Fact or Fiction: Garlic oil Helps Cure ear Infections
You know the drill: a red, uncomfortable ear, crying in the middle of the night, and probably a fever. It’s another ear infection.
If your child is prone to getting painful ear infections and you spend some time on the Internet looking for home remedies, you’re likely to run across references to garlic oil as a curative for ear infections. But is there any truth to it?
Garlic and garlic oil have been used for centuries as a remedy for naturally relieving the pain of ear infections. In fact, an active ingredient in garlic is allicin, which studies say has antibacterial and antiviral properties that can help an ear infection resolve more quickly.
Two clinical studies evaluating the use of an herbal mixture of mullein and garlic in children with ear infections showed that the treatments were effective in reducing pain and discomfort. However, the researchers stated that the garlic oil may have had little effect on the infection itself since the eardrum creates a natural barrier to reaching the infection site. As a result, the infection resolved on its own.
Some experts say that herbal extracts may be beneficial and offer new options in the treatment of the ear pain associated with infections. These extracts can also be much less expensive than some prescription pain medication drops.
Garlic extracts are available both online and at health food stores. Experts caution, however, that pure garlic and its oil are too harsh to place directly in the ear, and that herbal drops are much milder. Remember that it is always a good idea to speak with your pediatrician before trying any alternative treatments.
Sources:
- University of Maryland Medical Center
- Garlic.
Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine - Efficacy of Naturopathic Extracts in the Management of Ear Pain Associated With Acute Otitis Media.
Pediatrics - Naturopathic treatment for ear pain in children.
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology - Management of acute otitis media in an era of increasing antibiotic resistance.
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