hazel kills bacteria, reduces inflammation very quickly. I put witch hazel in my ears after washing my hair and anytime I feel irritation.

Turpentine
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 09/17/2020
 ★★★★★

Earache: Turpentine (Gum Resin) oil - Blend a spoon of clean turpentine with an equal amount of almond or olive oil and place a cotton ball squeezed in that mixture in your ear overnight. This would help alleviate the the ear infection.

From Article: The Sacred Heart Review, Volume 5, Number 6,3 January 1891

I have tried it many times, It works!

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.

Honey
Posted by Jp (Culver City, California) on 03/29/2012
 ★★★★★

Tried several of the wonderful suggestions here on an unexpected ear infection (garlic, ACV, alcohol & distilled white vinegar, coconut oil), and none of them made a significant difference, alas. Then I read a piece on Manuka --aka tea tree or jelly bush-- honey, and its powerful antibacterial effects. Fortunately, I still had a tube of Manuka from my last trip to New Zealand, applied a small amount v-e-r-y gently with a Q-tip around the perimeter of my ear canal, and voila ! Pain erased. The infection was gone by the next day.

Nature is so wise; my personal belief is that bees are absolute angels of health and well-being on our planet. One can often find Manuka honey from NZ in health stores worldwide. It's usually a very dark amber color. (And, of course, being honey, it's delicious! )

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Nadera (Woodside, NY) on 03/08/2009
 ★★★★★

A few days ago, I woke up in the morning and couldn't get out of bed because... I suddenly started to feel dizzy. Everything was going upside down, and I felt nauseous. So, I lay for a while untill I could go to the bathroom, where ofcourse, I threw up! For a couple of days I was confined in bed, later when I felt slightly better, I went to my doctor. He prescribed Meclizine 25mg(saying that I have ear-infection) which I took for a few days. Then I went to your site and read about H202. So, I plucked up enough courage and poured half a tsp.,of 3% Hydrogen peroxide in both my ears. There was a bubbling sensation and I was scared whether I was doing the right thing, yet kept on repeating the process three times a day. After a few days, I went to the hospital to have my ears checked (just in case) to make sure; because deep down I was also worried what if, the infection had spread or something...

My vertigo, had not subsided completely yet, so I went to the emergency, the doctor having checked everything said, she doesn't see any infection in my ears, so she referred me to an ENT. By the time, I got to see the specialist (according to the appointment) few days went by, but I didn't stop the application of my home remedy. In the meantime my dizziness got cured, by the grace of Almighty God.

The specialist checked my ears and put me through several tests, finally discharged me saying everything was clear. THANK GOD!

Garlic
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 11/10/2020
 ★★★★★

Garlic Juice to Cure an Ear Infection, mince two garlic cloves and place the pulp into a fine mesh strainer. Use a spoon to squeeze the pulp thru the strainer so the juice falls thru into a small bowl. Now, use an eye dropper to collect the juice. Add one drop garlic juice into your ear helps to relieve the pain and fight an ear infection. Use a cotton ball to plug the ear. Repeat 2 – 3 time daily til cured.

If garlic juice it too strong for you, cut it in half with a drop of olive oil 1:1 ratio.

Alcohol and White Vinegar
Posted by Big Joe (Chicago, Il) on 10/23/2012
 ★★★★★

I have been using alcohol and white vinegar for 35 years with great effect every time. I keep a little squeeze bottle by my sink. The kind with the top that pushes in to close. I used half white vinegar and half isopropyl alcohol. I just put a few drops in one side and wait until it goes down all the way. Then do the other side. The mixture will not stain your clothes.

Coconut Oil
Posted by Stuart (Puerto Princesa, Palawan Philippines) on 06/25/2011
 ★★★★★

Hi I live in Philippines, and love to go swimming only unfortunately I am prone to ear infections, which seem to happen nearly every time I go swimming, these infections are difficult to heal, I used to have to use anti-biotic ear drops, plus internal anti-biotics to clear them up and it would take 7 to 10 days.

One day after reading about the anti-bacterial properties of virgin coconut oil I decided to put vco drops in my ear several times a day, it cleared in 3 days, so now before I go swimming a few drops of vco will stop me getting an ear infection.

Garlic
Posted by Ani (Ontario, Canada) on 11/26/2008
 ★★★★★

I never tried garlic juice and it does sound like it would be painful but I've always used garlic successfully to cure an ear infection. Just score a garlic clove, wrap in gauze so there is no too direct contact and place in ear, preferably over night. Usually does the trick.

I've also used olive oil to soothe ear pain. Heat the oil a bit and dip cotton and make into a little ball to pout in the ear. The warmth and something in the oil immediately eases the ear pain and often is enough to cure the problem.

Chiropractic
Posted by Kristina B (Conway, AR) on 09/27/2022
 ★★★★★

Chiropractic visit for ear infection. They can do an adjustment that will cause the eustachian tubes to open and drain. It makes a popping sound inside your head. I didn't know this was a thing, but went in for a routine appt when I had an ear infection once and said something about it when they asked how I was doing. They did that and it was IMMEDIATE relief. I always recommend garlic-infused olive oil and chiropractic care now.


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