Effective Natural Earache Remedies for Pain Relief

From the Book: The Alkaloidal Clinic, Volume 4,1897

Editor Alkaloidal Clinic: In earache of children or that accompanying la grippe in adults, I find a combination of Campho-Phenique and almond oil, equal parts (1:1 Ratio), warmed and dropped into the ear, followed by a pledget of wool or cotton, a very soothing and efficient remedy.

MARIE L. HOLLOWAY, M. D., Decatur, Indiana.

Dr. Holloway's hint is "worth minding, " for no pain is more unbearable than that of earache. -ED.

I've often wondered over the years about using Campho-Phenique for ear pain. Campho-Phenique is a pain reliever/antiseptic for temporary relief of pain and itching associated with insect bites, minor burns, sunburn, minor cuts, scrapes, cold sore. first aid to help protect against infection in minor cuts, scrapes, burns.

Campho Phenique was first introduced in 1884 as a results of experimentation in 1867 with phenol by Joseph Lister. Lister demonstrated that using phenol to clean a patient's skin before and after surgery could greatly reduce infections.

The Active Ingredients: Camphor 10.8% (Strenghth 108 mg in 1 mL) and Phenol 4.7% liquid (Strenghth 47 mg in 1 mL), Citric acid, Eucalyptus Oil, Light Mineral Oil.

I have seen ear formulas from the 1850's – 1930's using diluted camphor and eucalyptus for ear pain. Mineral oil is a folk remedy as ear drops. Phenol is a anti-septic.

A common Mexican home remedy for ear-aches is to place camphor oil on a cottonball and to place it in the ear for 3 straight days. From the book Curandero Hispanic Ethno-Psychotherapy & Curanderismo: Treating Hispanic …By Antonio Noé Zavaleta Ph.D

Earex Eardrops (available in the UK) provides the complete solution to treating different ear wax problems. With its unique formulation containing three natural oils (arachis oil, almond oil and rectified camphor oil)

Here on EC Campho-Phenique is used to treat ear mites on rabbits: I have raised rabbits and dogs for over 30 years and have to deal with ear mites each summer. I have always used Campho Phenique to kill the mites and heal the ears. I even bought a rabbit once with ear mites so bad the entire ear was nothing but a red inflamed mass of scabs. I pour in a few drops of Campho Phenique and massage the base of the ear to get it in and repeat for 2 days on a really bad case and just once for a mild case. Try it, you will be amazed how well it works. Posted by Gayla (Odessa, TX)

https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/ear_mites2.html

– also found this –

This is advice from my Grandpa who is a former doctor. I don't think medical professionals would like this treatment. I have looked on the internet and was not able to find much information, although I didn't look very hard.

I was having a casual conversation with my gramps and mentioned my ears had been hurting. My ears felt really clogged/full and there was a constant dull pain. He told me he has had the same issues his whole life. He told me the cause was most likely water not draining properly from my ears, which is bad for the inner workings of the ear because they need a dry environment.

Here is what he told me to do.

1. Put cotton balls in the ear before taking a shower to prevent water from getting in there.
2. After showering and drying off completely, grab a q-tip and put a small amount of Campho-Phenique on the tip.
3. ***Use caution on this step. Do not put the q-tip far into the ear canal! I go about 1/8 of an inch in.*** Put the q-tip in the ear canal, but don't go far in. Now twirl the q-tip and apply the Campho-Phenique to the ear by gently touching the q-tip the surface of the ear canal.
4. Do the same thing to your other ear.
5. You're Done!

The Campho-Phenique is an over the counter medication for cold sores. It is a pain reliever and antiseptic gel. My Grandpa told me it helps with the pain, helps fight infections, and most importantly, it helps keep the ear dry. I was able to purchase it at wal-mart in the pharmacy section by the chapstick. I've been using this method for a week and have felt improvements in my ears. The feel less clogged, and I think I may be able to hear better. The pain has also subsided greatly. The first time I used it I could feel the pain go away almost instantly. It has a strange feeling to it... you apply it to the ears, but you taste the medication in your mouth. I'm satisfied with the results. If you can go to the doctor that would probably be your best option, but if your like me and uninsured you kind of have to figure it out yourself. Posted by soul power https://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t68989/my-ear-hurts.html

Source: Practical Nursing, p. 136, By Louise Henderson · 1919

Earache may be caused by some indirect trouble with the teeth, or from cold, or by a purely local disease of the ear.

Treatment.

Have the patient keep the head raised on a pillow and lay the affected ear on a hot water bag (not too full). Lacking that, apply hot cloths or even a poultice over the outside ear. If persistent an earache may be relieved by careful syringing with hot water (108 °), for method see page 102. An earache should always be reported to a physician even if it has been relieved. Carefully note any sign of discharge.

