Ear oils may have different properties. Sometimes you will use an oil remedy to kill bacteria. Sometimes the selected oil will soothe inflamed tissue. And yet again some ear oils reduce fluid congestion in the middle ear.

Try it by squirting the ear full of the liquid. Insert a cotton ball and tape in place. Send the child to bed. In the morning, the liquid will have penetrated, and the earache will be gone.

Sometimes a simple vegetable oil will suffice. Ayurvedic mustard oil will kill bacteria. Castor oil, another Ayurvedic standout, helps heal trauma and swelling. Coconut oil will cool red, inflamed ear canal tissue. Likewise, clarified butter (ghee) is the main topical oil in Ayurveda for inflammation, and is stunningly effective.

Many times, an ear oil will contain a combination of ingredients to treat multiple aspects of OM. Often the concoction will be designed to kill bacteria, relieve pain, cool inflammation, soothe traumatized membranes and reduce swelling.

First on the list of herbal oils is garlic. The classic herbal ear treatment, it is rapidly effective. Garlic quickly kills bacteria in the middle ear by penetrating the tissue and reaching the infected space inside. For convenience, I keep a bottle of commercially prepared liquid aged garlic at home to treat childhood ear infection.

Ear oils containing goldenseal root kill bacteria and cool inflammation.

To soothe membranes, seek out mullein leaf, plantain leaf, St. Johnswort leaf, Calendula flower and Vitamin E.

For pain, willow bark is a good choice.

A few drop of glycerin will pull fluid out of the ear once the canal is open.

An Israeli study done in 2001 looked at one hundred three children aged 6 to 18 years who were diagnosed with earache from OM. An herbal ear oil (garlic, mullein, Calendula, St. John’s wort) was compared to an anesthetic drug ear drop. The herbal ear oil was as effective as the drug.

I’ve raised three children. I have seen countless children suffer from earaches. None of us would like our child to suffer so. Fortunately, there is no need for all that pain and difficulty. With herbal ear oils, you will have a tool that will help you treat your child’s ear issues with success and compassion.