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Natural and herbal remedies for the treatment of ear aches.

Ear Ache

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What is an Earache?
What causes an Earache?
Diagnosing Earaches
Help for Earaches
More Information on Earaches

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What is an Earache?

An earache can be described as a sharp, stabbing, throbbing or dull pain that causes much discomfort. It is very common in children but can affect people of all ages.

The most common cause of earache is otitis media, infection of the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum) or otitis externa, inflammation of the outer ear canal. Earache is easily treatable and very seldom causes complications.

The most common symptoms and signs of a middle ear infection (otitis media) include:

Fever or high temperature
Ear pain
Dizziness
Temporary loss of hearing
Persistent crying, especially in babies
Irritability

Symptoms and signs of outer ear infection (otitis externa) include:

Swelling
Itching
Occasionally pus in the ear

What causes an Earache?

The most common causes of earache include:

Blockage in the ear tube (Eustachian tube)
Objects stuck in the ear
Ear infection
Arthritis of the jaw
Tooth infection
Damaged or ruptured eardrum
Sinusitis
Sore throat
Tonsillitis
Pharyngitis
Ear wax buildup
Soap or shampoo lodged in the ear

Diagnosing Earaches

The diagnosis of earache is based physical examination as well as symptoms presented. Your doctor will examine the outer ear, ear canal and ear drum with an instrument called an otoscope. The examination may also involve the mouth, nose, throat and teeth. In some cases, X-rays may also be ordered.

Help for Earaches

Earache is usually treated with eardrops which contain antibiotics to help fight the infection. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen also provide pain relief. If earache is not that severe, place a warm, damp compress to the outer ear to reduce pain.

Insert some warm (not hot!) olive oil into the ear canal to relieve pain or massage gently under each ear. For more serious episodes of earache, an oral antibiotic together with the eardrops may be prescribed. Children who experience recurring ear infections may have a surgical procedure performed that involves having ear tubes inserted.

Natural remedies

More and more people are choosing herbal and homeopathic remedies as a natural alternative to antibiotic treatment of earache. These treatments are safe and gentle on the body’s system and also support overall ear health. Herbs such as Pulsatilla (Pasque Flower) and Echinacea purpurea act as a nerve relaxant and reduce inflammation while also stimulating the immune system. Homeopathic ingredients such as Hepar. Sulph, Belladonna, Pulsatilla and Levisticum radix treats the symptoms of ear infections.

More Information on Earaches

Certain preventative measures can be taken to prevent
earache and these include:

Dry the ears carefully after showering, bathing, washing your hair or swimming to prevent moisture in the ear
Avoid placing sharp objects such as bobby pins or paperclips in your ears
Wear a swimming cap or earplugs when swimming
Avoid using cotton swabs (Q-tips) to clean your ears as this may cause a wax build up against your eardrum
Rest a child in an upright position to help reduce pressure in the middle ear
Place a heat pack against your ear or hold a hairdryer on a low heat setting a few inches away the ear – this will help provide warmth for the ear
Avoid contact with people who have a cold or respiratory infection
Chewing gum may help relieve the pressure and pain associated with earache
Avoid smoking near children as it causes ear infections in children