What Is Sweet Oil for the Ears?

Sweet oil, another name for olive oil, is a home remedy for earaches. Putting sweet oil drops into the ear canal may relieve pain, but the oil does not fight the infection.
  1. History

    • In 1846, Lydia Maria Child, a popular writer of advice books for women, touted sweet oil as a way to relieve a child's earache pain. She recommended placing a piece of cotton wool moistened with sweet oil and paragoric, which is derived from opium, in the child's ear.

    Function

    • A common home remedy today involves warming the sweet oil slightly, and then placing two to three drops into the affected ear.

    Misconceptions

    • According to U.S. Pharmacist journal, warmed sweet oil can provide short-term relief from ear pain. The oil, however, cannot penetrate far enough to reach the infection, which is usually beyond the ear drum in the middle ear.

    Considerations

    • Using sweet oil to treat earache can keep parents from taking their children to the doctor promptly. The oil can also make it difficult for a doctor to examine the ear.

    Recommendations

    • Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can relieve earache pain. One home remedy that may help is placing a warm, moist washcloth or compress over the ear. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

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