Bacterial and viral infections are common, especially during the winter months. While children are more susceptible to falling prey to these infections, they may affect adults too.

These infections may affect different regions of the body, but the ear is among the highly susceptible regions. Read on to know more about what actually causes ear infections, how you can detect one, and the 5 best herbal remedies to deal with it yourself.

Causes of Ear Infections:

The causes of ear infection differ based on where exactly the infection has occurred- infections within the inner ear are much more dangerous, and require professional medical attention. Here we have put down some common causes of ear infections –

Buildup of wax in the ear
Upper respiratory infections
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Nutritional deficiencies
Genetic defects
Food allergies
Environmental allergies
Internal injuries

Signs and Symptoms of Ear Infections:

The signs and symptoms associated with ear infections are many, and differ from person to person. However, there are certain common signs and symptoms that may point out to the occurrence of a ear infection. Here we’ve listed them down –

Pain in the ear
Headache
Tugging sensation in the ear
Fluid draining from the ear
High fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Sleeping problems
Poor response to sounds

The 5 Best Herbal Remedies for Ear Infections:

While taking antibiotic medications may be your first thought at dealing with a ear infection, it may not exactly be ideal. Due to overuse of antibiotic medications over the years, the bacteria have developed a resistance, which may need you to take a heavier dose of the same antibiotic.

Thankfully, here we’ve listed down the best herbal remedies that you can use right from your kitchen, to calm down a ear infection naturally. Read on…

Garlic:

Garlic is highly antimicrobial in nature, and possesses natural pain-relieving properties, which make it among the best natural remedies to curb an ear infection.

Here are some good ways you can put this one to use –

Make it a point to take at least 2-3 cloves of raw garlic a day.

Boil 3-4 cloves of fresh garlic in some water for 5-7 minutes, crush the cloves, and add some salt. Now put this mixture in a clean cloth and place it on the ear that’s affected.

Prepare garlic oil (cook 2 large cloves of garlic in 1-2 tbsp of sesame oil until it begins to turn black). While the garlic oil is still bearably warm, add 2-3 drops of this oil into the affected ear.

Tea Tree Oil:

Tea tree oil has amazing antibacterial properties that make it an excellent herbal remedy for ear infections.

Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a tbsp of olive oil and warm it slightly. Now, using a dropper, fill your ear with this oil, let it remain for a minute or so, and then drain it off by laying on the other side.

Need a bottle of tea tree oil? You can purchase it from here.

Want to learn more about the magic of tea tree oil? Read this article to learn why tea tree oil is so incredible.

Basil:

Indian herbalists love basil and its healing properties so much, that they even call it the ‘holy basil.’ Basil extracts can be used to cure minor ear infections and relieve ear pain associated with it.

Here’s how you can do it –
Extract the juice from 4-5 holy basil leaves by crushing them, and apply this juice directly around the infected ear. Make it a point to avoid letting this juice get into the ear canal.
Prepare holy basil oil by crushing a few leaves and mixing it with a carrier oil like coconut oil, and warming it gently. Now soak a cotton ball into this basil oil mixture and wipe it around the outside and the reachable inside of the ear, preferably twice a day.

Onion:

Onion works as a wonderful herbal remedy to treat ear infections. Here’s how you should proceed with this one-

Chop an onion, microwave it for a couple of minutes, and add a few drops of the liquid so obtained after microwaving to the infected ear.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar works as a great natural treatment for ear infections caused by fungi.

Here’s how to use it –

Mix together equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water/alcohol and soak a cotton ball into this mixture. Leave it plugged onto your ear for 5-7 minutes- then remove the cotton ball and lie on the opposite side, so as to remove all the liquid from the ear that may have entered the ear canal.