Earaches are caused by many different things, including infection, inflammation and abrasions. Some doctors, including pediatrician William Sears, recommend letting infections run their course using the least amount of antibiotic as possible to avoid antibiotic resistance, but it's difficult to suffer with the pain of an earache. Herbal remedies can treat the pain by soothing swollen structures and reducing inflammation, without the fear of antibiotic resistance. If the pain becomes very severe or you see any pus or bloody discharge, seek medical attention.
Garlic
Garlic may not be the most pleasant-smelling earache remedy, but it is effective. Dr. William Sears and herbalists recommend garlic-infused oil to treat earaches. The warmed oil is soothing to the inflamed ear while the garlic acts as both an analgesic and an antiseptic. Garlic oil is also helpful in curing swimmer's ear, a fungal infection that occurs when contaminated water sits in the ear. Additionally some people make a poultice of cut garlic and place it over the ear for relief. Do not put pieces of garlic in the ear canal.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is made from the leaves of melaleuca alternifolia and has anti-bacterial properties. Tea tree oil should be warmed and dropped into the ear canal. Tea tree oil can sting so it is often mixed with vegetable or olive oil before application. Tea tree oil should only be used as a topical treatment and should never be ingested, warns the health care providers at the Mayo Clinic.
Mullein
The leaves of the mullein flower can be fused into olive oil and used an an effective earache treatment. An article at herbs2000 reports that herbal practitioners in Germany use this preparation mixed with a small amount of benzoin to treat both earaches and hemorrhoids. Mullein is sometimes mixed with garlic oil as an earache treatment.
Other Herbs
Lavender is sometimes used as a poultice to ease the pain of an outer earache. Rub some lavender oil on the affected area several times per day for relief, suggests the herbalists at herbs2000. Additionally echinacea can help clear respiratory congestion that sometimes leads to ear infections.
