Ear Infection Remedies

Ear infection, or Otitis, is as common a condition as common cold, and it can be caused due to a variety of reasons. It can cause a lot of pain and also give you sleepless nights. The human ear is differentiated into three parts: the outer, middle and the inner ear. Infection of the outer ear is known as Otitis externa while middle ear infection is known as Otitis media.

Causes and Symptoms of Ear Infections
Infection or inflammation in the ear is caused due to bacterial or fungal presence. Constant exposure to water (as in swimming) and skin allergies causes fungal infection in the outer ear resulting in Otitis externa (also known as the Swimmer's ear). On the other hand, presence of a foreign particle in the ear an causes infection of the middle ear. Common cold also causes fluid to build up in the middle ear resulting in infection. Pain in the ear is the prominent symptom of ear infection. Apart from it, fluid discharge from the ear, dizziness, low-grade fever, itchiness, vomiting and vertigo are the other symptoms of an infected ear. These symptoms are signs of some underlying problem and hence, should be treated as early as possible. Before consulting a doctor, you can try some home remedies that will give momentary relief.

Remedies for Ear Infection
It is recommended not to use these remedies in case of ear infection in toddlers, children, infants and babies. In case you have an ear infection rash, do not use these remedies either.

Oils
There are certain oils that have antiseptic properties and also help in giving relief. Castor and olive oils can be used for that purpose. You can put a few drops of warm olive or castor oil in the ear for quick relief.

Garlic
Garlic juice is a natural antibiotic and also an effective remedy for ear infection. You can put a few drops of garlic juice or garlic oil in the ear at night for best results.

Basil
Among the various ear infection remedies meant for adults, basil, or the holy basil, is one of the most effective remedy. You can crush the leaves and make juice out of it and put it into the ear to cure the infection.

Onion
Onion also helps in treating ear infections. You can crush a fresh onion and extract juice from it. Soak your cotton ear bud in this juice and put it into the ear to relieve ear infection pain.

In case the infection is caused due to seeping of water inside the ear, you can make use of a blow dryer and blow it from 15 inches from your head to remove the excess water from the ear. Apart from this, there are several decongestants and ear drops available in the market. Adults can also make use of lemon balms which can be applied to the ear gently. If the pain and the symptoms do not subside, you should consult the doctor immediately. However, it is possible to prevent ear infections through various methods. Boosting your immunity is the most important thing for prevention of infectious diseases. You should have a balanced diet and also include vitamin C in your diet to increase the immunity. Secondly, swimmers should be very careful and make use of a swimmer's cap to prevent water from entering ear constantly.

These were some effective ear infection remedies that are easier to put into practice to treat the pain caused by the infection. You should consult your doctor before going for these remedies. Lastly, if you cannot identify and relate the symptoms of ear infection, it is better to consult the ENT specialist at the first instance!