An earache can be excrutiatingly painful. As the ear, nose and throat are all interconnected, the pain can also spread to these areas and cause much distress . An earache can be sharp, dull, or burning pain.
Causes and symptoms of earache
Earache is usually caused by a cold getting out of hand. The ear, nose and throat are intimately connected. Any infection in one area tends to affect the other two to a lesser or greater degree. This is especially so in children. Pain can also occur if one has used a pin or matchstick to clean the ears. An erupting wisdom tooth or a toothache can also cause pain in the ear.
Increased irritability or pulling at the ears is often a sign of ear pain in infants. Earache in a child or infant is not always from infection. Other causes include water from bathing, soap or shampoo retention, or ear canal irritation from cotton-tipped swabs.
Earache symptoms may include
- Fever.
- Ear pain.
- Increased crying.
- Fussiness.
- Pulling at the ears.
- Irritability.
Natural home remedies to get relief from earache
- Steam inhalations often clear all the respiratory passages (ear, nose and throat). An infusion of eucalyptus leaves is particularly beneficial.
- A tablespoonful of mustard or sesame-seed oil, heated with a clove of garlic or a pinch of omum, then filtered and cooled to a bearable temperature, can be instilled (1-2 drops) in the ear. Tilt the head so that the oil goes into the ear, and hold the head in that position for a minute or so. Do this twice a day for 2-3 days.
- One or two drops of holy basil-leaf juice in the ear in beneficial for an earache.
- One or two drops of garlic oil, put twice a day in the ear, is also efficacious. However, this may cause irritation in some people, so add a drop of milk to it.
- Use as a ear drop a decoction of neem leaves-1-2 drops-just warm, not hot.
- A few drops of fresh lime juice, diluted with an equal quantity of watertwo drops twice a day-is also very effective.
- Ear drops can be made with the warmed fresh juice of either tender mango leaves, fresh ginger, neem leaves or onion. Put in the ear one or two drops at a time. Do not mix these. Each remedy is individually used.
- Pound fenugreek seeds and put them in hot oil. Filter and cool it to a bearable temperature. This oil should be used as eardrops.
Tip :Do not use hairpins or tweezers to remove foreign bodies in the ear, and do not put water into the ear, as some foreign bodies may swell up with the moisture.
Useful References