Home Remedies for a Ruptured Eardrum

A ruptured eardrum is a tear in the eardrum. These tears can be caused by head trauma, loud noises, debris inside the ear and infection. Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum are pain, drainage from the ear, loud ringing, as well as feeling like the room is spinning and nausea. While some ruptures require surgery or an eardrum patch, others can heal on their own with proper care.

Keeping Your Ear Dry

• It is important to keep the injured ear dry during the healing process. Water may cause unnecessary pain, as well as irritate the tear. You can keep your inner ear dry during showers and baths by placing a cotton ball inside your ear. Before placing it in your ear, coat the cotton ball with petroleum jelly. The petroleum jelly which will repel water.

Cleaning Your Ears

• Do not clean the inside of your ears when you have a ruptured eardrum. Placing any kind of solution or ear wax-removing tool inside your ear can cause the rupture to tear more.

Blowing Your Nose

• When you have a ruptured eardrum, you must avoid blowing your nose at all costs. When you blow your nose, pressure builds up in the inner ear. Not only will this be painful, but it can cause a bigger tear.