On Monday, I told you how I was dealing with the setback of major illness during postpartum recovery. As I was treating my aching ears with garlic oil this past weekend, my husband said, “You need to tell your readers about how we started using garlic oil for earaches!” So, despite the pain, I took photos with his iPhone so all of you could read the story with visual aids. Consider yourselves special!
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, but you already knew that. I’m not against modern medicine, but you already knew that too. Use caution and seek the medical attention your family needs. Yeah, I know…you already knew that too.
When my oldest child was about 4, he started having lots and lots of ear infections. Antibiotics wouldn’t even come close to healing them (I later learned antibiotics only work on ear infections a fraction of the time and about 70% of ear infections resolve on their own). Our family doctor finally told us he thought our son needed ear tubes.
I was not happy.
Ear tubes are not a true “fix” for ear infections. They drain what’s there, but they do not stop ear infections from happening again. I was sure there had to be another way to handle this. So, I started researching…and we got a second opinion.
We went to see our “old-school” pediatrician who suggested we try a round of decongestants instead of immediately jumping to ear tubes. While I do think this helped, it was what I learned from an online forum for moms that really made the difference and has continued to be our go-to remedy to this day.
In my research, I found that a lot of naturally-minded moms used garlic oil in ears for everything from earaches to full-blown ear infections. The natural antibiotic powers of garlic coupled with a carrier oil seemed to work wonders. So, in my little kitchen, I hesitantly whipped up a batch of garlic oil on my stove top. I say hesitantly because while I wanted to be a “granola mom”, I was scared of not taking the traditional route of antibiotics and such. I was afraid I’d ruin his ears. I was afraid his dad would completely freak out when he saw me putting oil in our son’s ears. But, I was desperate to help my little guy. His constant ear aches spurred me on as I stirred my garlic and olive oil.
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Homemade Garlic Oil Recipe
1 clove of garlic, minced, or equivalent of fresh minced garlic in a jar
1 Tbsp of carrier oil (we use olive oil)
Bring to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir well and remove from heat. Continue to stir and let cool. Fill a glass eye dropper with just the oil from the pan, and with head tilted (and a tissue to catch any drips), squeeze 3-4 drops into one ear. Keep head tilted for 15 minutes, and repeat on the other ear if it is aching as well.
The next morning, my son was pain free. At his next appointment, the ear infection was no where in sight! So, every time he started to hurt, we immediately whipped up some garlic oil and nipped it in the bud. Eventually, I started buying garlic oil. (Below is the one I used to purchase.)
I stopped buying garlic oil because Blake outgrew all the ear aches and I found we weren’t using it very often anymore, so it made more sense to just make it when we needed it. (You do have to make sure you keep garlic on hand.)
When my ears started hurting with this latest sickness, I remembered we had minced garlic in a jar (this is NOT the dried kind, but rather the kind you keep in the refrigerator – and yes, actual garlic bulbs are more potent, so I’d recommend those if you have them). And that’s where this post started…me making garlic oil, taking photos for you!
Perhaps you are wondering how my ear ache turned out?
Prior to putting the garlic oil in my ears (because I totally forgot we had garlic and I suffered through a couple of days with nothing), my ears hurt almost non-stop and was contributing to me not sleeping well. The garlic oil offered immediate relief. I had to put it in my ears every night for 3 nights, but my ears no longer hurt during the day and the pain the next two nights was not nearly as intense as it had been.
Another great thing about this remedy is the fact that it is breastfeeding-mama friendly. Being able to treat my symptoms with something I knew was 100% safe eased my mind.
So, there you have it…no ear tubes, no antibiotics, no trips to the doctor – just a little olive oil and some garlic!
Tina H. says
We have been using garlic oil for years too and it has worked great for us. We also rub it on feet and cover with socks for anyone with a cough. I don’t heat it up to make it, though. I just chop up a few garlic cloves and put those in a dish and cover them with olive oil. I let this sit for 30 minutes or so and then use the oil. Glad your ears are feeling better — I think earaches are some of the worst pain ever!
Joy says
Another thing that works great along with the garlic oil is to go to a chiropractor. You can feel the pressure and the fluid start draining right after being adjusted. My daughter got ear aches and ear infections every couple weeks for a year and we used garlic ear oil and taking her to be adjusted at the chiropractor. Sometimes ahe would have to get adjusted a few times after she got an ear infection. That is what worked great for us.
julie says
Oh Amy, thank you SO much! My husband -and I especially- have been having ear pain since Christmas. His was just random as he is rarely ever sick, but mine has been off and on for months now! I had just said to him the day before yesterday or so, “I wonder if there is some good and natural remedy for ear pain…” So far, he has just been putting in an ear pain drop (benzocaine) in my ears for me. It was a past prescription, and just given to me for pain after getting my wax flushed out of my ear canals. You can imagine my happiness when I read your blog post this morning! Anxious to MIX this up today. My husband is an Aldi store manager and we always have fresh garlic on hand..we eat garlic on everything it seems! (We use the granulated kind from the big box stores..) But, I will use the real cloves this morning. Thank you again for blessing others through your pain and busy day 😀 And…hope you continue to heal and take the needed rest with your kiddos!
Amy says
Oh Julie! I hope this works for you!
Cecilia says
We have also had good success with just setting a half a garlic clove (cut side in) in the ear too (too big to fall in). It seems to draw the pain and infection out. 😉
Amy says
That’s impressive! May have to try that too!
Nikki says
We have done the garlic clove ( just put it in a little warmed olive oil and let head rest for 15 minutes so the garlic sits in) . We have had this work every time.
