• Common cold
• Pressure change, for instances when taking a flight
• Over exposure to extreme sound
• Exerting excess pressure in the ears
• Infections resulting from piercing or insects entering into the ears
• Accumulation of the wax in the ear
• Throat-nose-ear infections

Earache is more pronounced at bed time when the person lies down and the throat muscles are relaxed, thus the Eustachian tubes get to tighten.

Remedies for Earache

There are many way of alleviating pain and curing Earache, especially to small kids who can not express their exact feeling. Some of these methods have been in place for over a century, and they include;

1. Sesame oil and clove of garlic:

Take a clove of garlic and mix with a teaspoon of sesame oil, warm until it becomes lukewarm. Let the suffering person lie on the bed sideways, release four drops of the mixture into the ear and leave the patient to remain in that position for ten minutes then repeat the process with the opposite ear. This method is mostly applicable as a home first aid to kids or adults who experience an abrupt Earache.

2. Licorice and Ghee

Make a mixture of licorice and ghee. Prepare the mixture to be pasty then apply on the external surface of the ear. This mixture acts directly on the pain and in just about five minutes the patient will be relieved from their pain. Licorice and Ghee are taken as the foremost natural cure for Earache.

3. Castor plant

Take some fresh leaves of castor plant, dip them into warm sesame oil and then apply the concoction as if you are doing a massage to the ear. This is a traditional method that was and is still used to treat Earache problems.

The above mentioned remedies apply only to the Earache that does not discharge pus. Some of the remedies for the Earache with discharge include the following;

4. Commiphora wightii- guggulu herb

Take some fresh piece of guggulu herbs and burn it. Allow it to burn to the point of producing the smoke then direct that smoke to go directly into the ear. The smoke will ease the pain and stop the discharge of the pus.

5. Ajwain oil- Bishop’s weed

Mix the bishop’s weed oil with sesame oil in a ratio of 3:1 respectively.  Warm the mixture using water bath or a flame and then drop fours drops of it into each ear at the time. This the best remedy of treating a persistent Earache.

6. Garlic and linseed oil

Put five or four clove of garlic into linseed oil and heat them. Sieve the oil and store it in a clean bottle. Make sure you apply this oil daily in the morning and in the evening. Within a couple of days the pain will be history.

7. Ocium sanctum

Take freshly leaves of Ocium sanctum; grind using a mortar and paste. Warm the oil to a moderate temperature which is tolerable to you and then apply four to five drops into the ear. This method is a short- term remedy of curing the Earache and pain relief.

8. Cotton wool

This mostly applies in extremely cold temperatures. Cotton wool will acts as the insulator of the inner surface of the ear against the external temperatures.

9. Mango juice

Take fresh leaves of a mango tree and extract some juice. Put four to five drops of it daily in the morning and in the evening into each ear at a time. Ensure that the temperatures are tolerable so as to avoid further complications. Mango juice kills the bacteria that cause the inflammation in the ear.

10. Radish

Cut radish into tiny pieces and put them into mustard oil and heat them. Store them in a clear glass bottle so that you can apply into the ear every time you experience some pain.

In addition to these remedies, there are other general remedies which are applicable to both situations; when there is a discharge pus and inflammation in the ear. These include the use of banana juice. Extract some banana juice, warm them and then put three drops into each ear at a time before you go to sleep. Also extract some juice from ginger and drops four to five drops of it into each ear at time. This is known to relief the pain within the shortest time possible.

Earaches caused by swimming can be cured by taking mineral oil and putting in two drops of it into each ear before starting to swim. The mineral oil will maintain the pressure inside the ear and outside; hence water pressure will not cause any pain.