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.
Holy Basil Leaves
Posted by Matt (Trenton, FL) on 06/17/2007
★★★★★
I kept reading that holy basil leaves would kill the pain. I didn't wanna chop fresh ones up so i just found a small bottle of the liquid from a company out of India. I put 2 drops into my ear with the pain and it seem to get rid of the pain within minutes. I don't know about everyone else but i know anti biotic will get rid of the infection i just need to get rid of the pain myself until they do their job. This sure helped.
Sinus Wash
Posted by Paul (Bloomington, In) on 02/21/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I'm all for Neti pots for sinus irrigation however be very careful not to blow too hard as this is what caused my latest earache. In fact always keep this in mind when having any sinus congestion. The pressure of holding your nose and blowing pushes up the mucus into the ear canal. Remember blow gently, don't honk your brains out.
Garlic
Posted by Jinc's (Greenville, SC) on 04/01/2007
★☆☆☆☆
Thank you Melissa from Machesney Park, IL . . . I tried the garlic cure after getting an ear infection. I was glad to have read your warning about your boyfriend's ear burning badly. Your description of "like fire," was accurate. I did a little research and below is what Wikipedia had to say about allicin . . .
"Allicin is a powerful antibiotic and anti-fungal compound obtained from garlic.
Allicin is not present in garlic in its natural state. When garlic is chopped or otherwise damaged, [squeezed] the enzyme alliinase acts on the chemical alliin converting it into allicin. Alliin is an amino acid that does not build proteins.
Allicin is not a very stable compound. It degrades slowly upon standing and is rapidly destroyed by cooking. Allicin can be used for some medicinal purposes - it helps fighting arteriosclerosis, it has the ability to dissolve fats and it can also be used as an antioxidant to some extent.
Allicin is also the chemical constituent primarily responsible for the hot, burning flavor of fresh garlic."
Please note that alicin is described as the agent that causes the hot burning sensation when you eat raw garlic. Probably does the same thing when you put raw fresh garlic in your ear.
I put raw garlic in a thin meshed gauze and after squeezing the juice into my ear. I then pushed the gauze (with garlic still in it) into my ear. I let it stay until I couldn't take the burning anymore.
Although the burning is great, I will try to endure to see if my ear gets better now that I have some idea of why it happens. I only tried it today (1 April 07). Will let everyone know the outcome in about a week. Wanted to let you know about the burning now!
Note: Wikipedia is an open source, free, web encyclopedia. I happen to trust it greatly, although some suspect it because ANYONE can add a definition.
Garlic
Posted by Barbara (Dunwoody, GA) on 03/30/2006
★★★★★
I use fresh garlic as an antibiotic for earache and sinus infection. The antibiotic properties of garlic are a direct result of the allicin produced from raw, crushed garlic. This is destroyed by age and cooking - cooked garlic has virtually no antibiotic value. I crushed a fresh garlic clove, placed it in a handkerchief and squeezed a couple of drops in my son's ear, he was asleep in minutes with no pain in the morning. I've also sauteed noodles in olive oil & sprinkled fresh crushed garlic on it to address sinus problems.
Salt Solution or Warm Water
Posted by Milroc (Ny) on 10/23/2017
I mean, you can add some salt to kill germs, so either warm salt water or warm water too. Same results. You can use the warm water directly from faucet.
Garlic Oil Recipe
Posted by Tim (Alabama, US) on 03/20/2015
Thank you for sharing this oil recipe. It was a life saver over this past winter. I have started another batch to keep over the summer for that one in a million just in case moment. Managed to be bed ridden for almost a month. Between this and Apple Cider Vinegar add to Black Tea over Ice, I am ninety five percent better. Love this Earth Clinic and all that share. Thanks again Mama to Many.
Garlic Oil Recipe
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 03/20/2015
Dear Tim,
Thanks for sharing your success story! I am so glad you are feeling better!
~Mama to Many~
Cigarette Smoke
Posted by Island Girl (Gc, Ci) on 07/16/2024
Question: Is just one puff of the cigarette smoke required to be blown into the ear?
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?
Oregano Oil
Posted by Raj (Mumbai) on 09/16/2025
★★★★★
Oregano oils by sofgels is an amazing cure for any type of infection.The brand North American Herb and Spice is amazing and so is the NEW AGE brand. I have personally experienced its magic cures except to caution users that it's very potent and needs to be diluted through the use of carrier oils. Thank Sunny for his post on this phenomenal cure!
Supplements
Posted by Erin (Los Angeles, Ca) on 07/21/2012
Unfortuntely you can't get to the Eustachian tube through your ear. There is an eardrum blocking it. Only way is through your throat.
Supplements
Posted by Mike (Oxfordshire, Uk) on 06/27/2015
I think what he meant was that the liquid from the neti pot, on its travel from one nostril to the other, would (or could, depending on how it's done) pass by the entrance to the Eustachian tube, and some would go down that way. It would feel as though it's "in the ear", but it's in the middle ear. It then passes back out via the Eustachian tube into the throat. That's my approximate understanding of what's going on here.
I don't think it's all that easy to get fluid into the Eustachian tube using this method, but I believe it's possible.
Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
Posted by Michael (Australia) on 01/14/2017
Each time I have used the 50% alcohol 50% vinegar my ears have hurt for days afterwards like a burning feeling. I am using 95% alcohol from chemist and white vinegar. Why is this happening?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Lisa (Stamford, Ct) on 01/23/2011
What did you end up doing to relieve your symptoms? By accident I took full strength 29% H202 in my ear and now it is a little achey. Hope you're feeling better!
Jean's Tomato Tea
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!!)
Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
Posted by Toni (Manila) on 04/26/2022
★★★★★
I have 95% ethyl alcohol and 99% isopropyl alcohol AR. Which one should I use?
Hydrogen Peroxide and Apple Cider Vinegar
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.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ruth (Fairmont, Wv) on 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.
Sea Salt Solution
Posted by Tristan (Palm Coast, Florida) on 02/21/2009
I've had a recurring ear infection (it's left a constant ringing sound), and have tried a number of oils, garlic, clove etc, and nothing has worked. This afternoon I put in some drops of sea salt solution - the right ear was fine, but after rinsing the left one, I couldn't walk straight. I was all off balance like I'd been drinking, and I felt quite nauseous. I'm worried now. Can anyone explain what may have happened? Thanks.
Garlic
Posted by Sarah (Youngstown, OH) on 09/11/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Fresh Garlic cure for Ear Infection: I put a few drops of fresh garlic juice in my infected ear, hoping the burning would stop the itching. I felt nothing and it did nothing. Disappointed.
Rubbing Alchol and Peroxide
Posted by Chanda (Fayetteville, AR) on 05/01/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I have been suffering from a chronic earache for two weeks now, and nothing is working!! The ATB did not help. My doctor did recommend a mixture of alcohol, peroxide and regular tap water and it did alleviate the pain for a day. Mix equal parts(a capfull of each) place in ear for 5 mins and then shower to irrigate. I dont reccomend the ear pick, my doc did this last year and I ended up with a horrible infection due to the injury from it!! I'm now hoping the old faithfull sweet oil works!!!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Dawn (Peoria, IL) on 01/20/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Ear ache peroxide remedy - I have a nasty sore throat and ear ache and am so glad I found this site. I just drank some hot sauce and honey "tea" which seems to be helping so I braved the hydrogen peroxide drops in the ear. In the past I had severe ear pain after putting drops in my ear, but thought I would brave it this time. Well I was wrong, after the drops got past the outer ear and possibly down farther I had the same excrutiating pain. I tried breathing through it, but no way! What I want to know is - what's causing this pain? I've tried asking doctors, speech paths and an audiologist with no answers. I did have tubes as a child. Anyone out there have an answer?
And I was watching Rachel Ray one day and a doctor on there mentioned using sea salt to cure an ear ache. I thought he said something about making a "heat pack" out of the sea salt and placing it on your ear, but I can't remember exactly. Any clues? I didn't see anything here about sea salt for ear aches. thanks
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Genie (Baltimore, Md) on 06/20/2010
They said if it hurts a little bit it is clearing up or killing the strep throat infection.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Dee (London, Uk) on 09/27/2011
I would say this does help but if it's your first time trying this please use lukewarm water mixed in with the Hydrogen Peroxide and make it much less then 3% to begin with - say about 1% - you can always reduce water later to make it stronger but please start off with a weak mix and see how that goes first.
The reason I say this is because I think for some people 3% might be too much and cause damage - I also used 3% in my mouth for gargling and noticed it made the top of my tounge white.
I think Hydrogen Peroxide has it's uses but just start off weak to begin with is my best advice.
Olive Oil
Posted by Sara (Columbus, Oh) on 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.
Onions
Posted by Rene (Los Angeles, Ca) on 09/19/2011
★★★★★
Yes, Onion a miracle and the absolute only thing that helped right away after trying everything else to cure my Swimmer's ear after a tropical vacation. I put some slices of onion into my ear deep enough so it stayed lodged for two days. Use a big enough piece so you can pull it out again.
This episode also taught me that most of the body's skin needs to be acidic to fight off microorganisms, not alkaline, as you might start to believe after reading earth clinic articles, which should be more explicit in referring to internal body alkalinity.
Garlic
Posted by Jo (Australia) on 12/09/2016
How did this go? Did your ear burn badly or did it heal the infection? I just accidently poured undilute garlic oil in my ear and the burn was bad! Worried I did something stupid..
Garlic and ACV
Posted by Christina (PC, Florida) on 10/23/2006
★★★★★
Garlic and apple cider vinegar syrup cured a yeast infection in my ear, a sore throat and all else that acv and garlic does!!Put chopped garlic into a glass jar, add 2-4 tbs of raw apple cider with the mother, close jar, let sit 24-48 hours. Either take by spoonful every few hours, or put into ear w/ qtip, or mix with equal part of olive oil and eat the healthiest salad dressing EVER!
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Bess (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 02/16/2011
Thanks "S" for the link to the cayenne pepper Web site. I didn't realize it was good for so many things. I'm going to try taking 1/4 teaspoon in warm water (with a straw) to see if it will lower my blood pressure. Thanks again!
