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.
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!!)
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.
Onions
Posted by Dr. Kate (Arnold, Md) on 04/25/2010
★★★★★
First tried this on a thick skinned 240lb man! Slice an onion and microwave 10-15 seconds. Give it the wrist test to be sure it is not too hot (like baby milk). Place a warm moist cloth on top and apply to the ear and canal (area just below ear lobe). Ear pain usually subsides in 10-15 minutes and can be repeated. Follow up with your healh care professional in the morning. Good for any age!
Cigarette Smoke
Posted by Margalit (Buena Park, Ca.) on 03/18/2010
★★★★★
Yes, I've tried the newspaper rolled up and burned it at the end when i was pregnant and it took away my ear pain kind of scary but it worked for me.
Olive Oil
Posted by Msg (Somewhere, Europe) on 03/15/2010
★★★★★
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.
Garlic
Posted by Erin (Tampa, Fl) on 03/12/2010
★★★★★
Thank you for this remedy. Instead of a scored garlic clove, I used garlic ointment on a tissue. I obeyed your warning to be careful, as it seems most of the bad reactions reported on this site came from instances where the garlic was placed farther into the ear canal than the opening. I just placed my garlicy tissue in the opening of the ear canal. It took about an hour, but the pain subsided, and shortly after that, the pressure began to subside as well. I'm going to leave the tissue in for the recommended 3 hours and see what happens. Thanks again for this!
Oregano Oil
Posted by Tina (Bowling Green, Ohio, Usa) on 03/03/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Just want to let people with sensitive skin to know that oregano oil can burn if put on undiluted. It's best mixed with olive or coconut oil before putting on. Otherwise you'll have burned, peeling skin where you apply it.
Urine
Posted by Holly (Greenville, Sc) on 02/26/2010
★★★★★
Urine for Earaches
I saw this page, and wondered why I didn't see this rememdy. Yes, most people I mention it to look at me like I'm crazy, and I understand that. And all I can say is that I've done this three or four times and it worked like a charm. The last time I had an ear ache, I peed in a cup and poured some in my ear, just as you would do with hydrogen peroxide. I laid on my side and let it sit for a few minutes. Within minutes, my ear ache was gone, and never returned. Like I said, I've only done this maybe four times over many years, but I would definetely do it again. I would think, of course, that if you are what you eat, and you eat terribly, then your urine may be toxic! Besides that, I may be a little crazy to do what I did, but I heard it from somewhere, and now you're hearing it from me. It was like presto fix-o!
Sodium Chlorite
Posted by Paul (Bloomington, In) on 02/25/2010
This is an update to the previous post. As stated before the Sodium Chlorite got rid of my ear infection but not my sinus infection. After working up to over 10 drops per glass twice a day my sinus infection went away. It took some days to do this as you cannot go from zero drops to double digits overnight. If you did it might not be safe and in the least you'd experience loss bowels. Anyway for me, for this condition, Sodium Cholite is a definite yea.
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Paul (Bloomington, In) on 02/22/2010
★★★★☆
Had an ear infection due to clogged up sinus'. I got the ear infection to go away but not the mucus. I tried this cayenne cure and it somewhat worked. It did relieve a bit of the pressure and after a long nap did seem better but not completely gone.
Word to the wise, make sure you have some padding in your stomach like crackers, chips, bread as this cure burns both mouth and stomach. I had a hard time swishing the water as I was too concerned about the burning in my mouth. I did not follow this cure to the T so it might work better next time with practice.
Sodium Chlorite
Posted by Paul (Bloomington, In) on 02/22/2010
★★★★★
Sodium Chlorite for Earaches
I had an earache the day before yesterday and looked on Earth Clinic to see what I could do. I tried peroxide on a cue tip which seemed in the immediate to increase my pain. Then I tried a warmed moist towel which helped ease the pain down a bit.
I realized I was going to have to kill off this infection else resort to antibiotics which I wanted to avoid for various reasons. Then I remembered I had some Sodium Chlorite solution in which people use to combat virus' yeast, fungi, and bacteria. As suggested I had a while ago started with one drop in a glass of water and had built up to three drops. I started to increase my dosage more aggressively adding one drop for each glass I finished. I did this twice a day but I noticed by the next morning after increasing my dose my earache was gone. My sinus' were still stopped up but to this point my earache has not come back even though there is still mucus in the ear canal.
It is important to remember not to take the sodium chlorite alone but to squeeze in a fair amount of lemon or lime juice in with a full glass of water. I've been using a half a small lime for every glass and drink this twice a day. I'm up to seven drops and it is recommended you work your way up to 15 drops. I will continue this method until my sinus' clear and report back any changes.
