How to deal with ear pain?

Ear pain can be incredibly uncomfortable. You might find that it makes working hard or impossible, and it can disrupt a lot of your regular routines such as sleeping. No matter what kind of ear pain you have there is usually something that you can do for 11yourself to help ease the discomfort and prevent it from escalating into something worse.

What are the causes of ear pain?

There could be many different causes. For example, if you’ve recently had a cold or the flu you mind find yourself with residual ear pain several weeks later. Ear pain can be one of the side effects of sinusitis, which may also make you feel unwell with headaches, toothache and tenderness in your jaw and neck. Infection like this is a common cause but ear pain can also be the result of other conditions, such as grinding your teeth. Often, ear pain can be handled and eased at home but if it becomes acute or is accompanied by a fever then it’s always a good idea to consult a medical professional.

How to deal with ear pain

There are many options available over the counter to help deal with ear pain, including anti inflammatories and painkillers. There are also alternatives if you prefer to avoid going down the drugs route. For example:

• A jala neti pot. This is a great tool for helping to clear a build up of mucus and reduce the impact of an infection but it may also take a bit of getting used to. The neti pot looks like a small teapot. It’s traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to flush out the sinuses and can help to ease problems like ear pain. It works by using a saline solution (usually 1 teaspoon of pure salt to 500ml of boiled water) that is tipped from the pot into one nostril. The solution flows through into the other nostril and then out into the sink.
• Garlic oil. A traditional remedy for infection, garlic infused oil is very effective when it comes to ear pain. You can use garlic oil by rubbing it along your jaw or putting a few drops onto a cotton wool ball and placing it into the ear. It’s very simple to make your own garlic oil. You can drop a crushed garlic clove into 15ml of oil and leave it overnight and the next day. Strain the garlic out after 24 hours and then keep the oil somewhere cool and dark.
• Bromelain. If you’re keen to take something orally for your ear pain then Bromelain is a good option. It’s a remedy that comes from an enzyme in pineapples and can help to reduce pressure, inflammation and congestion. You’ll need to take 400mg of Bromelain twice a day for at least three months to see results.

Ear pain is difficult to deal with and can be incredibly uncomfortable. These are just some of the ways in which you can help yourself if it happens to you.

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