Winters is the season for piping hot tea, sunbathing, filling up on hot soups, not to mention delicious laddoos, as well as fresh and dried fruits. Winter is also the season of common cold, sore throat, flu infections, and other such diseases. Hence, it should be the season when you must take utmost care of yourself. Due to the chilly weather, many people get an earache. The sharp and prickly pain can be an extremely debilitating experience, making it very difficult for you to carry on with your day-to-day task. At such a time, popping a pain-relieving pill might seem to be the most convenient and easy option. Although they can provide you relief in a matter of minutes, these medicines are composed of chemical salts, which can have side effects. What if you do not want to subject yourself to these chemicals? Is there a way to treat your ear pain? The answer is -- yes, and your remedy lies right there in your kitchen cabinets. Yes, we are talking about home remedies.
We come from a country that has given the world the holistic health and wellness system that is Ayurveda. It has a cure, or at least treatment option, for almost all ailments, and that too, without depending on any chemicals but only natural ingredients. Taking some inspiration from there, here are some home remedies to treat ear pain without putting your body through any chemicals.
Home Remedies To Treat Ear Pain
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We know how difficult it is to function with that sharp pain in your ear. Not only is it too painful to tolerate, it completely messes up with your focus. So, here are some home remedies to treat ear pain that can save you from all that trouble:
Hot And Cold Compress
Now this one generally works on any kind of pain.
- Just put an ice pack on your affected ear(s).
- Then, put a hot water bag, or anything that suits you for the hot compress.
- Alternate between the two.
If just one kind of compress gives you relief, then use just that one.
Also read: Hot Compress Vs Cold Compress: Which One Should You Opt For
Olive Oil
Another remedy is to use olive oil to treat ear pain.
- Warm some olive oil.
- Put a few drops of this oil in your ears.
This is an excellent remedy. However, make sure the oil is not too hot to damage your inner ear. It should be warmed up to room temperature, or somewhere that is well-tolerated.
Ginger
When it comes to winters, ginger is generally the go-to herb. Not only does it taste amazing in your tea and curry, but it is also used extensively when suffering from cold, cough, and sore throat. But, do you know it can be used to ease ear pain too? Here’s how to use it:
- Crush or grate some ginger and extract its juice.
- Gently massage it on the outer part of your affected ear. Make sure the juice doesn’t enter your ear.
There is another way you can use this herb for ear pain.
- Extract ginger juice and add to warm olive or sesame oil.
- Massage gently on the outer part of your affected ear.
Both these methods will do the trick.
Garlic
Now, if you live in India, you might already be aware of this one. Garlic, widely known for its antibiotic properties, can help you with ear pain too.
- Crush a few cloves of garlic and soak them for a few minutes in warm mustard or olive oil.
- Then, put a few drops of it in your affected ear.
- Again, the oil shouldn’t be too warm to negatively affect your ears.
Other than these, ear pain is aggravated if you put pressure on the affected ear. Hence, sleep or lie down in such a way as to not put any unwanted pressure on them. If none of the remedies help, you can take a pain-reliever. You can also put ear drops in your affected ear. Antibiotics are another option. However, make sure to not take any medicines without consulting your doctor.
When To Consult A Doctor
You know it’s time to see your doctor when:
- Ear pain home remedies give you no relief.
- The pain just won’t go away and persists for a long time
- Your symptoms worsen
- It starts impacting your hearing
- You also have a fever and other flu-related symptoms.
Although you can depend on home remedies at first, if the pain doesn’t get better, you must consult a doctor, probably an ENT specialist. He/she will first diagnose the cause and will start the treatment accordingly.