How to Make and Use Garlic Oil for Ear Infections

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

Garlic Oil for Ear InfectionsEar infections are the worst! They are notoriously painful, and can feel pretty disgusting, especially if your ears are leaking fluids and pus. Depending on how bad the ear infection is, it can cause you to temporarily lose your equilibrium. And left unchecked, it can do a large amount of damage to your hearing. Is there a natural way to treat ear infections? Garlic oil ear drops just may be the solution for you. It may sound weird, but it’s true—many people use garlic oil for ear infections. But, how does one go about creating the garlic oil remedy? Don’t fret; we’re here to show you how to make garlic oil for ear infections and how to use it.

Types of Ear Infections

There are three types of ear infections: external, middle ear, and inner ear. With external ear infections, the ear canal becomes infected and swollen and very painful. Middle ear infections are the most common of the three. A middle ear infection occurs behind the eardrum and usually involves a buildup of pus behind the eardrum, creating a lot of pressure and pain. Inner ear infections are usually painless but can result in horrible vertigo and hearing loss. Of the three types of ear infections, only external can be cleared up by ear drops, including the garlic oil ear drops we have presented here.

How to Make Garlic Oil for Ear Infections

Garlic has many antibacterial properties that could possibly make it ideal for helping to treat ear infections. So, how does one go about making garlic oil for ear infections? There are actually a few different methods and different types of garlic oils you can make to help your ear infection. However, there is one thing that you should keep in mind for all of these recipes: the fresher the garlic, the more potent and useful it is in the recipe. Old and stale garlic will not be as good.

1. Classic Garlic Oil Remedy

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (organic if possible)
1 large garlic clove, finely minced

Directions:

In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the olive oil. Be sure not to get the oil too hot as you don’t want the oil to smoke or get warm enough to sauté the garlic.

When the oil is warm, add the minced garlic and swirl in the pan. The moment the garlic becomes fragrant, remove the mixture from the heat as you are not actually trying to cook the garlic. You only want warm the garlic so that it releases its germ-fighting compounds.

Place in a small glass container and let cool to a temperature tolerable for use.

Strain the mixture as you don’t want the garlic chunks in there.

Store in a dark-colored glass bottle with a dropper.

There are some alternative recipes for garlic oil for earaches that may also help you out. Follow the version above, but try combining the garlic oil with St. John’s wort in a mixture that’s half and half. You could also replace the olive oil with sesame oil or mustard oil for similar results.

How to Use Garlic Oil for Ear Infections

Now that you are armed with some general garlic ear drops recipes, you need to know the best way of applying the oil to an ear infection.

1. Garlic Oil Application

Apply one to two drops inside each ear canal. You may also want to rub some oil around the ear cavities in order to take care of any infection that may have made its way outside the canal.

To help keep the oil in the ear, you can place a cotton ball at the entrance of the ear. You can also place a drop or two on the cotton ball in order to continue medicating the infection.

To help boost the healing process, place a hot, damp washcloth over the ear for about 20 minutes while the garlic oil is within the ear. The heat will help expand the blood vessels, and the germ-fighting white blood cells will quickly hit the infected area to speed up healing.

Take Care of Your Ear Infection!

Ear infections are no joke. Right off the bat, they can be painful and throw you off balance. If you leave it for too long, you could lose your hearing and that infection can easily make its way to your sinuses and throat. But, you could potentially treat it quickly and easily with warm garlic oil. Just be sure to avoid the oil if you have any allergy to garlic or other members of the Alliaceae family such as onions, chives, leeks, or shallots. And if this method doesn’t work, go see your doctor to discuss alternate means of treatment before major damage can occur.



Sources:
“Garlic for Ear Infection,” Home Remedies for Life, October 2, 2015; http://homeremediesforlife.com/garlic-for-ear-infection/, last accessed May 29, 2017.
“How to Make Warm Garlic Oil for Ear Infections,” Leaf; https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-make-warm-garlic-oil-for-ear-infections/, last accessed May 29, 2017.
“DIY Garlic Oil – Home Remedy for Ear Infections,” Scratch Mommy; http://www.scratchmommy.com/natural-ear-infection-treatment/, last accessed May 29, 2017.
Chang, C., “Ear Infections (External, Middle, Inner),” Fauquier Ear Nose & Throat Consultants of Virginia, April 24, 2017; http://www.fauquierent.net/earinfections.htm, last accessed May 29, 2017.