Ear Infection or Earache
Synopsis of Ear Infection or Earache
An ear infection or earache is a common condition affecting people of all ages, especially children. It generally refers to inflammation or infection within the ear, most commonly in the middle ear (otitis media) or the outer ear canal (otitis externa). Middle ear infections often occur following a cold or upper respiratory infection that causes fluid to build up behind the eardrum, allowing bacteria or viruses to grow. Outer ear infections are typically caused by water trapped in the ear canal, creating a moist environment for bacterial or fungal overgrowth.
Symptoms may include ear pain, fullness or pressure in the ear, fluid drainage, hearing difficulty, fever, irritability (especially in children), and balance problems. In severe or recurrent cases, the eardrum may rupture, leading to temporary hearing loss or complications like chronic infection or mastoiditis.
Otitis media is particularly common in young children due to their shorter, more horizontal Eustachian tubes. Earaches can also be caused by non-infectious issues, such as earwax buildup, jaw tension, allergies, or barometric pressure changes (e.g., during flights).
When to see a doctor:
Seek medical attention if the ear pain is severe, lasts more than 1–2 days, is accompanied by high fever, hearing loss, fluid discharge, or occurs in a very young child. Chronic or recurrent ear infections should also be evaluated to prevent complications.
Natural remedies for Ear Infection or Earache
Warm Compress: Applying a warm cloth or heating pad over the ear can relieve pain and improve circulation.
Garlic Oil Drops: Traditionally used for its natural antimicrobial properties (only if the eardrum is not perforated).
Olive Oil Drops: May help soothe irritation in cases of outer ear dryness or itching.
Elevate Head During Rest: Helps drainage from the middle ear and relieves pressure.
Steam Inhalation or Humidifiers: Helps open nasal passages and improve drainage from the Eustachian tubes.
Salt Sock Compress: Heated salt in a clean sock applied to the ear may help draw out fluid and ease pain.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Ear Infection or Earache
alpha-pinene
myrobalan
betel
black pepper
blackberry
chamomile
Coptis chinensis
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
goldenseal
onion
horseradish
Indian tinospora
lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
lemon
mastic gum
monolaurin
mustard seed
spruce
oregano
phellodendron amurense
plantain
purified silver
rosemary
sage
schizonepeta
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
vitamin C
xylitol
zinc
mullein
xanthium (cockleburs)
gastrodia
cardamom
papaya
Indian bael
neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
clerodendrum indicum
ferula assafoetida
hedychium spicatum
anise
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
peony
boxthorne
myrrh
fern
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
sweetgums
morinda
oriental arborvitae
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
eucalyptus
wintergreen
menthol oil
wood betony
paw paw
melaleuca alternifolia
indigo leaves
enzymes blend (proprietary)
cayenne pepper
geranium
Ash
Avens
Amber
Asoka
Asafetida
Aerva Lanta
African Ginger
American Basil
Arisaema erubescens
Artemisia Herba-Alba
Aliphatic alcohol
Alpha-terpineol
Angelica
acacia
Allium tuberosum Rottl.
Allicin
Ajowan
Achyranthes
Anamu
Arisaema amurense
Abrus
Alchornea
Asoka Tree
Asafoetida
Ajuga
Arisaema cum bile
Aerva lanata
Allium (unspecified)
American Liverleaf
Asam gelugor
Activated Charcoal
Anacard Or
Abutua
Alsonia scholaris
African Basil
Alchornea floribunda
Aresaema (unspecified)
Asteracea
Allyl Sulfide
Anise
Ananain
Alum
Asian Plantain
Ant
Ant
Abuta
Amor seco
Arani
Arisaema
Artemisia (unspecified)
Ash (unspecified)
Atlantic Cedar
Australian Sandalwood
Adsorbant
Bee Propolis
Belladonna
Bentonite
Belleric myrobalan
Butter
Bengal Fig
Bergenia Pacumbis
Bai Ji
Baphicacanthus cusia
Brandy
Blepharis
Boswellia serrata
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Betel
Butea monosperma
Barleria
Billygoat plum
Bitter Grass
Blackboard tree
Bisabolene
Butter
Brine
Boerhavia diffussa
Bacillus (mixed)
Balsam (unspecified)
Bur-Reed
Benzoin siam
Bacillus (unspecified)
Black Nightshade
Bombax
Black root
Black Walnut
Bruteridine
Bacillus
Black Pepper and White Pepper
Black Pepper
Black Mustard
Bergenia
Borneol
Coconut
Calendula
Cinnamomum
Copaiba balsam
Calotropis gigantea
Chenopodium Oil
Cinnamomum loureirii
