Ever heard of swimmer’s ear? That’s the infection of the outer ear canal, in the tube that connects the ear to the eardrum. The medical term for it is otitis external.
The main cause for this infection is when the water left in the ear canal after swimming, bathing, or showering grows bacteria.
A fungus or virus can also cause infection, but that is less common.
Other things that cause this infection are using headphones or hearing aids too often, over- cleaning of the outer ear canal, hair spray or hair dyes, and an allergy from jewelry.
The mildest symptoms for swimmer’s ear infection are swelling, redness, pain or discomfort, pus or fluid discharge, itching, and muted hearing.
What do you do to ease the pain for a mild infection? Here are some ways to lessen the infection and allow the ear canal to heal.
The acid in vinegar helps kill the bacteria in the ear, cleaning out the infection. This makes it one of the best cures for swimmer’s ear.
- Mix an equal amount of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a bowl.
- Lie on your side with the infected ear facing up.
- Put 2-3 drops of the mixture in your ear, using a dropper.
- Keep it in for five minutes, then sit up and tilt your head to let the mix drip out of your ear.
- Do this 2- 3 times a day.
Try a warm compress if you see a pus build up or a fluid discharge from your hurt ear. This will help because the heat will help the fluid drain and ease the pain.
- Start by soaking a washcloth in hot water and then squeezing out the extra water. Place the compress on the infected ear for two minutes, and then tilt your head to let the fluid drain. Take a ten minute break and do it again if needed.
- Another way to do this is to wrap a heating pad in a towel and put it on your bed. Lie with your infected air on the heating pad for a few minutes. Do this as many times as needed.
Because hydrogen peroxide is a natural bacteria killer, it is a great way to dry out the fluid in the ear and cure this infection.
- Buy 3 % hydrogen peroxide.
- Lie down and put 3- 4 drops in the infected ear, using a dropper.
- Stay in that position for a few minutes.
- Sit up and tilt your head to let the fluid drain from your ear.
- Do this a few of times a day.
Garlic is another great way to cure ear infections. This is because it kills the bacteria that cause the infection and lessens the pain that comes with it.
To use garlic
- Crush a few garlic cloves and mix them with two tablespoons of olive oil. Heat the oil until the garlic turns brown. Use 2- 4 drops in the infected ear. Do this one or two times a day.
- To help the cure, eat two to three raw garlic cloves a day.
Note: do not use garlic oil if you have fluid draining from your ear.
According to Ayurveda, a good idea for treating ear infection is onion juice. This is because the juice kills bacteria and lessens pain very soon after it’s used.
- Squeeze the juice from one small onion.
- Heat the juice in the microwave for a few seconds.
- Put two or three drops of warm juice in your ear.
- Leave it for five minutes, and then tilt your head to let the fluid drain.
- Do two to three times a day.
Another idea suggested by Ayurveda is holy basil. Because it kills bacteria, it helps fight the ear infection and soothe the pain. It also helps treat fluid discharge.
- Squeeze the juice from four or five basil leaves.
- Heat the juice slightly, until it is lukewarm.
- Lie down and put two or three drops in your ear.
- After five minutes, sit up and tilt your head to let the fluid drain from your ear.
- Do this two times a day.
Insert rubbing alcohol in the troubled ear with the help of a dropper. To distribute the alcohol evenly, move your head around. Then, tilt your head downwards to drip out the alcohol.