21 Natural Home Remedies for Earaches in Adults

Earache (or otalgia) is the result of an infection in your ear area. Your middle ear is commonly filled with air. However, if you get a cold, mucus or fluid will get accumulated in your middle ear and you can get infected by bacteria that lead to earaches. Even infections which affect to your ear nerves can also be a cause for ear pain. Some common causes of earaches are blockage in your ear tube (Eustachian tube), some objects stuck in your ear, tooth infections like toothache, abscessed teeth, damage of the eardrum, sinusitis, ear wax, ear injury, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and arthritis.

In the framework of this writing, AllRemedies.com will introduce to you the best natural home remedies for earaches in adults without any side effect. These home remedies are collected carefully and completely from reliable sources. However, it is not intended to give medical advice and it is solely for the informational purpose. Continue reading this article to understand more!

Top 21 Natural Home Remedies For Earaches In Adults

1. Garlic

Garlic contains antibiotics and analgesic properties that can help in reducing and treating the ear pain that is caused by an ear infection. There are a few home remedies for earaches using garlic to get instant relief from earaches as well as inflammation due to infection.

Way 1:

You will need:

• 2 cloves of garlic (peeled)
• 2 tablespoons of mustard oil

Instuctions:

• Firstly, you add the cloves of garlic to the mustard oil.
• Then, you heat this oil until the garlic cloves turn black.
• After that, you turn off the flame and allow the oil to cool down until it gets tepid. Or until you can bear its temperature when you pour this into your ear.
• You strain this oil to remove the burnt cloves of garlic.
• You can use a clean dropper to pour 2 to 3 drops of the warm garlic oil into your aching ear. You should plug your ear with a clean cotton ball so that this garlic oil does not come out from your ear.
• Or you can extract its juice from a few cloves of garlic and you put the juice in the ear pain.
• You should follow this way for about two times per day to get relief from the earaches and also ear infection.

Way 2:

You will need:

• 5 cloves of garlic
• A cup of water
• A pinch of salt
• A clean thin cloth

Instuctions:

• Firstly, you add the cloves of garlic to the water.
• Then, you heat the water for at least 10 minutes to get softened garlic.
• After that, you take the garlic cloves out from the water and you crush them to get a paste.
• You add the salt to this garlic paste.
• And you put this paste into the clean cloth and you wrap it to get a poultice.
• Finally, you place this cloth onto your aching ear for a few minutes.
• You should follow this process regularly to get rid of earaches.

2. Neem Leaves

Neem leaves, also known as Indian lilac, contains potent antifungal and antibacterial properties that can help you to fight the ear infection. In addition, it also contains analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that can help you to reduce earaches.

Way 1:

You will need:

• A handful of neem leaves

Directions:

• Firstly, you take neem leaves and then you crush them to extract the juice.
• After that, you pour a few drops of this juice in the aching ear.
• You should follow this remedy for about 1 to 2 times per day to get rid of earaches.

Way 2:

You will need:

• A few drops of neem oil
• A clean cotton ball
• A small cup

Instuctions:

• Firstly, you take the neem oil to a small cup.
• Then, you soak the clean cotton ball in it and you squeeze out this excess oil.
• After that, you put this cotton ball into your aching ear.
• You allow it to sit for about several minutes and then you discard it.

You should follow either of these home remedies for earaches using neem (Indian lilac) for about 1 or 2 times per day until you get complete relief from the earaches.

Read more: Top natural remedies for ear infection 

3. Ginger

Being a natural painkiller, ginger can help to get relief from the pain.

In addition, ginger also works as anti-inflammatory to ease the infection that is caused in your ear. Here are two home remedies for earaches that use ginger.

Way 1:

You will need:

• A ginger piece

Instuctions:

• Firstly, you take the fresh ginger piece and then you crush it to extract its juice from it.
• After that, you pour this juice gently into your ear to get rid of the pain.
• You should repeat this process for about two times per day to get instant relief from the ear pain.

