How to Cure Earache

Anyone who has had a child up all night with an earache or has experienced one themselves knows how painful and worrisome they can be. Before you rush to the emergency room, try these tips to help cure and soothe aching ears at home.

Instructions

• 1

  Warm a small amount of olive oil or mineral oil by holding the container under hot tap water for a few minutes. Test the oil on your wrist as you would do with a baby bottle.

• 2

  Use a dropper and put a drop or two of the warmed oil in the ear. Do not try to fill the ear canal, a drop or two is sufficient to coat the lining of the ear to soothe it and cure the discomfort.

• 3

  Place a heating pad on the ear, with the setting at low to medium heat. Keep the person upright so less blood is flowing to the ear canal.

• 4

  Swallow small gulps of water, chew gum or try to yawn to contract the muscles in the ear and clear the Eustachian tubes, which can cause pain when rising in altitude.

• 5

  Spray an over-the-counter nasal spray that contains phenylephrine, an ingredient to clear the nasal passage. Often when the nasal passage is swollen, pressure is put on the entrance of the Eustachian tubes in the ear causing pain. Relieving this pressure can make the earache go away. Always follow the manufactures directions on the nasal spray.

• 6

  Visit your physician if the earache persists for more than a day or two to get your doctor's advice for a cure. It's hard to determine if an earache is caused by an infection. After a day of using home remedies and no improvement is seen, a physician should examine the ear to avoid damage to the ear canal.