Soothing the Pain of Earaches.

If you're reading this chapter to find out how to remedy your own earache or ear infection, you can count yourself among an unlucky few.

"While very common in children, earaches and ear infections are quite unusual in adults," says Elson Haas, M.D., director of the Preventive Medical Center of Marin in San Rafael, California.
That's because adults don't have the small eustachian tube of an infant or child, which runs horizontally from the nasal cavity to the ear and allows bacteria easy access. A fully formed tube, whose function is to equalize air pressure on both sides of the eardrum, is long and vertical, keeping bugs at bay.

While they are unlikely, however, earaches and ear infections can happen to adults, Dr. Haas says.
Most earaches are the first symptom of an infection. You can get an infection of the outer ear, or ear canal. Otitis externa, commonly known as swimmer's ear, is an infection of this type. You can get an infection of the middle ear behind the eardrum, which is the type of problem that's common in children. Or you can just have a cold, allergy, or sore throat, all of which can cause ear pain. Tooth pain can also "travel" to the ear.

If the pain isn't severe, you don't have to know the exact cause of the problem, because there are plenty of alternative home remedies to soothe the ear and heal the infection that's causing your pain.
There's one caution, however: If you have ear problems and are scheduled to fly, consider taking an over-the-counter decongestant about an hour before the flight, says Janet Zand, O.M.D., a doctor of Oriental medicine and licensed acupuncturist in Austin, Texas. If your flight is longer than 3 hours, you may need to take another dose an hour before landing, depending on the strength of the decongestant. That will relieve congestion in the eustachian tube, easing ear pain during the flight and when descending.

GARLIC: Pierce a Capsule and Apply
A capsule of bacteria-killing garlic oil can help get rid of an earache that's caused by an infection in the ear canal, says Linda Kingsbury, an herbalist, holistic nutritionist, and director of Earth Wisdom Holistic Services in Keene, New Hampshire.
Pierce the capsule with a pin, put a few drops of oil on a cotton ball, gently put the cotton ball in your ear, and leave it in for an hour during the day and all night. Place the cotton ball just inside your ear, being careful not to push it into your ear canal.
Taking garlic oil capsules orally will also help knock out the infection, says Kingsbury, who recommends two 500-milligram capsules a day for 7 days.

MULLEIN: A Good Addition to Garlic
You may want to add some mullein flower oil to that garlic, says Dr. Haas. While the garlic oil is a natural disinfectant, the oil from mullein flower soothes the skin of the ear canal and can reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Either add the oil to the cotton ball or put two to three drops directly in the ear every 3 to 4 hours, Dr. Haas advises.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS: For Healing
The following program of supplements strengthens the immune system and can help resolve a mild ear infection, says Dr. Zand. . Vitamin A: For best results, use the emulsified variety. Take 25,000 international units (IV) twice a day for 5 days, then 5,000 to 10,000 IV as a maintenance dose. Since the vitamin can build up in the liver and pose risks, do not take high doses without medical supervision.

. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: Take 500 milligrams three times a day. For prevention, take the same amount once a day.
 . Zinc: For both prevention and treatment of an earache, take 15 milligrams once a day at the beginning of a meal.
. Vitamin E: Take 200 to 400 IV a day for prevention.
 . B-complex vitamins: For prevention, take one capsule a day of a high potency supplement that provides at least 50 milligrams of most of the B vitamins.

QIGONG: Make a "V"-For Victory Over Earaches
A qigong massage-a technique from Traditional Chinese Medicine-can help beat an earache, says Kingsbury. To do the massage, place your middle finger on your face in front of your ear and your index finger behind your ear near your hairline; your fingers will form a V-shape.
Starting at the base of your ear near the bottom lobe, move your fingers upward alongside the ear while pressing firmly, then release the pressure as you move them down. Do this up-and-down movement 36 times. "This massage increases circulation and improves lymph drainage," says Kingsbury. (Lymph is a fluid in your body that helps move waste material away from the cells.)

HERBS: Try Echinacea and Goldenseal
A liquid formula offering a combination of these two herbs can help clear up an ear infection, says Dr. Zand. Echinacea is thought to be an antibacterial, while goldenseal has a mild drying effect. Follow the dosage recommendations on the label.

FOOD: Beware of Allergens
Anyone who is susceptible to ear infections is probably allergic to one or more foods, says Dr. Zand. The most common food allergens are wheat, dairy products, corn, oranges, peanut butter, refined sugar, and fruit juices.
If you feel tired after eating any of these foods or notice that you feel stuffy or cough a lot or your skin itches, try removing the offenders from your diet.

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL: Inhale for Relief
Essential oils can aid in healing an earache or ear infection, says Kingsbury. "One of my favorites is lavender," she says. The antiseptic properties of lavender help support the immune system and promote relaxation, two factors that are very important in healing, she says. Here's how to best reap lavender's benefits.
Fill a cereal bowl with a cup of boiling water and add three to five drops of the oil. Make a tent over your head with a towel, lean over the bowl (taking care not to burn yourself with the steam), and inhale for 5 to 10 minutes.