Note: Medicine can be added to to warm water (small amount) before syringing like, boric acid, vinegar (white distilled or apple cider), hydrogen peroxide 3%

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

Deafness generally arises from deficient secretion of wax in the ear. The following remedy is in some cases useful:— Oil of turpentine, half a dram ; olive oil, two drams; mix, and insert a couple of drops in the ear at bed-time.

Source https://www.oldtimeremedies.co.uk/tag/ear

Why Cold Fluid in the Ear Might Cause Fainting or Nausea:

• The vestibular system is directly connected to the brainstem, which controls many involuntary functions like heart rate and blood pressure. When the brain receives confusing signals (e.g., from cold water in the ear), it might misinterpret these as a real change in head position.
• This can trigger a dizziness or nausea response, especially if the brain struggles to process the conflicting information.
• In rare cases, extreme stimulation of the vestibular system can cause fainting (known as vasovagal syncope), where the body's reaction to the perceived imbalance lowers blood pressure and heart rate.

Nausea/vomiting can occur because the brain interprets the disorienting sensation from the vestibular system as a possible sign of illness, triggering the body's response to clear out the "poison" (vomiting) even when there's no actual toxin.

This reaction is most commonly associated with a test called the caloric test, which is used to assess inner ear function. However, generally speaking, it's advised to avoid putting cold fluids in your ear unless it's under medical supervision or for specific treatments, like ear irrigation, as it can lead to discomfort.

If you need to put a liquid in your ear it's generally recommended to use liquids that are at body temperature, or slightly warmer. This is because liquids that are too cold or too hot can cause discomfort and might disrupt the balance system in your inner ear. Lukewarm water (about 98.6°F or 37°C) is typically safe and won't cause these adverse reactions. If you're using a liquid for ear irrigation or cleaning, ensure it's the right temperature to avoid any discomfort or risk of dizziness.

According to him; Clove oil is a magical cure to many kinds of pains and aches. Like it helps you with a toothache, clove oil effectively relieves your earache too.

How to Use. In a base of 2 teaspoons of olive oil, mix 5 drops of clove oil. Gently warm the mixture in a microwave oven or metal spoon after a candle flame. Use your fingers gently to apply 1-2 drops of this mixture inside your ears. This remedy has the capacity to give you a quick result.

I also found this reference: Pour clove oil on a cotton ball and insert it into the entrance to your ear canal to relieve pain. From the book: Reader's Digest Home Hints and Timeless Tips, More than 3,000 Tried and Trusted Techniques p. 66.

INDICATIONS FOR PARACENTESIS OF THE MEMBRANA TYMPANI IN OTITIS MEDIA ACUTA. *BY H. V. WÜRDEMANN, M.D., MILWAUKEE, WIS.

The Laryngoscope, Volumes 2-3,1897. Ophthalmic and Aural Surgeon to the Children's Hospital; to the Milwaukee County Hospital for the Chronic Insane; Director to the Wisconsin General Hospital; Secretary of the Section on Ophthalmology and Otology of the Wisconsin State Medical Society, 1897.

I am scared to try because I have read that it is not a safe practice, but am contemplating trying it. Anyone else can vouch for this remedy?

Cut off about 3 inches of the aloe leaf. Then cut the sides to remove the spikes. Then cut thru the middle to open up the leaf and expose the gel inside.

Use a fork to mash the gel cells to release to aloe juice. Next, use a knife to cut lose all the mashed gel.

Now, place all the mash gel and juice into a clean small 1/2 pint jar. This will be messy. Next, add pure clean water or distilled water (if using in the eyes) to the jar. Stir mixture and now your aloe juice is complete and ready to be placed in the ear canal.

This method is a whole lot easier to get the juice into the eye dropper.

I had to go to a family function and my ear was killing me but did not want to put oily balms or garlic smelling oils in my ear being around family members asking…. “what's that smell…?”

So, after showering, I walked to my herbal preparation area in my kitchen thinking… OK what can I use that won't smell? I grabbed my mullein tincture, tilted my head and applied 25 drops into the canal and plugged it with a cottonball.

I then proceeded to finish getting dressed. 5 minutes later, I noticed the pain was gone so I just left the cottonball in my ear. Got into my car and drove to my family gathering. 1 hour later pain still gone.

Now, why did I choose Mullein Tincture?

Mainly because I did not have any mullein flower oil and it takes 2 weeks to make it. So on to plan B.

It is believed that Europeans discovered the medicinal potential of common mullein in the island of Thapsos, in Greece, hence its botanical name, Verbascum thapsus. Ancient physicians, such as Galen, Hippocrates, Plinius, and Dioscorides wrote about the herbs's various medicinal uses.

