Effective Natural Earache Remedies for Pain Relief

Hydrogen Peroxide and Apple Cider Vinegar

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Posted by Terri (North Little Rock, Arkansas) on 03/06/2009
★☆☆☆☆

I have been trying one of the remedies that was seen here from a friend of ours and it is not working. I have had only one ear bothering me then the other one started so he went and looked up some home remedies for us because we can not afford to send me to the doctor. But it looks like that I am gonna have to go because I have not been able to get a solid night sleep. I finally do get to get some rest and it is only for about 3 hours at a time. The pain is so unbearable that I have literally bawled my eyes out and I am a 44 year old woman. The remedy that was given to me was the one that calls for 3% hydrperoxide 3 drops in each ear and then dry each one completely then take 2 drops of apple cider vinegar in each ear and leave in there for five minutes repeat this whole remedy 3 times a day. I know that there are some who do not get relief by using these remedies and others do, but I am at my wits end. I can not afford to go to the doctor. I am currently unployed but I am out there pounding the streets to find work and I have been very depressed lately. Work was the only thing keeping me going. My ears are hurting so bad right now I just want the pain to stop because it is so terrible that I have thought about other ways to end this pain and I am being very serious about this. Can you please help me find something that will work.

Replied by Ruth
(Fairmont, Wv)
05/10/2012

My advice would be that if the peroxide and ACV are irritating your ears, that is an indication you should STOP using them--at least for now. I frequently have that problem too. I haven´t used ACV in my ears before, but I use peroxide often if my ears are stopped up or irritated. It almost always helps, but sometimes makes my ears really irritated. So I usually apply coconut oil or olive oil. It works best at night when you can leave it in for a long time, but you can use it during the day too. You might want to put some tissue in the outside of your ear for a while to keep the oil from running out and getting all over you.

Jean's Tomato Tea

5 star (1)

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Posted by Pb (Cape Breton, Ns) on 07/28/2010
★★★★★

I had tried Jean's tomato tea from earthclinic for a sinus cold and it worked amazingly well. However after a few days I developed an ear ache. I took another cup of the tea and within a few hours my ear cleared. My guess is the ear ache was somehow sinus-related?? A good reminder to keep taking the tea for a few days even after you're feeling better. Anyway just thought I'd pass this on. (I've also been thinking that Jean's tomato tea would be a good daily supplement, as when I took 2 cups for my sinus cold, within a few hours I had a phenomenal amount of energy!!)

EC: For those who haven't seen it, instructions and feedback for Jean's Tomato Tea is here: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/tomato_tea.html

mouthwash

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Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 04/28/2022
★★★★★

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.

Mullein Tincture

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Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 11/26/2023
★★★★★

I've been having a nagging ear-ache for a few days now. My GF used my “Otoscope” to look into my ear but saw nothing… normal.

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!

Neti Pot With Sea Salt, Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda

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Posted by Andrey (Los Angeles, Ca, Usa) on 03/28/2013
★★★★★

Hello, I have been getting ear aches/infections when the weather jumps up and down for as long as I can remember. The hydrogen peroxide method has always helped me, however what I was surprised to see is that no one mentioned using a Neti pot as well. Ears, throat and nose are all connected as most of you probably know. A neti pot filled with slightly warm purified water, 1/3rd teaspoon of sea salt, 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda, and about 5-10 drops of hydrogen peroxide is a great way to alleviate the pain and pressure in your ears! It usually clears them out right away. Please try this remedy out and tell me what you think! Andrey.

Oil Pulling

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Posted by X-microbiologist (Right Here, Usa) on 11/18/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I currently have one of the worst ear infections ever, -and I am usually not prone to them! Being a diehard fan of Earthclinic (and the fact that it was 2 in the morning when my symptoms kicked into high gear) I read through and tried nearly every remedy listed with only marginal success. It was maddening! So I looked at a diagram of the ear and realized that every "Cure" I'd tried involved placing salt/alchohol/vinegar/oil etc. INTO the ear itself, hoping that the medicinal agent would get into the problem area and fix things. But if the problem was lower down -say lower middle ear or even in my eustachian tube, that pathway is unlikely to be effective. And believe me, it wasnt effective, -I was hurting continuously!

That's when I thought about oil pulling. The mouth is yet another pathway into the ear and, when using a truly antibacterial oil like coconut or garlic-infused olive oil, should be relatively quick and effective way to clear up deep ear infections.

So I figured I'd give it a try, -certainly it was better than waiting for morning! I took Coconut oil and put in a little natural sea salt, placing a tablespoon of the concoction in my mouth. Then, I laid down to further facilitate getting the stuff to my tubes (you dont have to do this, but I was also exhausted, so I had double incentive! ) After five seconds, I finally had sustained, sweet relief! The pressure subsided, no more pain, -I'm still a little clogged, but I'm decidedly feeling BETTER! I swished for about 15 minutes overall. I'm also going to alternate the salted coconut oil with garlic-infused olive oil to make sure I don't have any little infectious nasties left. But I just wanted to post my success here because I read several other posts from people who were in the same boat as I was last night, -tired, desperate and out of luck. In fact, if I could just make a blanket recommendation, maybe trying the oil-pulling FIRST before putting anything into our ears? Membranes are delicate things and once they're damaged, it tends to be permanent. Oil pulling is a pretty non-invasive procedure to try FIRST if you've got a raging ear ache and it wont hurt you in any way. And, if it doesn't work, you've ruled out the lower tubes of your ears as infection sites, -so win/win!

