This is a question that comes up in our closed groups on Facebook, so I wanted to compile the answers offered by community members in one place in order to be able to link to them! When it comes to ear infections, many will clear up on their own within a 2-10 days. Earaches are rarely caused by bacteria, so antibiotics would not be of value. Most earaches can be managed at home with these natural remedies:
- Homeopathy. Specifically belladonna, ferrum phos, chamomilla and silica. Learn more about each remedy and when to use it from Joette Calabrese.
- Joette also recommends pulsatilla 30 in another article.
- Garlic mullein oil
- Colloidal silver
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil, 10 drops of melaleuca, 10 drops of basil in a roller bottle filled with fractured coconut oil. Apply to surface of the ear, behind the ear and on the mastoid bone. Do not apply inside the ear.
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Garlic oil
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Salt sock
- Breastmilk
- Warm castor oil in the ear
- Cod liver oil to boost immune system with added vitamin A
- Whole food vitamin C from acerola cherries. camu came and amla
- One part oregano oil 3 parts coconut oil
- Warm onion to the ear. Note that we’d advise you to warm the onion in the oven since we don’t recommend microwaves.
What the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends for Earaches
The AAP’s most recent guidelines recommend a wait and see approach for most earaches. However, if your child has the following symptoms, the AAP recommends that they see a doctor:
- Fever over 102 F
- Symptoms persists or worsen after 48-72 hours
- You suspect the eardrum has ruptured
- A child under 6 months has a single ear infection
- A child less than 2 years old has a double ear infection
3 Responses to Natural Remedies For Ear Infections
Thanks all! After following all of your advice (homeopathic remedies, garlic mullein, colloidal silver) and seeing the chiropractor twice, he is symptom free! Got by without needing pain reliever and no antibiotics! Thanks all for your help!!
I am so happy the communal support worked to provide solutions!
Thank you! This is such a common issue, and there are so many ways to successfully treat it at home. My daughter’s chronic ear infections completely cleared up when we switched to raw milk, almost immediately. Processed, pasteurized, industrial dairy products are making a lot of people sick, I suspect.