Ear Infections - Home Remedies

Home Remedies

Careful monitoring of the child's condition (watchful waiting) along with home remedies and common over the counter cold medicines may be a viable alternative to antibiotic treatment for many children with a first episode of acute otitis media.

• In one 2000 study, 240 children under age 2 who were diagnosed with acute otitis media were treated with watchful waiting. After 4 days, only 3% of the children required treatment with antibiotics, while the infection cleared in the other 97%.
• High fever, severe pain, or other signs of complications should warrant immediate attention by a medical professional.
• Parents of infants should contact their doctor immediately if they have any fever, regardless other symptoms.

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Natural Remedies for Ear Aches

Before antibiotics, parents used home remedies to treat the pain of ear infections. Now, with current concern over antibiotic overuse, many of these remedies are again popular.

• Depending on regional cultures, parents may have pressed a warm water bottle or warm bag of salt against the ear. Such old-fashioned remedies may still help to ease ear pain.
• Drops of tea tree oil may be beneficial. This herbal treatment has mild anti-bacterial properties, but it may irritate the skin.
• Studies have reported that Otikon, an extract made of various plants, including garlic and St. John's wort, is an effective anesthetic in treating the pain associated with ear infections. Plants contained in Otikon may have side effects.
• Due to the high risk of burns, ear candles should not be used to remove wax from ears. There is no evidence to indicate that these candles are safe or effective for treatment of AOM or other ear conditions.

Herbal remedies are not standardized or regulated, and their quality and safety are largely unknown. Parents should never give their child herbal remedies, including oral remedies, without approval from a doctor.

Valsalva's Maneuver. A simple technique called the Valsalva's maneuver is useful in opening the Eustachian tubes and providing occasional relief from the chronic stuffy feeling accompanying otitis media with effusion. It may also be useful for unplugging ears during air travel descent as well. It works as follows: