An ear infection can leave your child in excruciating pain and you utterly helpless. Thankfully, there are several natural remedies that you can resort to, when your child is affected with an ear infection. Listed below are 11 essential oils that work like a charm in curing a bad case of infection and alleviating the symptoms too.

Read More: 5 Reasons for Your Baby’s Itchy Ears

Children suffer from earache for a variety of reasons, such as injury and infection. Usually, they suffer from infection of the middle ear, called otitis media. This infection is identified by bacterial or viral infection in the middle ear, caused together with a sinus infection or inflammation in the Eustachian tubes or trachea.

In cases of inflammation, excessive mucus block the Eustachian tubes and cause it to malfunction. Consequently, there’s a fluid build-up in the particular part of the ear. The fluid contains viral and bacterial pathogens that thrive there, causing ear infection.

Essential Oils to Treat Pediatric Ear Infections

There are several treatments for ear infection in kids, but essential oils are safe and several. So, you can choose the one you want, depending on its inherent capabilities of treating ear infections. Choose from the 11 outlined below:

1. Oregano essential oil

What makes oregano oil perfect for eliminating ear infections in kids is its inherent antiviral and antibacterial properties. These properties help boost the child’s immune system and eases inflammation in the trachea and ear canal.

Directions: Dilute a few drops of the oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil and then place it topically on the outer ear.

2. Lavender essential oil

Lavender is good for treating ear infections as it has the power to reduce inflammation of infections. It also boosts blood circulation so that healing is expedited and brings about less pressure in the sinus cavities.

Directions:Dab a little lavender essential oil on your child’s pillow at night, and on his outer ear. He can even sniff it straight from the bottle for best results.

3. Orange essential oil

The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of orange essential oil help reduce the pain associated with chronic otitis external.

Directions: Blend together two drops of orange essential oil with four drops of a carrier oil and massage it into the outer tissue of the ear for pain relief in the ear. Put the liquid in a covered container and submerse it in warm water for five minutes before you mix it.

4. Chamomile essential oil

According to research, chamomile essential oil can effectively fight three strains of the S. Aures bacteria which can treat external ear infections.

Directions: This essential oil for earaches has microbial qualities. Combine tea tree essential oil, chamomile essential oil and a few drops of carrier oil. Dip a cotton ball in the liquid and apply it to the outer ear.

5. Tea Tree essential oil

One of the most effective anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral essential oils today, tea tree essential oil is reputed for its efficacy as treatment for infections.

Directions: Never use tea tree oil internally as this could be poisonous and lead to inflammation in the ear canal. Instead, dilute a little tea tree oil in olive oil and apply it to the affected area with a cotton ball. After applying it, hold it in position for a while. This will help the oils get absorbed into the surrounding tissue.

6. Rosemary essential oil

Using rosemary essential oil for your child’s ear infection could be a wonderful idea because of the oil’s versatility. It can easily normalize bacterial infections that lead to middle ear pain. It can also help to soothe the initial sinus infection, if that is the cause of your discomfort.

Directions: You can apply rosemary oil, often mixed with lavender or eucalyptus oil, to the throat and neck, as well as up and under the ears. This oil will quickly absorb and begin relieving inflammation in those areas, which can rapidly reduce pain.

7. Eucalyptus essential oil

This essential oil soothes inflammation in the Eustachian tube and stops the blockage causing the fluid build-up. When the oil stimulates fluid drainage, the infection will be eliminated.

Directions: Apply this oil on your child’s neck and throat and let it get rid of any inflammation.You can also get your child to do a steam inhalation using eucalyptus essential oil.

8. Olive essential oil

Though not really an essential oil, olive oil has strong antibacterial and inflammatory properties. It opens up blocked sinuses, which can in turn open up Eustachian tubes and stimulate drainage of fluid.

Directions: Add a few drops of warm olive oil to the ear canal and let it remain there for some time. Later, flush the ear with warm water.

9. Basil essential oil

Your child can quickly get relief due to the anti-inflammatory and antiviral compounds contained in basil essential oil.

Directions: To a carrier oil, mix a few drops of basil essential oil. Next, soak a cotton ball in this liquid and hold it over the affected ear. Let basil oil’s aromatic ingredients work on the infection. Ensure you do not send the cotton ball into the ear canal.

10. Garlic essential oil

The first thing you want to do, and you want to do internally in the ear, is use garlic oil. You can buy garlic oil at almost any health food store. Raw garlic benefits the ear because garlic actually has natural antiviral properties, and the majority of the time when a child has an ear infection, it’s a virus rather than bacteria-related. This is why antibiotics are completely ineffective against ear infections.

Directions: Pour a few drops of garlic oil in your child’s ear in a day and watch him get back to normal within a few days. Garlic’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties will get rid of the problem.

11. Thyme essential oil

Yet another essential oil with vigorous antibacterial and antioxidant nature of thymol. These properties can help get rid of the pain and pressure in the middle ear.

Directions: Blend this oil with any other carrier oil and apply it topically to the outer ear. Alternatively, rub it topically on the outer ear, neck, throat and glands.

Conclusion

Though using essential oils for your child’s ear infections may be simple and easy, yet you need to consider a few things before using these strong substances. Your child could be allergic to these oils which are extracted from herbs and plants. Besides, your child may have sensitive skin and hence reactions can’t be ruled out, which only worsens the infection. So, before using an essential oil, take your doctor’s advice.

Read More:Tips For Taking Care Of Your Kid’s Ears

Resources:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/474412-ear-aches-tea-tree-oil/

https://draxe.com/natural-ear-infection-remedies/