Herbal Cure for an Aching Ear

An earache is a symptom of an underlying condition; an aching ear is characterized by pain in your ear or is the result of an injury or disease. Earache causes include the accumulation of fluid in your ear, an infection, a cold, an allergy or damage to your eardrum. Earaches can also be caused by changes in altitude that affect the pressure in your inner ear. Thankfully, there are some herbal remedies that can help you deal with some of the causes of an earache.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Visit your doctor to evaluate your earache condition. The doctor will use an otoscope to look inside your ear, sinuses, nasal passages and throat. Your doctor will look for signs of an ear infection and check for an underlying infection of the throat or sinuses that might be the cause of your condition. An ear infection should be treated promptly with antibiotics to prevent hearing damage. Follow your doctor's recommendations and take the full course of antibiotics prescribed to you.

St. John's Wort

• St. John's Wort is an herb that has anti-viral and antibacterial agents and offers anti-inflammatory agents to help alleviate your ear pain. This herb is excellent for earaches caused by an ear infection. Consult with a physician before giving a child this herb to make sure that the herb is a suitable treatment for your child. Take 300mg of St. John's Wort in capsule form three times a day for an ear infection. Use the herb until your ear pain subsides. To consume St. John's Wort as a tea, brew 2 to 4 tsp. of the dried herb in 1 cup hot water for 10 minutes. Drink the tea four times daily to treat your ear infection.

  Possible side effects of St. John's Wort include gastrointestinal upset, skin rash, headaches, dizziness, restlessness and fatigue. You may develop sensitivity to light when using this herb. People with bipolar disorder should not take this herb, because of its mood-altering effects. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid taking this herb. St. John's Wort consumption may interfere with anti-depressants, some antihistamines like loratadine, cetrizine and fexofenadine, as well as dextromethorphan. This herb may also interfere with the use of digoxin and immunosuppressants such as adalmumab, azathioprine, cyclosporine, etanercept, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus. Further, this herb may interact with oral contraceptives, resperine, certain sedatives, theophylline, triptans, warafin and anti-fungal medications.

Garlic

• Garlic is useful for dealing with colds and cold symptoms, including an earache. Garlic consumption can speed the recovery from a cold, and this herb contains allicin, which offers anti-viral and antibacterial agents. Speak with your doctor before giving your child garlic supplements. Adults should consume 600mg to 1,200mg garlic capsules a day in divided doses.

  Using garlic can interfere with certain medications, including aspirin, Plavix, indomethacin and dipyridamole. It can also interact with warfarin, saquinavir, ritinavir and indinavir. You can also consume two to four cloves of freshly minced garlic daily. Eating fresh garlic can result in halitosis.

Goldenseal

• Goldenseal is another effective herbal remedy for earaches; put this herb inside the ear to treat internal ear conditions. Goldenseal has berberines in it that destroy bacteria and germs, making the herb a good treatment for infections of all kinds. Children and adults can mix two to three droppersful of goldenseal with olive oil to make an eardrop solution. Place two to three drops of the mixture in the ear once or twice a day until symptoms subside. Children can also be offered goldenseal in capsule form; a child can take 160mg three times daily. Adults should consume 500mg to 2,000mg goldenseal for an ear infection three times a day until symptoms subside.

  Do not consume goldenseal if you have hypertension. Breastfeeding and pregnant women should also avoid goldenseal. This herb may irritate the skin, throat and mouth. Side effects may include gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea. You may develop sensitivity to light when taking goldenseal. Using this herb may interfere with tetracycline, and it may change the metabolic processes of your liver. Consult with a physician before using this herb.