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.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Matt (Fremont, Ca) on 02/04/2010
★★★★★
Let me start by saying that I have used this site many many times, but this is the first time I am writing in. The reason I chose to write in now is because this remedy is quite extraordinary. It works! I had my wife help, but she poured 1/4 tsp of Hydrogen Peroxide into my infected ear and it worked immediately. If you are like me, be prepared for what could be a loud POP! After the POP! my ear felt better. Thanks to all that make this site what it is! :)
Steaming Washcloth in Mug
Posted by Kim (Dallas, Tx, United States) on 12/22/2009
★★★★★
I am not big on putting liquids in my ears (I've tried H2O2 with mixed results). However, I've found a simple way to unclog achey, stuffy ears...I STEAM THEM. Find a mug or cup that can withstand hot water and make sure that the mouth of the cup/mug fits around your ear without letting much air escape. Next, fold a small piece of paper towel until it can fit at the bottom of the cup/mug. Then pour steaming hot water into the cup/mug (just enough to cover and saturate the paper towel). Quickly pour the excess water out of the cup/mug and tilt your head to the side and place your ear in the cup. IF THE STEAM IS TOO HOT LIFT YOUR HEAD FROM THE CUP/MUG UNTIL IT FEELS COMFORTABLE, then lower your head back to the cup/mug. Stay that way for about a minute. You will instantly feel "popping" as the steam breaks up the gunk in your ear. Repeat with other ear by adding more hot water into the cup and pouring off excess. Repeat process throughout the day. After awhile you will be able to either irrigate our gentle scoop out yucky, waxy gunk that was causing the problem in the first place. I like to put a few drops of EUCALYPTUS oil in the cup, but experiment with Oregano oil, garlic, ACV, Tea tree oil to see what works best!
God Bless.
Vitamin E
Posted by Kerry (Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada) on 11/22/2009
★★★★★
Hmmm.... I don't know about sweet oil, but I've always used Vit. E oil when I have an ear ache. It's worked every time for me. I just open a 400 IU capsule of Vit. E, squeeze it into my ear and use an ear plug to keep the oil from leaking out.
Garlic
Posted by Candi (Spring Hill, Florida) on 09/17/2009
I do not understand why you all are making your own garlic juice or oil. Go to the health food store and BUY a bottle of garlic oil made specifically for ear infections. Then you won't be putting pieces of garlic in your ears. I mean seriously Ouchie, do you not think that small pieces of the garlic went through that syringe tip and into your ear? Talk about OUCHIE! No wonder it hurt so badly. BUY GARLIC OIL AT A HEALTH FOOD STORE AND STOP MAKING YOUR OWN, PEOPLE. It is CHEAP. Won't break the bank OR make you go deaf.
Garlic
Posted by Tracy (Arlington, Texas, Usa) on 09/16/2009
OMGOSH!!! Ouchy McNumbface! I hope your ear is better. I'm sitting here desperate to find some relief for my chronic ear ache till I can make it to the doctor appointment in the morning. I was almost in tears as I searched for some profound new way to ease the pain, and now I am laughing so hard, I think my ear may hurt worse once I stop, but that was hilarious! Have you considered stand up comedy? If you can articulate yourself on stage as well as you can write, I will be looking for you in the movies!!! Thanks for the crazy visuals! And again, hope you are feeling better!
EC: One of our favorite posts on the site!
Garlic
Posted by Leah (Friendswood, Tx) on 08/31/2009
ROFL! Laughing as I'm typing, I can only imagine, I have also had instances like you where you just dont know what to do and do whatever to make it right again. Yeah, raw garlic is some strong stuff, never use just the raw juice, if you do, put some warmed coconut oil in it, like a drop, 2 at the most, Im still splitting my side, thanks for the laugh, sorry it had to be at your expense, I can honestly say, I know how you feel.
Ear Pick
Posted by Leah (Friendswood, Tx) on 08/31/2009
★★★★★
I found that when I would use a q-tip, I had to twist it or the wax would get pushed into the ear canal to where it felt like I was deaf. Yay for the curette.
Cigarette or Newspaper
Posted by Leah (Friendswood, Tx) on 08/31/2009
★★★★★
Hi, well I dont know about cigarettes blown in the ear, but I do know for a FACT, that if you roll up a newspaper and place it in your ear like a torch, all the smoke that goes into your ear will place pressure and pop whatever it is in there. Its usually good for air in the ears or ear infection to relieve the pressure. I wouldnt call it a cure, but it does help alot, my mother did this to me when I was like 3 on up and its not painful, just dont make the point on the end that goes in your ear to pointy.
Garlic
Posted by Rob (Manhattan, New York) on 08/25/2009
thanks Ouchy for the warning! sorry to have a good laugh at your expense...sort of like laughing at a funeral. I hope that all is healed.
Garlic
Posted by Sara (The Beach, Canada) on 08/22/2009
to Ouchy McNumbface, and your experience with raw garlic juice for ear pain. i hope you feel better, but if laughter is the best medicine you just single handedly cured everyone on this site. i havnt laughed that hard for a long time.
Olive Oil
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn.) on 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?