The entire plant is active herbally. So pervasive was the use of Mullein in early America, one of the Missouri pioneers named Helderman, was heard to offer this valuable advice to his young grandson: "Young sprout, you see that plant (Mullein) over there? That'll heal about anything."

Mullein leaves and flowers are classified in traditional herbal literature as expectorants (promotes the discharge of mucus) and demulcents (soothes irritated mucous membranes). Historically, mullein has been used by herbalists as a remedy for the respiratory tract, particularly in cases of irritating coughs with bronchial congestion. Some herbal texts extend the therapeutic use to pneumonia and asthma. Due to its mucilage content, mullein has also been used topically by herbalists as a soothing emollient for inflammatory skin conditions. Today, people have discovered it works very well for COVID lungs.

So, if you are suffering from an ear-ache and you have mullein tincture, stick it in your ear!

I have done this for years (I am sure I first saw it here at Earth Clinic! ) and my kids love this. My adult daughter asked me to do this for her when she was stopped by the other day; she's been under the weather.

It disinfects and dissolves/softens ear wax!

~Mama to Many~

Its main ingredients menthol, camphor, thymol, turpentine and eucalyptus oil can relieve congestion in the body. It also acts as an effective topical analgesic that relieves pain.

How I use it for Earaches – In most cases, Vicks for earache relieves pain. All you need to do is rub a generous amount on a cotton ball and put it into either one or both ears overnight for relief from pain and discomfort. Also, rub it around the outside of the ear too.

If I want to put it on without wearing a cottonball in my ear during the day. I use one of those fuzzy Q-tips sold at Dollartree called a “Safty Swab”, roll it around in the Vapor Rub, wipe off any excess and swab it around inside my ear canal. Oh, it feels sooo good!

1) Take a clove of garlic, lay a large knife flat on top of it and push down hard with the palm of your hand on top of the knife. 2) Slide the solid part of the garlic to the side. 3) Put 10 drops of vegetable, olive or coconut oil (the one that smells like coconut) on top of garlic oil left on the counter and mop up all the oils you can with a cotton ball. 4) The cotton ball should have enough combined oils to squeeze out 4 drops in the infected ear, with the head turned sideways. Then gently push the cotton ball in the ear canal.

Notes -

A) Most ear infections start with moisture behind the ear's protective wax.

B) The oil melts the wax and the garlic oil attacks the infection.

C) The cotton ball soaked with oil blocks the oxygen from getting to the infection.

D) The pain should be immediately greatly reduced and the next day the cotton ball can be removed and the infection is usually gone (If not repeat again).

E) make the cotton ball big enough so that not all of it will fit inside the ear canal for easy removal.

F) Early detection is best, so a slight tug on the ear lobe will tell you right away if you or your child needs this treatment.

In the back of the book, Dr. Antonio talks about Mexican home remedies used for various health problems. One was using aloe vera leaf for earache. They heat the gel from the leaf and place it gently on the outer ear for an hour or so. This remedy usually solves the problem in cases where the infection is not the cause of the problem. Aloe vera helps to correct abnormalities in the ear. The same properties that help it reduce swelling, inflammation and pain when you have a skin burn are also effective when used in the ear. When applied, it can help to restore pH balance and deflate swelling tissue, reducing itchiness and pain.

The best part is that it's all natural and safe for any age. So, using my GF as a guinea pig... here is how I extract aloe for her ear-ache.

Cut enough peeled aloe leaf to place into a garlic press. About ½ by ½ gel cube will do. Gentle squeeze the press so the gel is forced through the little holes on the press to release the liquid inside the gel cell membranes. Next, use a medicine eye dropper to drop 3 - 5 drops into the children's ear or 15 – 20 for adult.

More if you desire, it does not hurt. This is most easily done when your lying on your side or head tilted to the side. After applying, put a cotton ball in the ear for a few minutes or hour to keep the aloe from draining out. Keep in mind that putting cold liquids into the ear is quite uncomfortable and could lead to dizziness. If you keep your aloe vera leaf in the refrigerator, you may want to heat it slightly in the microwave before use. The aloe should be room temperature, not hot.

Aloe vera left at room temperature can be applied comfortably. Results: She woke up with no pain. Yah! All hail the Sabila Catus!

Day 3 of a bad earache coming on. Tried H2O2 and Garlic oil the first 2 days, but neither worked. So I did something crazy. I soaked a cottonball in Green Mint Antiseptic Mouthwash from Dollartree (Blue Mint also works) and plugged it in the bad ear. In about 30 minutes the pain was gone. For a quick fix until morning this is amazing.

Todays mouthwash was originally invented in 1879 “Listerine” – for sterilizing surgical wounds. Sometime in the 1970's it was marketed as a mouthwash.