Way 2:

You will need:

• A ginger piece
• Sesame oil
• ¼ cup of water

Instuctions:

• You extract the juice from the ginger piece (about 1 tablespoon).

• Then, you warm the water and add a little sesame oil to it.
• After that, you mix the fresh ginger juice and ¼ cup of sesame oil.
• You allow it to cool for a few minutes.
• Now you can take this oil and rub it externally around your aching ear.
• You should repeat this remedy when needed.

4. Hair Dryer

You can use a hair dryer to apply moist heat that can become one of the great home remedies for earaches.

After you take a bath or shower, you should not use a towel to dry your ears. Instead, you should use a blow dryer.

• You set the dryer on warm and you hold it slightly away from your ear.
• You allow the warm air to dry the moisture in the ear.
• Remember that you do not use the dryer for more than 5 minutes.

5. Onions

Onions contain antibacterial and antiseptic properties that can help in treating the ear pain.

Here are two home remedies for earaches that use onion.

Way 1:

You will need:

• A fresh onion
• A clean cloth

Directions:

• You crush a fresh onion.
• Then, you wrap this onion in a clean cloth tightly.
• After that, you hold the cloth over your aching ear for at least 5 to 10 minutes
• You should repeat this remedy for 2 to 3 times per day to get rid of the earaches.

Way 2:

You will need:

• An onion

Directions:

• Firstly, you take an onion.
• Then you grate and crush it to extract the juice.
• After that, you heat this juice over a low flame for about a few minutes until it becomes tepid.
• Next, you put off the heat and you allow it to cool for a few minutes.
• Now you put 2 to 3 drops of this warm juice into your aching ear to get quick relief from the earaches.
• You should do this process for 2 to 3 times per day to get complete relief from the ear pain.

6. Mango leaves

The mango leaves juice is also one of the good home remedies for earaches. An earache is disturbing as well as irritating. You can use the juice of mango leaves as an ear drop. It can give you a quick relief from the ear pain.

You will need:

• A few mango leaves

Directions:

• You extract the juice from a few fresh mango leaves.
• Then, you warm this juice over a low flame for a few minutes.
• After that, you turn off the heat and allow it to cool for 2 to 3 minute or until you can bear its temperature when you pour it into your ears.
• Now you pour this juice (3 to 4 drops) into your affected ear and you allow it to sit for overnight.
• You should follow this remedy regularly to get instant relief from the earaches.

7. Hot Water

You can apply moist heat around your affected ear, which will help you to get rid of the earaches and ear infections by opening up the Eustachian tubes.

You can follow either of these home remedies for earaches using how water.

Way 1: Hot water bottle

You will need:

• A hot water bottle
• A towel

Directions:

• You cover a hot water bottle in a clean towel.
• Then, you hold it against your aching ear and you press it for a few minutes.
• Another option, you can wrap this towel as a pillow and you use it for your affected ear at night when you are sleeping.
• You should repeat this remedy when you feel necessary.

Way 2: Warm compress

You will need:

• A clean cloth
• Hot water

Directions:

• You take a clean cloth (or towel) and hot or warm water.
• You soak this cloth in water and then you wring out the cloth to remove the excess hot water
• After that, you place it against your affected ear and keep it for a few minutes till the cloth becomes cold.
• You should repeat this remedy whenever you feel necessary.

8. Cleansing Your Ears

You can use a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil as an ear drop that can help to break up the ear wax. You should wait for about 15 – 30 minutes. When the ear wax is softened, you use a bulb syringe that is filled with tepid water to gently irrigate the ears to flush out the wax from your ears.

• Firstly, you remove the air out of your bulb syringe.
• While you still squeeze the bulb, you submerge it in warm water. Then you release the bulb to allow it to fill with water. You don’t use cold water because this can cause dizziness. However, you should also not use hot water because this can cause burns or damage the sensitive inner ear.
• You tilt your head and lift the bulb to your ear and keep it to your ear, you should put it just barely touching your ear. You do not try to put the bulb syringe into the ear canal.
• Gently, you squeeze the bulb syringe to release the tepid water into the ear canal.
• You should repeat this process when you feel necessary.

