Which Home Remedies Work and Which Ones Don't
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
United States
June 1, 2012 3:39am CST
I have had an earache for the last 3 days, and I heard that you can use Hydrogen Peroxide to help relieve the pain. I have been pouring a cap full of it in my ear when the pain gets to unbearable and it helps relieve it temporarily, but now the pain feels worse. Does this home remedy work or not? What home remedies have you heard of, and do you know from first hand experience if they work or not?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
2 Jun 12
I know we're all different, but I've used hydrogen peroxide for earaches and blocked ears for years and it DOES help some, if I do it soon enough. I use a medicine dropper to put it in my ear, then I put a little cotton in in and tilt my head to the side for a few minutes so it doesn't all pour right out. I can actually hear it "sizzling" sometimes. Another thing that might help is vinegar; I use that when I get "swimmer's ear" and it really seems to help.
I've heard of several other home remedies, some I've tried but most I haven't. One I honestly swear by, as strange as it sounds, is Vicks Vapo Rub (or the store brand) for toe-nail fungus. It sure sure beat super the expensive OTC medicine they sell and it REALLY beat those prescription pills that could cause liver failure!
One very interesting one I just read about is coffee grounds for cellulite. I'm afraid that sounds too messy for me to even try...lol!
Good luck with your ear; I know from experience there aren't many things more painful.
Annie
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
2 Jun 12
The Vicks REALLY works, I had the world's ugliest toes until my late mom's foot doctor told us about that several years ago. About the coffee grounds...OOPS...sorry, I forgot to say what do to with them. You're supposed to slop it on wherever you want to get rid of cellulite and then wrap it up in plastic wrap or a plastic bag for 15 minutes.
Then you go around and clean up all the coffee grounds that fell all over the place...lol!
Annie
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
2 Jun 12
That's interesting. I wonder if the skin is capable if absorbing the caffeine from the coffee grounds. I have to experiment with that one.
1 person likes this
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
2 Jun 12
Vapor rub for toe nail fungus. That sounds like it could be useful. How does the whole coffee ground thing work? Are you supposed to ingest them?
1 person likes this
@ForSouls1234 (720)
• United States
2 Jun 12
You are probably just making it worse with the peroxide which is adding moisture. If the pain is severe your problem is not wax buildup it is an infection. You need antibiotics and fast or you are going to damage your eardrum and your hearing. Dry up that moisture with a hair dryer then try a walk in clinic if you cannot get an appointment or go to the emergency room. Your health definitely is worth the money.
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
2 Jun 12
Hmm. A hairdryer. I never thought of that for the ears.
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
2 Jun 12
I'll check the articles out, but for now I have to wait on the doctor. The pain is actually stating to go away, so I might have been spared
@ForSouls1234 (720)
• United States
2 Jun 12
Yes, it helps with the pain and the moisture. Use it on warm not hot. But see a doctor you could have anything from simple swimmers ear which is caused by getting too much water into your ear canal and then bacteria builds up or it could be something more serious.
You may have screwed up the skin lining of the ear canal by getting rid of the wax so furtively. Or a few other ear conditions. Look up ear infections on the web, there are a lot of good articles such as on web MD and E Medicine health. Stay on reputable health sites and away from any site that has regular people answering, like me ha ha.
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
2 Jun 12
If I hadn't been to the doctors a bunch of times already,I'd probably takeit more serious, but when I went to the doctor he didn't have any more to offer than expensive dental surgery which I just can't afford.
1 person likes this
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
1 Jun 12
If the pain goes beyond my maximum threshold for pain or if I start catching a fever I'll have no choice, but my body is pretty good at fighting infections since I've only used a few antibiotics in my life. I always in believed in letting my body do its job first.
@musicloverfriend (1465)
• India
1 Jun 12
Sorry friend,I don't know any home remedies.You should go to doctor and ask for ointments.I also had ear pain and consulted a doctor.They removed wax from my ear and given me ointments .After 2 days my pain vanished!! Wax in your ears can also hurt you.So go to a doctor and clear the wax in your ears.
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
1 Jun 12
I was given to understand that the Hydrogen Peroxide eats away at excess wax. I have stopped using it, because I think I might be damaging my ear, but now I don't have anything to relieve the pain. I hate doctors and I really cant afford to see one for such a minor issue.
@musicloverfriend (1465)
• India
1 Jun 12
In India we do not use chemicals for removing wax.Just cotton piece tied in a stick. put it inside and you might feel a little bit of pain.But after that you can get relief. Do Not Try It By Yourself.You might damage your ear.Only let doctors do that job for you
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
1 Jun 12
I've used cotton swabs with the Peroxide, it's not really helping.
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
5 Jun 12
I did not dilute, because water in my ear increases the pain. I do dilute if I am using the peroxide as a mouth wash though.