Tati Moli says
Amy, its amazing, all the natural medicine the good Lord blesses us all with. Glad to hear that you’re doing well now!
Chris Waughtal says
This is the 2nd time I have seen this remedy in 2 days on different blogs-definitely going into my box of home remedies-as we are in the midst of sinus crud, and maybe a touch of ear aches too!!
thanks for sharing, in the midst of your discomfort and illness
Emily says
I just used garlic oil in my 8 month old’s ear this past weekend. Love this remedy! So simple and easy and it usually only takes a couple applications. We also use it on feet for fevers. I don’t boil mine but store it in a jar in a cool place. I just make a new batch every few weeks so I always have some on hand for those pesky ear aches and infections. Happy to hear you are on the mend!!
Jen says
Emily, I like certain natural cures & as Amy pointed out we all need to do what is best for our families. However, your post made me cringe. Perhaps it is the age of your baby or that you need to always keep a batch on hand. Regardless, please remember we must take special care with the lil ones who can’t speak. Ears under 2 are so delicate! If he is in pain or getting chronic ear infections please have him seen by a MD.
Please know I mean this from the best, kindest place in my heart. My daughter has hearing loss & while hers is congenital, I have met soooo many kids who have hearing loss as a result of untreated ear infections. Please just be careful. God Bless!
Emily says
Jen,
I appreciate your concern and completely understand where you’re coming from. Just to clarify, this was the first ear infection my daughter had. I have three other children (with a baby on the way) who rarely get ear infections (Praise The Lord, they’ve only had one each) so I like to have some handy just so I can have access right away if they do get one and not have to spend the time mixing it up when I know they’re not feeling well. I honestly do appreciate your comment and I wanted to respond to hopefully put your mind at ease.
Jen says
Oh, That is wonderful to hear! 🙂
Kelly P. says
Great article! I get earaches sometimes, not where I would need to go to the doctors, just from wind. Garlic oil helped in one night. It never got to the point where I was in extreme pain even. This truly does work.
Rebecca says
How timely! One of mine has been fighting an earache/infection for 2 months with antibiotics and ear drops to no avail. We have been using Thieves and peppermint oil rubbed behind the ear and dabbed on a cotton ball and placed in the ear canal too. (The oil on the cotton ball, we don’t put essential oils in our ears).. It’s not seeming to help as much as I wanted so I’m already heating up this remedy! Question…it’s ok to dispense down the ear even though the garlic doesn’t completely dissolve? I’ve stirred and stirred and still has pieces. (I’m using the already chopped in the glass jar kind). Thanks!!!
Amy says
Can you pull up just some of the oil without the pieces in it?
Rebecca says
Yes, that’s what I did! I made up a batch before church and when we came back, it had cooled and was ready. Had to liquify the oil since it goes solid so quickly, the garlic stayed in the bottom and I just used a few drops of the oil. I sure hope it works! She hasn’t been complaining but her ear pops when she burps or blows or anything to do with pressure and she feels “under water”. I do NOT want to go to a doctor’s office with this flu raging!
Amy says
I hear you! The doctor’s office is a last resort with as much sickness is going around! I kept telling my mom I know what I have is a virus so they really can’t help me, and I don’t want to go there and get something else!
Andi says
We just use warm olive oil. I had never heard of adding garlic. I can tell you that plain warm olive oil works just as good. It usually only takes one dose. We never go to the doctor for ear infections and we seem to get them with every cold. It really does work wonders!
Amy says
That’s great to know too! The garlic just adds extra healing properties! 🙂
Steph says
Thank you so much! I will try this tomorrow with my third, whose ears are not aching, but he might still be needing tubes. Sometimes things just come to you when you really are in need of the. Blessings!
Clarissa says
We have bought the garlic ear drops before! Next time, I’ll have to make my own!
Josi says
I’ve never heard about this so it’s great to know. Makes me wonder what else you have in your bag of tricks that we should learn!! 🙂
Amy says
My husband is good about reminding me of things I need to share. I’ll have to ask him! 🙂
Laura Lane of Harvest Lane Cottage says
I’ve put garlic cloves in our ears for years. I didn’t know about the oil. That would be helpful.
Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth says
We use and love garlic oil for ear aches and infection! I despise antibiotics, and use them only when there is not other option, but this natural healing remedy makes life so much more comfortable on the heels of colds and flu when those ears act up.
I do have a funny story with a caution…if using whole cloves of garlic, be sure they are large enough to not get suck in the ears! A friend of mine’s mother got a clove stuck, she is from Russia, and her telling of the doctor visit to retrieve the stuck clove made me chuckle!
Kelly Retzer says
You specify to “fill a glass eye dropper”; does the dropper have to be glass, or would a plastic one work too?
Amy says
Glass works better because the oil seems to run out better. However, if all you have is plastic, definitely use it!
Reggie says
Fantastic! We rarely experience earaches or infections around here, and I also have found that they do tend to clear on their own. I love knowing there is something natural for the pain. Thank you! While I am not as all natural as some, I am a firm believer in listening to one’s body and using vitamin supplements as intervention. This has saved us many a doctor’s visit and in one case, proved more effective than the actual antibiotic.
Kelly Retzer says
Would making and freezing it for future use work just as well? We don’t use fresh garlic very often so I’d hate to “waste” money on a garlic bulb (or 2, if I can only find a 2 pack) when all I need is 1 clove.
We use minced garlic in a jar even less.
Amy says
I doubt it would have quite the same healing properties once frozen and thawed. You’d be better off buying garlic oil already made to keep on hand.