Middle Ear Infection

Swimmer's ear is the drying of the ear drum? Gathering of water?

Try some alcohol drops to dry the water then oil to soften the drum. Swimmer's ear is so painful. So sorry to hear you have it.

"Sweet Oil" Olive oil

Sorry I missed out on this one, but on the odd chance you really are a swimmer this might come in handy next time. I spend a lot of time in the ocean and deal with this a lot. Oil of oregano on the outside of the ear, by the little flap in the front- middle of the ear usually does the trick for me. It is very strong when applied topically and I dilute it down in a carrier oil. Jojoba penetrates the deepest. Olive oil works just fine. I keep some ready made for cuts. The other thing I use when it is really deep is clay. You can get Queen Helene's Mud Masque at any drugstore. The major ingredient is kaolin, also called EPK. It is the major ingredient of Kaopectate as well. It is used in pottery and you can buy a 2 lb bag if you have a ceramic supply store around to keep on hand. Otherwise, just go the drugstore. Put a glop of it on the outside of the ear but that little flap and forget about it. It will dry, depending on how thick you lay it on maybe 45 minutes to an hour. The clay will pull the water out. Apply as needed. It is great for bites of any kind, splinters, pimples, sinus congestion, bronchial congestion, homemade facials. Great first aid stuff and cheap! If you find it at a ceramic supply store, put a heaping tablespoon or so in a small cup and add water very slowly. try not to get it too soupy or it will just run. That said, you can always add a little more clay if needed.

I had a horrible ear infection last year that would not go away with antibiotics or drops and so I finally went to my chiropracter. He did the usual adjustment and then told me to use a mix of half apple cider vinegar and half rubbing alcohol. Don't know what it does, don't really care, all I know is that after 2 weeks of pain, the pain was gone almost immediately and the ear infection gone in 2 or 3 days. So I don't even go to the doctor anymore when I get an ear infection. As soon as feel one coming one I do this and I usually only have to do it once. If you try this, make sure you use the good apple cider vinegar, heinz or something from a health food store. Some of the cheaper brands just add caramel color to make it look like apple cider vinegar. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

I live in Irving and there is a place in downtown Irving called "Years to your Health" off of Irving Blvd going east bound before the two way starts on the North side of the street. It looks like a little house. They have wonderful ear drops made from Garlic (it has a slight odor), but it will take that pain away, they also have candle ears that they can tell you how to use and it comes with instructions too, but it draws the infection & most of the wax build-up from your ears. You will be glad you got both of these. This is an all natural herbs & remedies place for any ailments you have. Good luck!

I would put salt in that sock instead of rice. It has greater drawing power.

SR,
I like the suggestion of using Garlic Oil caps. However, I have warmed Olive Oil (or sweet oil) with a few cloves of fresh garlic (not dried) minced, strained thru a tea strainer and kept in a small container, ie small vanilla bottle or 35M film conainer. Warm slightly and put a few drops in your ear with a cotton ball to keep it in. My Mother in Law swore by just using a peeled clove of garlic inserted in the ear. Garlic is a miracle infection fighter and it also is cheap. There are many Home Remedies that work very well. I haven't been to a doctor for 6 years.

They make a product called, "Swimmer's Ear", and it is just a watered down mixture of Rubbing Alcohol. You just put a few drops in your ear after swimming. Vets use rubbing alcohol to clean dog's ears when they have an infection, so why not us?

We have used the ear candles from a health food store, but afterwards, you can't get water in your ear for about a week.

The last time I had an ear infection, it was bad. REALLY BAD. It was 4 in the morning, and I was on the computer holding my ear wanting to die. I had already decided to the doctor in the morning simply because it really was that bad, but again, it was currently 4 in the morning. After about an hour of homeopathic research, I went into the kitchen, took some raw garlic about 3 cloves, boiled it in some olive oil. Let it cool down to the touch, took a cotton ball, soaking it with olive oil and stuck it in my ear. I went to bed on the other ear to help it drain into it. I felt better almost immediately, went to sleep, woke up sometime around noon, decided that I didn't need to go to the doctor and I walked around the rest of the day with a garlic clove sticking out of my ear. I did that for about 4 days and I had no pressure by the end of the week. The time before last when I had an ear infection, after a round of antibiotics my ear felt full and nasty for about a month, and in no way was it as bad as it was this time. Garlic is an antibiotic and antiinflamitory. Totally going to do this with my children.