Ingredients contain essential oils (e.g., eucalyptol “eucalyptus”, menthol “peppermint”, thymol “thyme”, and methyl salicylate “wintergreen” and 12% alcohol). All of which are used to fight infections.

Never had this happened before.

So I took out the otoscope to have a look and sure enough she had some bubble like appearance behind the eardrum membrane.

I came to this site and decided to try white vinegar and water 1:1 dilution.

Using the syringe you get with kids panadol, I put a couple of drops in the ear and counted to 5 then drained. Did this to both my ears 1st, an hour or so prior to make sure it didn't hurt... I did find the temperature to be too cold so I used boiled water for the dilution for my daughter's ear... made sure it was lukewarm before using it.

She didn't complain of a sore ear after that. I asked if it felt better and she said yes.

Checked her ear the next day and she had less bubbles. Used the solution again that day and the next day the bubbles were gone. I did it sporadically every couple of days after to be safe.

We bought an otoscope to keep an eye on her ears as she had blockages when she was a toddler.

It does come in handy.

My GF has been suffering from ear issues for a few days now so I suggested she put 1 cup fine sea salt in a thin cotton sock and place it over her ear for a few hours. She place the salt sock over her ear for 5 hours. When she woke up this morning she said the throbbing pain in her ear was gone.

Why this works? I am assuming it's because salt acts like a desiccant and dries out the ear. During an ear infection, congestion in the ear creates more problems and a breeding ground for micro-organism's causing the ear infection. Salt is also antimicrobial.

How to make it:

* 100% thin white cotton footie sock

* cloth string or thick rubber-band to secure the end of the sock so the salt does not fall out

* 1 cup fine sea salt

Directions:

Pour the sea salt into the sock and tie a knot at the end. Heat in a clean, dry
 skillet, over medium-low heat for about 4-6 minutes. To heat the sock evenly, shake it around, and flip every 30-60 seconds. Heat until very warm, but not 
burning to the touch—you don't want to burn your patient! Test on your hand before applying to the ear. Place the warm salt sock over the ear, and the area behind your jaw bone and relax.

*Important: Only use a white sock as dyed threads may melt when heated. Do not substitute regular table salt for the sea salt. Never microwave the salt sock.

Note: If you don't have a 100% white cotton sock like I do, I just us one of my GF black footies socks which is a synthetic blend. Fill it with sea salt. Secure the end with a rubber band. Place it over my ear and then place a hot water bottle over that for the heat. It works fine.

Sodium bicarbonate ear drops “made at home” can be safely used to soften and dissolve earwax build-up and ear infections. Sodium bicarbonate ear drops also can be used to keep your ear canal dry, which helps prevent outer ear infections. The most common form of sodium bicarbonate for home use is baking soda. A baking soda solution is safe and effective to use as ear drops.

Health Benefits of Sodium Bicarbonate:

With its natural pH neutralizing effects, baking soda serves a variety of purposes. The compound is effective for reducing pain, eliminating infection and treating inflammation.

Putting baking soda on your skin creates an alkaline pH which creates an inhospitable environment for the bacteria as staphylococci prefer a neutral or acidic pH.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/microbiology/chapter/the-effects-of-ph-on-microbial-growth/

One study found that baking soda helped kill Candida cells, which are the fungal cells responsible for yeast infections. Fungal infections of the skin and nails, such as onychomycosis, have been shown to improve when soaked in a solution of baking soda and water.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00284-014-0585-9

Baking soda is also an antiseptic that kills the infection-causing microbes. Sodium bicarbonate was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, poliovirus, vancomycin-susceptible and -resistant Enterococcus species, and methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus. Baking soda <3 logs10 of all test pathogens. Baking soda completely inactivated both antibiotic-resistant and -susceptible bacteria at both exposure times.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12017929

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10656352/

Baking soda is also an effective natural remedy for parasitic worms which can infest the digestive tract.

Preparation of Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) Ear Drops

by Dr. Swayam Prabha (India)

Ingredients:

*Sodium Bicarbonate 5mg (1 teaspoon)

*Glycerine 30ml (optional)

*Purified water 100ml

Mix Baking Soda in the warm water. Allow the baking soda to completely dissolve. Then add Glycerine and stir til completely uniformed.

Store your drops in a clean glass container. Keep the container at room temperature. Shake the container before using the drops.

Directions:

Dr. Swayam Prabha states,

Place 2 – 3 drops in the ear. Use only two to three drops at a time. Drops can be used twice a day, if necessary. However, I prefer to use the irrigate method. I place a full eye dropper full into the ear canal so that the solution can make contact with all the tissue in the canal. I plug the canal with a cotton ball. I'll leave this in place for about 1 hour. Use for 1 - 2 weeks when using ear drops to dissolve earwax or infection.