Cucurbita moschata
Colloidal Silver
Chlorophyllin
Chickweed
Castor oil derivative (unspecified)
Carvacrol
Common Plantain
Chinese mugwort
Citron
Carry Me Seed
Capsaicin
Capsicum
Chinese Mallow
Commiphora gileadensis
Colotsrum
Cajuput
Camphor
Chokecherry
Commiphora (unspecified)
Cyperus rotundus
Curcuminoid (unspecified)
Citral
Calamus rhizome
Cinnamaldehydes
Colombo
Cassia fistula
Centipeda
Centipeda minima
Chinese Sumac
Chrysanthemum (unspecified)
Chamomile (not specified)
Camphor
Calamus
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Cynanchum otophyllum
Chamomile
China Rose
Commiphora wightii
Cynanchum (unspecified)
Chlorine
Cinnamaldehyde
Clay
Catkin
Costus
Chamomile (unspecified)
Citrus oil
Chinese Goldthread
Copaiba Oil
Celosia
Chenopodium album
Duodenum
Didymocarpus
Dragon's Blood (unspecified)
DIVI-DIVI
Dragonhead
Devil's Club
Dogwood (unspecified)
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea (unspecified)
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Erodium cicutarium
Evodia
Embelia ribes
English Horsemint
Echinacea
Echinacea angustifolia
Eucalyptus
European Barberry
Elephant's Head
Euphorbia
European-Five Finger Grass
Euphorbia (unspecified)
Embelia
Eugenol
Flueggea?suffruticosa
Fuchsia
Ficus religiosa
Fern
Ficus simplicissima
Fungus (unspecified)
Fleabane (unspecified)
Five-Leaf Cassia
Fritillary (unspecified)
Goldthread
Ground Ivy
Ghee
Gnaphalium
Glyceryl monolaurate
gamma-terpinene
Guava
German Chamomile
Goldthread (unspecified)
Garlic
Gland (unspecified)
Glycyrrhiza (unspecified)
Greater galangal
Goldenseal
Golden eardrops
Gardenia
Galangal
Great Plantain
Green onion
Golden Willow
Ginger phenols (unspecified)
Glycerite
Henbane
Honeysuckle
Honey Bee
Hyacinth (unspecified)
Houttynia
Honeysuckle (unspecified)
Honey
Holarrhena (unspecified)
Hydrocolloid
Helicteres isora
Hairy Fig
Immunoglobulin G
Isatis
Indian Coraltree
Iris
Indian mallow
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Japanese Mint
Juniper
Kachnar
lemongrass
Lebbek
Ledebouriella (unspecified)
Lesser speargrass
Litsea
Laggera pterodonta
Licorice (various)
Lophira lanceolata
Lesser Galangal
Lodhtree
Lingustilides
Lysozyme
Lavandula (unspecified)
Lycopodium (unspecified)
Labrador Tea
Lactobacillus mixed)
Lantana camara
Laptedenia
Little ironweed
Lactoperoxidase
Labdanum
Missouri Snakeroot
Mustard
Marjoram
Mustard (unspecified)
Marsh Tea
Mallow
Menthol
Myrtle
Morinda
Moroccan oregano
Moisture
Monolaurin
Metal Salt
Marshmallow
Malva sylvestris
Matico
Mountain mahogany
Mountain pepper (unspecified)
Matapalo Tree
Milkweed (unspecified)
Morning Glory
Montmorillonite
Mugwort
Marigold (unspecified)
Marking Nut Tree
Microcos
Northern Prickly Ash
Neoandrographolides
Nux Vomica
Neem
Nutmeg & Mace
Nimbidin
Oxygen
oregano
onion
Orris
Oxystelma
Peppermint leaf
Phyllanthus (unspecified)
Plantain (unspecified)
P. nigraclens (unspecified)
Plantago
Pulsatilla
Pluchea
Prepared Aconite Tuber
Pussy Ears
Praying mantis
Pepper Bark Tree
Pimpinella (unspecified)
Papaya
Peucedanum
Pentatropis capensis
Placenta
portulaca
Prickly Ash (Unspecified)
Plumbago zeylanica
Pimpinella
Prickly ash (mixed)
Patrinia
Poppy
Physalis angulata
Plantain
Papayotin
Prickly Chaff Flower
Pine (unspecified)
Plantago (unspecified)
Petiveria
Plectranthus amboinicus
Phodymprhenia pertusa
Qunice
Quassia
Quisqualis
Rue
Rubus (unspecified)
Red root (unspecified)
Rosemary antioxidant S-32
Rosemary
Rhus coriaria
Ricinoleic acid
Spilanthes
Sicklepod
Sodium chloride
Sophora (unspecified)
Spanish Needle
Sugar cane
Savory (unspecified)
Salicylate (unspecified)
Sphaerotrichia
Spikenard
Sodium Bicarbonate
Salvia (unspecified)
Sensitive Plant
Salt (sea)
Solanum indicum
Sagebrush (unspecified)
Spanish Oregano
Syrup
Salicylic Acid
Silver
Streptococcus salivarius
Sweet Marjoram
Streptococcus (mixed)
Slippery Elm
sage oil
Sagebrush
Spantholobus
Sphaeranthus indicus
Savory
Spanish Thyme
Summer Savory
Stereospermum
Shiny-Leaf Prickly Ash
Silver
Sweet Bay
Storax
Styrax balsam
Salt (unspecified)
Sedanenolide
Thyme
Tannin (unspecified)
Thymoquinone
Tissue (unspecified)
Tannins (mixed)
Thymus
Thymus
Tamaricaceae (unspecified)
Thiosulfanate
Tayuya
Turmeric
Thatch screw-pine
Tannin
Tea Tree
Tulbaghia
Terpene (unspecified)
Tamarind
Thiosulfinate
Umckaloabo
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine phosphate)
Vervain
Vitex negundo
Varuna
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate)
Vodka
White thyme
White Peony
Worm
Water Pepper
Wild Thyme
Winter Savory
Xylitol
Yerba buena
Zingiberene
Zedoary