I have used colliodal silver (which you can buy at any health food store) to cure eye infections. I have used it successfully on all my 3 children and myself. you just put a few drops in the infected eye, lay on your side for 5 minutes 3 times a day for 2 days and it should be gone for good.

Y.

Please try a olive oil. It is safe. It may not take the infection away, but it should take the pain away imediately.
S.

My daughter's pediatrician gave us some drops to numb her eardrum when she had a middle ear infection. They worked great. You may want to see if your doctor can give you some.

I am sure by now that your swimmer's ear is cleared up, but with it being Summer... I am sure it will be back. Hyland's is a Homeopathic companty that makes all sorts of great products. My son is prone to MEI and we keep Hyland's Ear ache relief stocked. It helps with the immediate relief you need when you feel like your face is going to fall off, it is all natural,non-habit forming and very cheap. Since you have a 9month old you might want to check out Hyland's teething tablets too. They are again all natural and work a lot better than oragel. Good luck the rest of the summer.

You might want to switch between Advil and Tylenol, I think it's going to take time. I know I like putting warm heat on my ear infections, and don't lay flat; you probably already know that...
God Bless you Shannon and I pray for a quick recovery!

Place a hot water bottle or hot washcloth against your ear. It always helps me.

Sounds like you may need to be on an antibiotic and a steroid. I had an ear infection recently and thought my eardrum was going to explode. I went to Primacare and the doctor gave me two shots; one for the pain, which went away in 10 minutes, and the other was a steroid to reduce the inflammation. He also put me on a antibiotic for 10 days. It was a Godsend. I have twin 18 mos. old twin girls and didn't have time to be in any sort of pain. Hope you feel better soon!

Our family has used garlic softgels for ear infections. Take the garlic softgel in your hand to warm the liquid garlic inside. Snip the end of the softgel with scissors and then squeeze the garlic into the ear while laying on your side. It may help to massage with your finger in front of and behind the ear lobe. Ear candles from a heath food store are excellent, but not to be used while you have an infection. Good luck.

Swimmer's Ear is and outer ear infection---this is why is it most easily treated with drops. If you can find a way to clear out the yucky stuff, perhaps with an ear wash or with cotton swabs. Yes, it may re-form, but just keep it as cleaned out as possible. Besides the antibiotic drops, it can be helpful to put a few drops of rubbing alcohol in your outer ear---to promote drying.

That should do it, if not revisit your physician.

Hi. All said and done...when I was in pain..I found that a cotton ball with VapoRub smeared on it and stuffed into my ear REALLY WORKED. The vapo "pulls" the pain out- I guess. That is included with the tiny bottle from the doc. Good luck.

When I was young I used to get ear infections all the time. I don't know where my mom heard this but she used to put rice in a sock and heat it up in the microwave. A heating pad was used when we did not have rice on hand. I would just lay my head on it for a while and it really helped a lot with the pain. My ear would pop at times and I could feel the pressure go away. I have told many friends to do this and they say it helps. Maybe it will help you! Feel better soon!

Hi Shannon,
I am so sorry to hear about this. I know personally how painful it can be. I had a really bad infection a couple of years ago and I went to an ENT because one of my ears was clogged so bad it was ringing and I could barely hear. She gave me drops, but she also had to put in these stints that opened up my ears so the drops would actually drain into my ear and clear up the infection. As it was, my ears were so inflamed and swollen the drops alone would not have worked. I had to wear them for a couple days and then went back to have them removed (not painful at all) and then I continued with the drops. It was such a relief when it all cleared up. I hope you feel better soon.

Try a heating pad to see if that releases some of the pressure. Those ear drops hurt just as bad as the infection itself.