What's the best medicine for earache?

September 14, 2004

-- Ed and Elaine Hess

Today's Answer

(Published 07/26/2000)

The best way to treat earache, " like just about anything, is to

avoid getting it in the first place. But if it's too late for that,

make a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Get

in the habit of rinsing your ears out with this potion when you come

out of a pool or the ocean. Then gently dry your ears with a cotton

swab.

Other preventive measures include shaking your head when you get out

of the pool to expel trapped water.

You can also place the tip of some clean facial tissue, twisted

into a point, into each ear for about 10 seconds to soak up the

moisture.

Don't remove earwax from your ears, because it helps protect the ear

canal from moisture.

I have two favorite remedies for general earaches:

garlic oil and mullein oil. Warm either of these oils slightly, then

use a dropper to put a few drops in the ear that is hurting. Plug it

loosely with cotton.

To make garlic oil, crush a few cloves into some olive oil and let

it sit for a few days, then strain it. Some people put a small piece

of peeled raw garlic directly into the ear; it eventually dissolves.

You can find mullein oil in health-food stores. It's made by

steeping the flowers from mullein -- a common roadside weed

(Verbascum thapsus) -- in olive oil. Apply it the same way as the

garlic oil. Try it, it really works.

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