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Home remedy For Ear Ache

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An ear ache can happen for a number of reasons and knowing what's going on is part of the effectiveness of a home remedy. It's especially difficult to tell when children have an ear ache.

Earaches occur often, especially in children's ears. They can be slightly hurtful or cause extreme pain. What usually causes the ear ache is a build up of fluid or pressure in the middle ear. Sometimes the fluid is the result of an infection.

What happens often is the Eustachian tube of the ear gets plugged. This is the tube that runs from the back of the throat and connects to the middle ear. If this tube gets blocked, fluid builds up, causing pain and, if left too long, resulting in an infection as bacteria builds up.

A home remedy works on an ear ache if the cause is determined. Some causes are infections of the middle ear, an allergic reaction, a cold, a sinus infection, ear wax build up, fluid build up, something lodged in the ear, problems with teeth such as abscesses, injury to the ear, and air pressure change (most common on an airplane.)

A home remedy for an adult earache may be the application of an ice bag or cold compress for 20 minutes right next to the ear. Another alternative would be a warm washcloth or a not-too-hot heating pad right near the ear. Along with either of these home remedies the ear ache should be treated with ibuprofen to not only reduce the pain but also reduce the inflammation. Acetaminophen or aspirin would be alternate pain relievers.

Of course, prevention is one of the best home remedies. To prevent earaches keep foreign objects out of your ears. Neither fingers, bobby pins nor cotton swabs belong in ears. Not only can they push down anything stuck in the ear but they can actually damage the eardrum.

Blowing your nose should be done one nostril at a time and gently. Stay away from tobacco smoke as this causes infection. Ear plugs are a good idea when swimming. Dirty water can cause ear infection and ear pain too.

If the Eustachian tubes are blocked, there are several home remedies to cure the resulting ear ache.

The patient could sleep with her or his head propped up, and take a hot shower. The steam from the shower should help to soften any build up of ear wax and break it up. A decongestant, if a doctor okays its use, is a good over the counter medication to deal with ear ache resulting from a cold.

If elevation changes cause an ear ache there are several home remedies for it. The first is to chew gum. The second is to pinch both nostrils and try to blow your nose. Another remedy is to yawn. These should help your ears "pop" open again. A decongestant several hours before air travel will help prevent any build up of fluid in the nasal passes. The time of the flight that causes the most problems with pressure change are during take off and landing. Staying awake at these times to proceed with these home remedies will help alleviate an ear ache before it starts.

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