11 Effective Earache Remedies

5 min readNov 5, 2022

Overview

Earaches can be debilitating, but they don’t always warrant antibiotics. Prescribing guidelines for ear infections have changed in the last five years. Your child might not even be prescribed antibiotics.

Not all ear infections are bacterial or need prescription medication. In fact, you could find all the relief you need in your home with treatments such as:

over-the-counter pain relievers
cold or warm compresses
olive oil
neck exercises
ginger
garlic
hydrogen peroxide

Here are 11 home remedies and over-the-counter treatments for earaches.

1. Over-the-counter pain relievers

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to control pain associated with a painful type of ear infection called acute otitis media (AOM).

They’re safe to use with or without antibiotics, but be sure to follow dosing instructions on the label. These medications can also help lower a fever.

Talk to your doctor about the appropriate dose for children. Children and infant versions are available for many OTC pain relievers. It’s unsafe for children under age16 to take aspirin.

2. Cold or warm compresses

People often use ice packs or warm compresses, like a heating pad or damp washcloth, to relieve pain. The same can be done for ear pain. This method is safe for both children and adults.

Place the ice pack or warm compress over the ear and alternate between warm and cold after 10 minutes. If you prefer either cold or warm, you can use just one compress.

3. Olive oil

The use of olive oil for earaches is a folk remedy. There’s no solid scientific evidence to prove that drops of olive oil in your ear canal can soothe ear pain. But putting a few warmed drops of olive oil in the ear is safe and could be moderately effective, according to the AAP.

It’s still a good idea to discuss this method with your doctor first, especially for children. Make sure the olive oil is no warmer than your body temperature by using a thermometer. This will help you avoid burning the eardrum.

4. Naturopathic drops

Naturopathic ear drops are made from herbal extracts. They can be found online and in some drug stores. An early studyTrusted Source found that drops containing herbal extracts in a base of olive oil could be just as, or even more, effective as traditional OTC ear drops.

5. Chiropractic treatment

If you go to the chiropractor for adjustments, you may find that your appointment can soothe your earache as much as your back pain.

A 1996 studyTrusted Source involving 46 child participants ages 5 and under found that 93 percent of them showed improvement following chiropractic adjustments. Of the children, 43 percent of them felt better after only one or two sessions.

The Mayo Clinic cautions that there have been no long-term clinical studies associating chiropractic treatment with reduced ear pain.

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6. Sleep without putting pressure on the ear

Some sleep positions will aggravate pain from ear infections, while some can help relieve it. Sleep with the affected ear raised instead of having it faced down toward the pillow. This can help the ear drain better if necessary.

You can also sleep with your head elevated by using extra pillows. This can also help the ears drain faster.

7. Neck exercises

Some earaches are caused by pressure in the ear canal. Certain neck exercises can be used to relieve this pressure. Neck rotation exercises are particularly beneficial.

Follow these steps to perform neck rotations exercises:

Sit straight up with both feet flat on the ground.
Slowly rotate your neck and head to the right until your head is parallel with your shoulder.
Rotate your head the other way, until your head is parallel with your left shoulder.
Raise your shoulders high as if you’re trying to cover your ears with your shoulders.
Make the movements slowly, hold them gently stretching more for a count of five, then relax.
Repeat these often throughout waking hours.

8. Ginger

Ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe pain from earaches. Apply ginger juice, or strained oil that was warmed with ginger in it, around the outer ear canal. Do not put it directly into the ear.

9. Garlic

Garlic has both antibiotic and pain-relieving properties. Soak crushed garlic for several minutes in warm olive or sesame oil. Strain the garlic out and apply the oil into the ear canal.

10. Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has been used as a natural remedy for earaches for many years. To use this method of treatment, place several drops of hydrogen peroxide into the affected ear. Let it sit for several minutes before letting it drain into a sink. Rinse your ear with clean, distilled water.

11. Distraction

If it’s a child battling an earache, do your best to get them comfortable by taking their mind off the pain.

You may want to:

put on their favorite movie
bring home a new coloring book
have a bubble bath with lots of toys
let them play a game on your phone or tablet
pick up their favorite snack
simply find other things for them to focus on

If your child is of teething age, offer cooled teething toys for chewing.

This method also works for adults. Treat yourself to a good book or a favorite movie to take your mind off the earache.

Causes

There are many possible causes for an earache. Possible causes that are relatively common include:

cavities
sinus infections
earwax
tonsillitis
teeth grinding

The most commonTrusted Source ear infection is acute otitis media (AOM), or a middle ear infection.

It’s characterized by swollen and infected portions of the middle ear. The pain associated with AOM is caused by fluid becoming trapped behind the eardrum. Symptoms may include:

fever
pain inside the ear
slight hearing loss
feeling sick in general

Babies and children may be restless, cranky, and pull at their ears.

When to use a home remedy

The best home remedy for an earache depends on the cause. If a cavity is to blame, your earache may not improve until you see a dentist. However, if it’s an ear infection, using a natural remedy could make the illness bearable as your body fights off the infection.

Many ear infections clear up on their own in about a week or two, with symptoms starting to get better after a few days. Be sure to check with your child’s pediatrician if your child has ear pain, especially if they are under 2 years of age.