Natural remedies are very effective and can relieve a variety of anxiety symptoms. Although they do not replace medications, they have fewer side effects and are easily available. One such beneficial remedy for ear infections and pain is garlic. Let’s unravel the secret of garlic ear drops and learn more about their use in everyday practice.
Problem of Ear Infections
Different ear infections may happen even due to water getting into the ear, as well as because of the activity of harmful microorganisms or fungi. Usually, they require antibiotics or antifungal medicines for their proper treatment. Natural remedies like garlic oil are recommended to relieve painful symptoms and make a recovery faster.
Types of ear infections
The infection may occur in all parts of the ears, namely:
- in the deepest part called the inner ear;
- just behind the eardrum or in the middle ear;
- outside of the eardrum or in the outer ear.
Garlic is helpful mainly in the last case as it is used as an external remedy. Moreover, if there are any problems with the eardrum this plant is prohibited from utilization. It must not get inside the middle ear, as it can lead to harmful consequences.
The Power of Garlic
Garlic was studied mainly in animals and these investigations have proven its valuable health benefits. For instance, scientists have found in it such compounds as allicin and s-allyl-cysteine that help to kill harmful bacteria, including those resistant to antibiotics.
In this direction, this plant has the following activity:
- antibacterial against the most common strains and also salmonella and E. coli;
- antiviral against the viruses of flu, cytomegalo- and rhinovirus;
- antifungal against Candida, Aspergillus and Cryptococcus.
As all ear infections are usually caused by the representatives of one of these groups, the utilization of garlic for treatment is logical and brings good results.
In addition, this plant is known as a powerful booster of the immune system. If consumed regularly, it reduces the frequency and severity of the common cold. At the same time, it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol concentration contributing to the condition of the heart and vessels.
Recent research revealed the ability of garlic to manage and prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, lower the risk of certain cancer type’s occurrence and protect the liver from damage. This may happen due to its potent antioxidant properties.
Altogether, more investigations are required, including trials on humans. However, even now we can be sure of numerous positive effects of this plant and its valuable health benefits.
Why Consider Garlic Ear Drops?
After you’ve been prescribed a treatment for an ear infection, you can still utilize additional options to make a recovery faster and to alleviate disturbing symptoms like pain.
For these reasons, garlic is the best decision as it is affordable and readily available. Everyone is able to prepare these drops at home and use them. They are not associated with risks or severe side effects.
Moreover, the benefits of this plant were backed by science and are still being explored. Thus, one can be sure of its efficiency. For now, we can say that the oil of this plant is rich in useful components that reduce inflammation and irritation, alleviate pain and promote the killing of harmful microorganisms that led to the disease.
How to Make Garlic Ear Drops at Home
The preparation of this remedy is quite easy and does not take a lot of time or effort. Actually, there are only two basic ingredients and a few pieces of equipment are required for its preparation.
Ingredients
The main components include one garlic clove and two to four tablespoons of olive oil. The more oil you take, the lower will be the concentration of the remedy. Thus, one can vary this quantity according to the severity of the disease.
As for the equipment, you’ll need a pan and a strainer, a small glass bottle or jar with a lid and a piece of cotton.
Step-by-Step Guide
After you’ve prepared all these, follow the next scheme to get a homemade remedy based on fresh garlic.
Preparing the garlic
- Peel the clove.
- Finely crush or chop the garlic.
Infusing the oil
- Mix it with the oil.
- Warm the ingredients in a pan, avoid bubbling or smoking the oil.
- Stop the process when you feel fragrance.
Straining the mixture
- Let the mixture cool.
- Strain out the pieces of garlic.
Transferring to dropper bottles
- Pour the resulting liquid into your bottle or jar, and cork it.
Keep these bottles in the fridge and warm them up a little only right before the utilization. Do not store them for more than 1 week.
How to Use Garlic Ear Drops
Follow the next recommendations to get the desired effect:
- The patient should lie on one side with the infected ear up.
- Two or three drops of the prepared remedy are out into the ear.
- The piece of cotton is placed in the outer ear gently to avoid the sipping of the liquid out.
- The patient should lie in the same position for 10 more minutes.
In addition, one can soak the piece of cotton in the remedy and place it inside the ear. It can be left for the time up to half an hour.
It is enough to do this procedure once per day several days in a row to get the required effect.
Precautions and Safety
Like with all other plant remedies, it is important to check whether the patient is allergic to garlic or not. For this, it is enough to put a drop of the obtained remedy on the forearm and wait one day. If the place becomes red and irritated, then the remedy is forbidden.
However, cases of allergic reactions to garlic are quite rare, so most people can benefit from it without any problems.
One prohibition for its utilization is a ruptured eardrum. Garlic and its oil are utilized only for the outer ear due to their activity. Thus, this remedy must not go inside the ear and problems with the eardrum make it impossible to use this remedy.
The last precaution is related to Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium may appear in the homemade remedy if it was not stored properly or was prepared a long time ago. In order to avoid this problem, one must strictly follow the recommendations on its preparation and utilization and use only fresh-prepared remedies.
Summary
In a nutshell, both row garlic and its oil are useful for health. Now you know how to benefit from this plant in the case of various ear infections. Keep in mind, that remedies based on garlic do not replace antibiotics or other medicines. Still, they are quite helpful in lessening the pain and making a recovery faster.
FAQ
How to use garlic for ear pain?
One should prepare an oil-based remedy and utilize a few drops of it, putting them inside the ear.
How long does garlic ear oil last?
The effect is observed during several hours after the application. One can do one or a few procedures per day according to the treated condition.
How does garlic oil work in the body?
It is rich in useful substances that boost the immune system and kill harmful microorganisms. In addition, it contributes to the overall health of other organs and systems, like the cardiovascular system, liver and brain.
Is garlic oil bad for hair?
On the contrary, this oil is good for hair as it contains vitamins and minerals that help to make the hair strong and shiny. Thus, it is used in many home recipes for hair.
Is garlic oil bad for cats?
Yes, this product is toxic for cats. Therefore, keep your pets as far as possible from the plant and homemade remedies prepared based on it.