Garlic Oil for Ear Pain

When ear pain results from an infection instead of an injury such as a perforated eardrum, garlic oil may be a beneficial treatment. An ear infection, or otitis media, results from fluid buildup in the inner ear canal and subsequent bacterial activity. If you’re experiencing pain, you have acute otitis media; in otitis media effusion, the fluid accumulation does not cause pain. If you’ve never used garlic oil to treat ear pain, it’s best to consult a doctor first.

Garlic’s Antibacterial Benefits

Garlic oil has antibacterial properties due to compounds in garlic such as allicin, which is nature’s most powerful broad-spectrum antibiotic, notes James A. Duke, author of “The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods.” Garlic oil is a suitable alternative to prescription antibiotics in light of the over-prescribing of these medications, which has contributed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Also, too many antibiotics may increase a child’s risk of candida, a fungal infection.

Research

In a study published in the journal “Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine” in June 2001, a team of Israeli researchers studied the effects of an herbal extract containing olive oil, a garlic extract and other ingredients on ear infections compared to anaesthetic ear drops. The study involved 103 children from ages 6 to 18, and over the course of three days, researchers found that both the herbal extract and anaesthetic ear drops yielded statistically significant reductions in ear pain. The researchers concluded that the garlic-based extract was as effective as the medication for ear pain due to infection.

Using Garlic Oil

If you’re not used to using garlic oil for ear pain, get guidance from a physician. Mark Stengler, a naturopath and co-author of “Prescription for Natural Cures,” recommends using two warm drops of garlic oil in the affected ear three times a day. Do not use garlic oil if an eardrum is perforated or if you see fluid coming out of the ear.

Considerations

Consult your family doctor or a naturopath before using garlic oil for ear pain. If ear pain persists after garlic oil treatment, consult a doctor. Chronic or repeated bouts of ear pain can cause hearing loss. Your doctor may recommend other treatments such as prescription antibiotics, lifestyle changes such as drinking lots of fluid, not smoking and avoiding getting moisture in your ear. In general, antibiotics reduce pain within two to three days.