9. Bishop’s Weed

Bishop’s weed contains pain killing properties which help it to become one of the effective home remedies for earaches.

Way 1:

You will need:

• Bishop’s weed seeds – ½ teaspoon
• Milk – 1 cup

Directions:

• You take the bishop’s weed seeds and then you boil them in the prepared milk.
• You boil them till the essence of bishop’s weed seeds permeates the milk.
• After that, you strain this milk and you can use this warm mixture as ear drops to ease the congestion.
• You should repeat this remedy regularly to get relief from the ear pain.

Way 2:

You will need:

• Bishop’s weed oil – 1 teaspoon
• Sesame oil – 3 teaspoon

Directions:

• Firstly, you take the bishop’s weed oil and then you mix it with the sesame oil.
• You warm it slightly and you allow it to cool for 2 to 3 minutes.
• You place 4 to 5 drops of this cool mixture in your ear pain.
• You should do this process regularly to get complete relief from the earaches.

Way 3:

You will need:

• Bishop’s weed oil – 2 to 3drops

Directions:

• You take this bishop’s oil and then you pour it directly into your affected ear.
• After a few minutes, you can get instant relief from the ear pain.
• You should do this way whenever you suffer from earaches.

10. Tea Tree Oil

In fact, tea tree oil contains anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, and antiviral properties. Therefore, it is used widely for treating ear infections as well as ear pain.

There are three home remedies for earaches using tea tree oil.

Way 1:

You will need:

• 3 drops of tea tree oil
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
• A dropper
• A towel

Directions:

• You mix tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil thoroughly to make a mixture.
• Then, you heat this mixture to make it warm.
• After that, you lie down on the side with the affected ear upwards. And, you place a soft towel under your head.
• You use the dropper to pour this warm mixture into your aching ear.
• You allow the mixture to stay there for a few minutes.
• After that, you turn your side with the earache below so that the excess mixture can drain out of your ear.
• You should repeat this way for 2 or 3 times per day. You will feel the results in two days. You can discontinue after 2 days.

Way 2:

You will need:

• ¼ cup of olive oil
• 10 drops of tea tree essential oil
• 10 drops of lavender essential oil

Directions:

• Firstly, you mix all the above oils well.
• Then, you gently apply this oil mixture to around your affected ear to get instant relief from earaches.

Way 3:

You will need:

• 10 drops of tea tree oil
• 10 drops of neem oil
• 2 tablespoons of sesame oil
• A cotton swab

Directions:

• You mix all the above oils.
• Then, you lie down on the side with your affected ear upwards.
• You pour this oil mixture into your aching ear.
• You allow it to sit there for about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Now, you turn your side and lie down with the aching ear below to drain out the excess oil.
• You can use a cotton swab to dab this excessive oil.

11. Olive Oil

Olive oil works as a lubricant agent that can help to ease the earaches as well as the ear infections. It also eliminates the buzzing sensations inside the ears.

You will need:

• Olive oil – a few drops
• A cotton bud

Directions:

• Firstly, you take the olive oil and you warm it for a few minutes.
• After that, you turn off the heat after it gets lukewarm.
• You can use 3 or 4 drops of this warm oil as ear drops to place into your ear canal with the help of a dropper.
• Another option, you can also take a cotton bud and dip it in the warm olive oil and then you put it firmly into your aching ear.
• You should repeat this process when you feel necessary.

12. Mullein Flower Oil

Mullein flower oil helps in relieving the earache which is caused by the ear infection.

Here are the recipes of two home remedies for earaches that use mullein flower oil.

Way 1:

You will need:

• Mullein oil – a few drops
• A bowl
• A cotton ball

Directions:

• You take the mullein oil into a clean bowl.
• And then you dip the clean cotton ball in this oil and put in your ear pain.
• You keep it like that and then you take it off after a few minutes.
• You should repeat this remedy whenever you got the earaches.

