Home remedy for ear infection?!
Question: There's nothing I hate more than an ear infection, and I'm starting to worry that I may be developing one. I have a very light ache on the right side of my face right now, and it seems to be centered at my ear. I have not been swimming recently, but I did use Q-tips yesterday. I have a feeling I may just have a headache right now and I'm focusing too much on the pain near my ear (since I'm terrified of ear infections). But just in case I might be developing an infection, I wanted to know if there are any ways to prevent it from worsening or treat it at home? I know you can cure a UTI by drinking Cranberry juice or lots of water, and I was looking for some sort of cure like that for my ear. I remember when I was a kid, my mom would put vinegar in our ears. But will that cure the infection? Is there anything I can do now to prevent a trip to the doctor?
Answers: There's nothing I hate more than an ear infection, and I'm starting to worry that I may be developing one. I have a very light ache on the right side of my face right now, and it seems to be centered at my ear. I have not been swimming recently, but I did use Q-tips yesterday. I have a feeling I may just have a headache right now and I'm focusing too much on the pain near my ear (since I'm terrified of ear infections). But just in case I might be developing an infection, I wanted to know if there are any ways to prevent it from worsening or treat it at home? I know you can cure a UTI by drinking Cranberry juice or lots of water, and I was looking for some sort of cure like that for my ear. I remember when I was a kid, my mom would put vinegar in our ears. But will that cure the infection? Is there anything I can do now to prevent a trip to the doctor?
You CANNOT cure a UTI by drinking cranberry juice... you can only prevent. It makes the environment of the bladder more acidic, so that bacteria do not replicate. Once they are there and have multiplied, you're SOL.
About ear infections... Most of them will clear on their own. I have a 3 year old daughter and rarely take her to the doc with ear infections. Most of them will clear with antiibiotics, but lots of them are viral in nature or are the result of fluid draining from a head cold. I have heard of people putting all kinds of things in their ears. The ones mentioned on here are probably not going to cause any harms, but I personally would not do it. I would just let it run it's course. Get a sock, fill it with some rice, and put it in the microwave for a few minutes. Then, put it on your ear. This really helps with the pain. If you really can't stand the pain, go to the drug store and buy some OTC drops for earache relief.
First, don't put a q-tip in your ear! You could puncture your ear drum, which is very painful.
No home cure for that infection, sorry.
4 DROPS OF OLIVE OIL THE ONE FROM THE KITCHEN WORKS WONDERS.
AN OLD RULE WE HAVE IN UK IS THE ONLY THING YOU POKE IN YOUR EARS IS YOUR ELBOWS SO TAKE HEED NO Q TIPS
Ear infections require antibiotics. Wouldn't you rather go to the doctor and get proper diagnosis and treatment than diagnose and treat yourself with food products!
If left untreated the infection can spread to the skull and eventually erode into the brain. I'd go with antibiotics over vinegar any day.
You might try warming some sweet oil and putting it in your ear, then put in some cotton. It won't stop an infection, but it will ease the pain. Also, it might be a bad tooth causing your ear to hurt! If the pain gets severe, see a Doctor.
HI Kayla
Here are a few testimonials on healing the issue.
3/21/2007: Vickie (vlarks@sbcglobal.net) from Brentwood, California writes: "I use peroxide for ear aches and ear infections. First use the peroxide in ear or ears. After bubbling stops then you warm up pure olive oil put in ear or ears followed by a cotton ball. Usually ear aches subside immediately. Ear infections may take two or 3 times."
3/21/2007: Keri from Sylvan Lake, Michigan writes: "Cured toddler's ear infection!! After many ear infections and ear tubes in my son's ears, I was told to try 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts water and put drops in his ear to stop the discharge from his ears. Magic! It stopped the gooey discharge and cleaned his ear of the wax too!! I recommend it to everyone!!"
Best of health to you