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.
Chamomile
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 10/11/2024
★★★★★
If it be a child with earache, strong decoctions, such as chamomile tea, are douched or dropped in the canal.
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.
Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
Posted by Kiran Shrimali (A) on 10/11/2017 1 posts
★★★★★
First of all I like to thank those who have put up this solution for swimmer ear. I am using this solution and I got immediate result.
I have added 90% RUBBING ALCOHOL and 10% WHITE VINEGAR, I am using small nasal spray bottle for spraying it inside my ear canal and outer ear and all around my ear, after 1-2 min I clean my ear from inner and outer portion of my ear with cotton . Within 3 days I got the result. My ear which was deformed, it came back to its normal. I was having Ear Pimple and skin rashes all his problem got resolve.
My swimmer ear infection was extended to outer ear skin till my half face. So for this I have taken an antibiotic called "Flucloxacillin 500mg" empty stomach 2hr before food one table in a day for a week. This helped me to get my face recover for infection. I also some time use ear drops from the pharmacy when I feel itching in ear.
Once again I like to thank all those people who have share their experience for this swimmer ear infection.
Keep your ear clean and healthy and swim well.
Boric Acid and Vinegar
Posted by Sophia (Indiana) on 05/13/2017
★★★★★
Boric acid really helped me with my earache! I heated up 4 oz distilled water (boil tap water to sterilize if you don't have distilled), and added 1 TBSP of Boric acid as well as 1 TBSP of vinegar (I used organic ACV but white vinegar would work too). I mixed until the boric acid crystals dissolved and let it cool. Then, using a clean eyedropper, I put 2-3 drops in the affected ear, 2 times daily. Laid my head down on its side and let it sit in there for 10-15 minutes before putting in a cotton ball and sitting back to give it time to work. The first dose took away the worst of the pain. Today I woke up with no ear pain, at all! But I'm going to keep using until the pressure goes away.
I also made a solution for my eyes, since they always ache when I get a sinus/ear infection. The recipe for that is 1/8 tsp to 8 oz distilled or sterilized water. I only keep these solutions for a day or two and then throw them out. Best to make a fresh batch when you need them!
Tea Tree Oil, Coconut Oil
Posted by Natalie (Washington Dc) on 02/12/2017
★★★★★
I've been suffering with a recurring ear infection for 2 years now, had my 4th one most recently and in the past I've had to go to urgent care to get topical antibiotic ear drops to cure it. I'm out in CA for work and my insurance does not cover doctors here, and I know the garlic oil trick has never worked in the past. I came across tea tree oil being diluted in VIRGIN coconut oil as they are both, anti bacterial, anti viral and anti fungal trying to get ride of the infection. 3 days on this treatment and I can confidently say I am cured. I will keep taking the following dosage 15 drops of tea tree oil diluted in a tablespoon of coconut oil 3Xs a day for 7 days.
I saw results the first day and I was able to sleep without any pain in my ear. I'm so glad I don't have to keep going to urgent care for this, as this is a recurring problem since I produce too much wax in my ears and therefore end up getting frequent ear infections as a result.
Cigarette Smoke
Posted by Cnitzken (Louisville, Ky) on 05/02/2012
★★★★★
Cig smoke in ear works. I have been dying in pain for 6 days with antibiotic drops with steroids. Went to class I teach and students told me of this. I let them do it - I am a smoker - and ALAS. Pain gone. Thank God
Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
Posted by Tommy (Fremont, Indiana) on 05/01/2012
★★★★★
Thank you I did the half and half of white vinager and alcohol it worked fine! Thank-you again
Vinegar
Posted by Obeybunny (Santa Ana, Ca, United States Of America) on 12/30/2011
★★★★★
What do you do about Ear aches, ear infections?
This is what I always do when I have an ear infection and it works every time, no matter how mild or severe the infection is.
Step 1: Take some vinegar. Dilute it to 50% vinegar and 50% warm water (just a few degrees above your normal body temperature).
Step 2:Tilt your head and poor in the vinegar water until your ear canal is full. Keep the vinegar water in there for 5 seconds and then dump it out.
Step 3: repeat step 2 at least twice.
Step 4: clean out your ears with a Q-tip (which are ear-cleaning cotton swabs on sticks)
Do these steps every day until your ear infection hasn't returned for 2 days. You can "vinegar up" your ears as often or as little as you like. If you're home all day, go ahead and wash out your ears with vinegar water on an hourly basis- you'll recover to full health in your ears faster this way.
And I do mean it cures "severe ear infections. " You may be doubled over in pain, deaf in both ears, and have been suffering with the infection for more than a month (as my mom was before she discovered this cure)- but if you follow the above instructions, you'll return to normal within a week.
Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
Posted by Courtney (Los Angeles, Ca) on 12/04/2011
I have an earache and I tried the alcohol and white vinegar remedy, but so far all it has done is ease the pain very lightly and it is making my ear canal feel as if it is burning almost. The "burning" does not hurt, but I can tell it is there. Maybe I did not mix the alcohol and white vingegar correctly. Please help me I am in pain and I have class tomorrow.
Cigarette Smoke
Posted by Jessica (Dallas, Tx) on 12/02/2011
★★★★★
Just tried cigarette smoke for an earache and can't believe it worked! Had sinus issues the last few days.. Everything else had mostly cleared up but I was left with horrible pressure and popping in my ears (I think due to some post nasal drip). I lit half a cigarette, placed in ear, let it sit there for about a min while I hunched over to keep it in place. The popping stopped!
Steaming Washcloth in Mug
Posted by Fanciullag (Buffalo, Ny, Usa) on 05/16/2011
★★★★★
A friend taught me this trick and it helps. Take two washcloths, wetting them both with warm to hot water. Then stick them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Place a washcloth in the bottom of a coffee mug, then put a mug over each ear. The steam in the ear seems to help alot!
Steaming Washcloth in Mug
Posted by Jennifer (Duluth, Ga) on 09/12/2016
★★★★★
I tried this on my daughter. It worked! Her ear hurt so much she couldn't sleep. After I did this the pain subsided enough for her to finally fall asleep. Thank you so much!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Elaine (Edmond, Oklahoma, Usa) on 03/03/2011
You need to irrigate your ears with warm water and maybe a little liquid soap and peroxide after you use hydrogen peroxide in your ears. The Peroxide caused the ear wax to dislodge and swell. You can buy a ball syringe at any pharmacy. I use my water pic and it seems to wash all the "trash" out of my ears pretty well. If you wait too long this will turn into an infection and you'll have to see your doctor. Judging by the date I imagine you already have. Many years ago my doctor told me it is quite alright to irrigate your own ears. In fact he gave me a syringe to do it with.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Kevin (Canada) on 01/28/2023
I call BS on this post. Looks like robo-posting is all over the internet trying to dis-credit natural remedies.
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.
Vinegar
Posted by Mom2_3 (Balitmore, Maryland) on 06/05/2009
★★★★★
my family friends son had an ear infection for nearly a year. They did everything imaginable to cure it and nothing worked. He had oozing green nasty stuff coming from his ear constantly. After many different painful and risky treatments, including thinking of taking out parts of his ear (10 hour surgery), they were referred to their last resort at John's Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore City. The doctor was stumped and gave them one last idea...he said this may or may not work but let's give it a try....use vinegar to irrigate the ear twice a day. After 2 months of that and then 1 month of once a day it was gone and has NEVER returned! VINEGAR!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by emt_scheid911 (Detroit, MI) on 05/15/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Hello,
I came to the website in search of something to help with my ear pain which I associated with having impacted wax with a q-tip yesterday. I read about the peroxide and used it and was immediatly regretful! I became so dizzy that I passed out immediatly and when I woke up I didn't stop vomiting for the next 2 hours. It took the whole day for the dizziness to go away. And after all that-nothing changed in my ear whatsoever. I went to the doctor and he said to make sure you MIX the peroxide 50/50 with warm water, and to make sure the peroxide is WARM. If you put it in your ear cold-you will get the side effects that I did. So-I'm not saying it doesn't work because clearly for some it does. Just make sure you WARM THE PEROXIDE and make sure you DILUTE it, and make sure it really is ear wax because I ended up having an infection and a ruptured ear drum!
Take care guys!
Garlic
Posted by Susy (Woodland Hills, CA) on 03/10/2009
★★★★★
I've been using Garlic for earaches ever since I can remember. It works like a charm. You use one Garlic Tooth, heat it up but not burning hot, you cut the piece small enough to fit in your ear but not small enough to go into the ear canal. It works like a charm. I've done this on my kids as well. They fall asleep & wake up pain free.
Garlic
Posted by Eb22 (Hilo, Hawaii) on 02/28/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Warning! Do NOT PUT GARLIC INTO YOUR EAR! I placed a peeled garlic clove in my ear for 2 hours to relieve a 5 week long ear infection which had made me me desperate. 1 hour later my face went numb on that side. 7 hours later I woke up with vertigo and ringing in my ear. It is now 3 weeks later and I still feel vertigo and the ringing makes it difficult to sleep. I hope this goes away!
Oregano Oil
Posted by London (Sandusky, Ohio) on 04/28/2009
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Yes, I've tried Oregano Oil for an Ear infection and It worked, but it burned the heck out of my Ear!! Just rub the outsides of outer ear, and it will make it's way to inner ear, without causing you to go nuts with the burning.
Garlic
Posted by Johnny (Portland, Or) on 11/01/2010
LOL!!! Thanks for the good laugh :D I think you cured me. The juice of 7 cloves of garlic! Why such extremes? I can't imagine the pain that much alicin caused. Hope you got better quick. Alicin is very powerful indeed and obviously a strong irritant. As such, only a small amount is needed, 1 clove peeled only at the tip and carefully scored there is enough (as instructions given above). You CAREFULLY insert clove (big enough to fit but not enter fully) into the ear for a few hours (max 3) and it will kill anything with little pain (think fumigating more than pouring liquid alicin onto your ear drum). Fresh garlic is also important, as the alicin vapors quickly dissipate after a few hours of contact with air. Hope this helps you! It helped me a great deal.
Garlic
Posted by Pad (Possum Trot) on 01/09/2022
You are not supposed to place pure undiluted garlic juice in your ear. It is supposed to be diluted with olive oil. Don't blame your experience on not reading the directions correctly.