Way 2:

You will need:

• A handful of dried mullein
• 2 to 3 cloves of garlic (crushed)
• A handful of St. John’s Wort
• 1 to 3 flowers of calendula
• ¼ teaspoon of Vitamin E oil
• A mason jar
• Olive oil

Directions:

• You put mullein in the clean mason jar.
• Then, you add St. John’s Wort, garlic cloves, and Calendula flowers in it.
• You fill the mason jar with the sufficient amount of olive oil.
• And then you add the Vitamin E oil.
• You close this mason jar and allow the herbs to soak into it to make an infusion.
• You need to allow this to soak for 3 to 4 weeks.
• In addition, you must shake this jar every day.
• If you see this oil getting lesser after several days, you can add some more, especially olive oil.
• After 4 to 6 weeks, you strain the oil and you store it another bottle.
• After that, you dip it in the hot water for about 10 minutes and use a dropper to fill it in a bottle.
• You pour 3 to 5 drops in your affected ear and allow the oil to rest there for at least 15 minutes.
• You wipe it off gently with a cotton ball.
• You use this remedy whenever you suffer from an earache or ear infection.

13. Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Apart from other essential, eucalyptus essential oil also brings many benefits for treating earaches.

You will need:

• 5 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
• ½ cup of olive oil
• 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
• A small pan

Directions:

• Firstly, you place olive oil and garlic in a small pan on low heat.
• You cook for eight hours or overnight.
• After that, you strain and squeeze it well to get oil out of the garlic.
• You mix it with eucalyptus essential oil well.
• You can store it in a tinted bottle.

Usage: 

• You place a glass dropper in the hot water for about one minute to warm the dropper.
• You allow it to dry quickly to retain the heat and then you take the oil from the bottle.
• You put 2 drops of this oil in both ears every 30 minutes or you can follow this for 2 to 7 days.
• Remember that you do not place the fluid into your ear if your eardrum is perforated.

14. Radish

It is a root vegetable that can help to ease the ear pain by clearing the earwax and make you feel more comfortable. Radish can also reduce the inflammation as well as other symptoms that will lead to earaches and ear infections.

You will need:

• A fresh radish
• Mustard oil
• A glass container

Directions:

• You chop a fresh radish into pieces.
• Then, you mix these pieces with mustard oil and you warm it for 3 to 4 minutes.
• You allow it to cool down as room temperature.
• After that, you strain this oil into a clean glass container.
• You put a few drops of this oil into your aching ear.
• You should follow this remedy regularly to heal the earaches as well as ear infections.

15. Peppermint

Peppermint ontains anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and mild anesthetic properties that can help to treat the ear pain caused by the ear infections. It also works as a soothing agent.

To get rid of ear pain, you can practice the following home remedies for earaches that use peppermint.

Way 1: Peppermint oil

You will need:

• Peppermint oil – 1 drop
• Olive oil – 5 drops

Directions:

• You mix the peppermint oil with the olive oil thoroughly.
• Then, you put this oil in your aching ear by with the help of an ear syringe or a dropper. It will help you to get relief from the ear pain.
• This way will also help you to cure the ear infections by eliminating the bacteria that cause the infection.
• Remember that some people are sensitive to the peppermint oil, thereby; you should mix 1 drop of peppermint oil with 7 or 8 drops of olive oil.

Way 2: Peppermint Leaves

You will need:

• Fresh peppermint leaves

Directions:

• Firstly, you take a few peppermint leaves and then you crush them to extract the juice.
• After that, you pour this juice in a clean dropper and then you put a few drops of this juice into inside your aching ear.
• You should repeat this way regularly to get complete relief from the earaches.

Way 3: Peppermint oil and olive oil

You will need:

• Peppermint oil
• Olive oil (optional)

Directions:

• You take some drops of peppermint oil. Or if you want to add olive oil (a few drops) in the peppermint oil and you mix them well.
• After that, you apply this oil outside your ear to massage it; however, you do not overdo it.
• You have to make sure that you do not apply or get this oil inside your ears because it can irritate you.