Anyway, -God's blessings to all! I hope this is a help to others!

Olive Oil

5 star (6)		86%
1 star (1)		14%

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Posted by Carol (Liverpool, England) on 08/02/2017
★★★★★

I just think warm Olive oil is the best remedy, just a few drops,

i suffer badly with earache and this is my only cure.

Olive Oil

Posted by Msg (Somewhere, Europe) on 03/15/2010
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hi, having benefited from many of your ideas here, for which I am very grateful, I thought I'd share one that is tried and true:

Having had numerous siblings and numerous children, I can recommend without reservation the olive oil-on-a-piece-of-cotton remedy for earaches. Works for all ages, in my experience. by 48 hours the latest, earaches are gone. The olive oil only has to saturate a bit of the cotton (the side that goes into the ear) and the cotton should be stuffed (not deeply!!) into the ear and kept there. We put a biggish piece of cotton so it won't be able to get too deep. It can be changed as often as you want but we always just leave it there till the next shower.

Olive Oil

Posted by Kathy (Weatherford, Texas) on 12/09/2008
★★★★★

You might have to try several things. I tried hot oil treatment with THYME and it helped. Also I used alcohol drops. hydrogen peroxide hurts and it bubbles, and this is much better.

Olive Oil

Posted by Beth (Conway, AR) on 02/08/2008
★★★★★

I have always used sweet oil for all my ear trouble and my mom used it when I was little girl. I am now 26 and use it to this day I will not buy any OTC stuff it is a waste of money. they say you should heat it up but as long as it is at room temp. and at ___ it is $3.84 I cant go to the doctor

Olive Oil

Posted by Kia (Columbia, South Carolina) on 11/25/2007
★★★★★

Sweet Oil: I'm 26 years old and I lived with my grandmother a majority of my life. For as long as I can remember, anytime I would get ear aches, she would put sweet oil in my ear. Sweet oil can be found at any grocery store. All you have to do is get the sweet oil, pour the sweet oil in a tablespoon, and heat it up. I usually put a lighter under the spoon to get it warm, (not too hot). Next, get a cotton ball and soak up the sweet oil. Put the cotton ball(s) in your ear(s), and the next day you will be cured. This remedy has never failed me or anyone else in my family. Its guaranteed to work.

Replied by Kathy
(Mountain City, TN)
09/09/2008

I want to try this Sweet Oil remedy. What is Sweet Oil? Where can it be found at the grocery or at Walmart?

EC: Sweet Oil is another name for Olive Oil.

Replied by Sara
(Columbus, Oh)
08/20/2009
★☆☆☆☆

Every summer I always get the same old swimmers ear. Right now It's the one of the more bad ones and I'm just plain fed up with it. I've tried everything. Sweet Oil doesn't work. It just makes you sleepy.

Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn.)
08/21/2009
490 posts

For those who might be wondering what "Sweet Oil" for an earache might be, my bottle of it states Olive Oil, N.F, and says pure natural oil. I seriously doubt that it is extra virgin which we use in cooking, but don't see why the EV olive oil wouldn't work as well or better. So why go buy a bottle of sweet oil, if you already have olive oil in the kitchen?

Olive Oil

Posted by Michelle (Lamora, Mexico)
★★★★★

When I would get earaches as a child my mom would warm a spoon over the fire or even with a match/cigarette lighter, for a few seconds then dump either olive oil or onion juice on the spoon then dump it in both my ears and put cotton balls in them. Then she'd let me lay on a hot water bottle this usually helps. But once when I was younger I tried to do that for my sister and I heated the spoon too hot and burnt her so you have to watch for that

Olive Oil, Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil

4 star (1)

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Posted by Jessica (Oklahoma, US) on 12/04/2014
★★★★☆

I have been having ear pain for a few days, and the doctor said it was allergies/sinus. In the meantime, I looked online and found a remedy that really works for me, but the pain does come back after a while, so I just reapply the ointment. 1/4 c. olive oil, 10 drops each of tree tea oil and lavender oil. Rub around ear, NOT inside. So I mixed all these ingredients into a jar and just keep using it. In the meantime I will look here to see how to get rid of these seasonal allergies.

Onions

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Posted by Joy (Battleground, Wash) on 04/28/2013
★★★★★

If you have an earache put an onion in the oven and bake it, let cool down to a little warm and then put it on the ear to draw out infection.... I have not had an infection in many years....

Use Q tip with hydrogen peroxide in ear and then put half a pea size of oil in each ear as often as needed ... no more pressure and almost zero noise.

Onions

Posted by Jennifer (St Paul, Mn) on 09/14/2012
★★★★★

The last time I had an earache was 2004. I sliced a large white onion in half and placed it over my ear. In twenty minutes I could feel/hear liquid gurgle in my ear and in 25 minutes the pain went away. As soon as my kids start complaining of an earache we apply an onion.

Earaches
Natural Remedies

Effective Natural Earache Remedies for Pain Relief