Garlic
Posted by Toya (Ny, Ny) on 08/21/2009
OhMY GOODNESS< McNumbface@
I TRIED not to laugh, but once you called the syringe a detonator, I couldn't contain myself any longer. You definitely convinced me to never put garlic juice in the ear. Oh my how funny. I'm sorry for your pain and I hope you are better now.
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.
Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
Posted by Eva (Prinsenbeek, The Netherlands) on 08/04/2009
★★★★★
A slightly different earache recipe (more diluted) is widely used among divers (you can't dive with bad ears). Too much alcohol in the solution dissolves earwax, this can leave the ear canal prone to infections.
Thus one-third distilled water, one-third white vinegar and one-third isopropyl alcohol could be a more effective mixture.
Even if there is water in the mixture, your ear will dry out and right after application you will feel your ear canal to become warm. Some people even warm the solution between their hands before using it. I would not use a Q-tip, but apply a few droplets the solution with a medicine dropper (taking care not to let the dropper touch the ear or anything else).
Tilt the head to one side add two to three droplets, then gently massage the ear in a circular motion to ensure penetration, and allow the medication to sit for some minutes before lifting the head upright. I am not sure this recipe helps when you have a very bad infection, but it DOES work when you have some irritation and/or water in your ear.
After your ear feels normal again you can stop with the treatment (usually,after one to several days). It is a cheap recipe, so to keep it potent you can make a new batch of it monthly if you need to use it often.
Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
Posted by Di (Bartlesville, Oklahoma) on 08/03/2009
★★★★★
I was plagued for several years with itchy and very clogged ears. The $100.00 bottle of medicine from the doctor only worked temporarily, then itchy, clogged ears would be back. I tried a home remedy I found on the internet and BRAVO, clean ears now going on 4 years. In a small bottle with a tip on it, mix 1 part 91% alcohol and 1 part vinegar. Apple cider or white will work. Several times a day drop a few drops into each ear. I also put some on a Q-tip and wipe the inside of my ear, just don't push Q-tip into ear. Everytime your ear gets wet especially after bath or shower or swimming do this. The 91% alcohol dries moisture, and the vinegar keeps bacteria from growing. Don't use 70% alcohol, it has too much water in it. If ears are really slushy, clean them a few times with peroxide before using the alcohol/vinegar. Peroxide will put water into the ear so don't use it too often. Once your ears have been slush/itch free continue to use the alcohol/vinegar at least once a day.
EC: 91% alcohol is isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Alicia (Madrid, Spain) on 07/18/2009
Maybe you put it straight from the bottle without diluting, I tried it one part(10 drops h202) diluted with mineral water (20 times the amount of h202) and worked marvelously and at the same time I gargled it and got rid of ear ache and sore throat due to infection. I reccomend doing it every 5 hours and 48 hours later you're fixed. Maybe you can't take it in this solution either but it helped me to the max and I reccomend it. I'm also using it for a toe nail fungus and day by day it's getting better and better. Have a nice one.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by dadude99 (Cottonwood, AZ,) on 07/05/2009
Right now i have a realy bad ear ache that has ben going on for 2 days. yesterday it was the 4th of July, so the bangs made it worse. i tryed pain killer, and it worked pretty well. this morning i started to hear ringing, so i tryed proxide, and now it is stuck in my ear bubbling. so DONT USE PROXIDE!
Garlic
Posted by Jeremiah (San Diego, California) on 07/01/2009
Eb22, there are likely several reasons that this happened to you. If you are allergic to allicin or any of the other properties unique to garlic, that would explain the reaction, which I remember reading somewhere (I'm sorry that I can't remember where). Allicin is a very potent chemical, which is why it can irritate the stomach and/or the digestive tract.
If you are not allergic to any of the compounds, the length of time that you had the ear infection (5 weeks is quite a bit of time) might have something to do with it. The potency of the garlic/allicin, added to the fact that your immune system is working hard against the infection anyways, may cause for a little bit of overcompensation in regards to fighting the infection.
A third possibility is the first two possibilities combined. Both an allergy to the unique compounds in garlic combined with the duration of the infection as well as the fact that your immune system is hard at work already, could very well cause a little bit of overcompensation in regards to fighting the infection.
I don't know whether you are allergic to garlic, but something about it caused an abnormal reaction to what has otherwise been proven an effective method of treating an ear infection if used properly. I would advise that you look further into this, as this could be an underlying symptom of something else.
Garlic
Posted by Jeremiah (San Diego, California) on 06/21/2009
★★★★★
EAR INFECTION, PREPARATION SUGGESTION
I had a really bad ear infection in January of 2009 in which the infection caused my right ear to have hearing loss, as well as a constant sense of being clogged with something and/or feeling clogged from high altitudes (pressure change). I took a clove of garlic, peeled it, then scraped a part of it to release the juice and allicin, then CAREFULLY (I CANNOT emphasize that enough) the scraped part into my ear canal and let it stay there for at least 2 hours, possibly 3. When I took the clove out, the infection was gone.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST, I SAY MUST!, EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION IN DOING THIS!!!!!!!!
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.