16. White Vinegar And Alcohol

The combination of white vinegar and alcohol is one of the great home remedies for earaches that you can follow below.

You will need:

• White vinegar
• Alcohol

Directions:

• You take an equal amount of white vinegar and alcohol and then you mix it well to make a mixture.
• After that, you pour a few drops of this oil mixture into your aching ears.
• It will reduce the pain in your ears while healing the ear infections.
• You should repeat this way regularly to get rid of earaches.

17. Licorice

Licorice herb can help to reduce the inflammation and make you feel more comfortable from the pain because it will reduce the earaches instantly.

You will need:

• Licorice
• Clarified butter

Process:

• You take some licorice and then you warm it slightly in the clarified butter to make a thick paste.
• After that, you apply this paste externally around your ear that is aching to get relief from the pain.

18. Basil Leaves

In fact, basil leaves contain antibiotic properties that can help to treat the ear pain and the ear infections. For a long time, using basil leaves have become one of the natural home remedies for earaches.

Way 1:

You will need:

• 4 to 5 drops of holy basil oil
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
• A  cotton ball

Directions:

• You mix holy basil oil and coconut oil to make an oil mixture.
• Then, you dip the cotton ball in the oil mixture.
• After that, you can use this cotton ball to wipe just inside your aching ear and around this ear.
• You should do this way for at least 2 times per day to get rid of the ear pain.

Way 2:

You will need:

• A handful of basil leaves
• A  sieve

Directions:

• Firstly, you crush the basil leaves.
• And then you put this crushed basil leaves into a sieve and you press it to extract the juice.
• After that, you pour 2 drops of the basil leaves juice into the affected ear.
• You should do this way every day for at least one week to get rid of earaches.

19. Salt

One of the simple home remedies for earaches is salt that you can practice the following directions.

You will need:

• 4 to 5 teaspoon of salt
• A clean cloth
• A pan

Directions:

• Firstly, you add the salt in the pan and you heat it until it gets a bit brown.
• After that, you wrap it in the clean cloth.
• You press it over your affected ear for about 2 to 5 minutes every day.
• You should repeat this way regularly until the ear pain completely subsides.

20. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is one of the common home remedies for earaches that are caused by infections.

You will need:

• Hydrogen peroxide – 2 to 3 drops

Directions:

• Simply, you just pour the hydrogen peroxide into your affected ear.
• You allow it to sit for at least 2 minutes and then you drain it out.
• You should repeat this way regularly to get rid of the earaches.

21. Diet Plan

When you are suffering from any health problems, planning your diet is very important because diet will affect the problems. Therefore, you should follow the diet whenever you suffer from earaches and ear infections.

• You should include the food (vegetables and fruits) which have a rich source of vitamin A and vitamin C in your diet.
• You should avoid dairy products (not buttermilk and yogurt) that will help to cure the earaches.
• You should consume the food which has a rich source of zinc in your meals.
• You should avoid consuming the mucous forming food such as wheat, dairy products, oranges, bananas, peanut butter, citrus fruits etc in your daily diet to treat the infections and thereby causing earaches.
• Herbal teas will soothe the pain of the ears. Therefore, you should drink the herbal teas such as ginger, honey tea, chamomile tea, and basil tea to remove the earaches.
• You should drink plenty of water as well as other fluids that will help to treat many health problems such as ear infections, earaches etc.
• You should consume the food that has a rich source of amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Finally, you should avoid over-processed meals as well as junk foods, and white sugar etc. that will help to get rid of the earaches.

If you want to know more about natural, at home remedies for other diseases and conditions go to our main Home Remedies page. After reading the article of top 21 natural home remedies for earaches in adults, hope that it can help you find out the best solution to get rid of earaches quickly and easily. However, the article is only for the informational purpose, thus, you should meet your doctor to get advice before applying any at home remedy.