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OPINION: Home remedies for ear infections

JOBURG – Find out how you can fight an ear infection with everyday household items.

Claire Brown writes:

Ear infections can cause agonising pain.

An ear pain can easily change to a headache and just drive you crazy.

Now I always recommend if the pain is becoming too much when it comes to your ears, seek a doctor’s opinion but if you suffer often from infections or you can’t get to the doctor straight away, here are some remedies you can try.

Ear infections occur when a bacterial or viral infection attacks the middle ear (sections of your ear just behind the eardrum).

Ear infections are very painful due to the inflammation and fluid buildup in the middle ear.

Ear infections occur when one of your Eustachian tubes becomes swollen or blocked and fluid builds up in your middle ear.

Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run from each ear directly to the back of the throat.

The causes of Eustachian tube blockage include:

  •  Allergies
  •  Colds
  •  Sinus infections
  •  Excess mucus
  •  Tobacco smoking
  •  Infected or swollen adenoids (tissue near your tonsils that trap harmful bacteria and viruses).

1. Tea tree oil has mild anti-bacterial properties which relieve pain while curing the infection.

Method:

  •  Mix three drops of tea tree oil, two tablespoons of olive oil, one teaspoon of colloidal silver, and one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
  •  Warm it slightly
  •  Use a dropper to put some in your ear
  •  Lie on your side for five minutes, then on your other side to drain the solution from your ear
  •  Repeat two times daily.

2. As always the best cure of infections can be found in good old salt. Heated salt relieves irritation and pain.

Method:

  •  Heat one cup of salt in a microwave for three minutes
  •  Place the heated salt in cloth and tie the open end
  •  Check the heat before placing near the ear
  •  Press the cloth against infected ear for 10 minutes
  •  The heat will draw moisture out of the ear and the salt will soak it up.

3. Olive oil relieves irritation in the inner and outer ear and helps to open up the blocked ear tubes.

Method:

  •  Heat your olive oil
  •  Pour a few drops of warm oil inside the infected ear to soften infected wax
  •  Use a cotton ball to remove wax from the ear.

Here are three tips to help prevent ear infections:

  •  Clean outside your ear with a cotton swab regularly
  •  Pour a few drops of hydrogen peroxide onto a cotton ball and put it in the ear to kill infection and remove excess fluids
  •  Make a yawning-like movement with your mouth to open up the Eustachian tubes.

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