The American Tinnitus Association reports that over 50 million Americans may be affected by tinnitus, of which are about 12 million severe cases. There is also a significant number of persons that suffer from serious debilitation where they are unable to function normally. The exact physiological cause or causes of tinnitus are not known. There are, however factors which are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus, these include: noise-induced hearing loss, wax build-up in the ear canal, certain medications, and ear or sinus infections or other disorders.

Exposure to loud noises can permanently damage and kill hair cells, called cilia, in the inner ear resulting in hearing loss. Approximately 90 percent of all tinnitus patients have some level of hearing loss. The condition can affect anyone and at any age though its more common in adults.

Remedies for Tinnitus

1. Ginkgo Biloba is an herbal remedy effective in easing the symptoms of tinnitus. It works by dilating the blood vessels and improving the circulation of blood to the ears especially the inner ear. Improved blood flow will help to control the ringing heard and also do away with dizziness.
2. Vitamin B is a popular tinnitus remedy as is A, E and zinc. Vitamins are essential to fighting deficiencies in the body.
3. Curb certain habits as a natural remedy for tinnitus. Stay away from excessive amounts of caffeine, smoking and alcohol. avoid foods like saturated fats, dairy products, sugar, salt, processed foods and so on because all these food items tend to aggravate the condition.
4. Avoid loud noises, which can aggravate tinnitus. Wear earplugs or headphones to tone down noise and protect the ears.
5. Stress was found to make tinnitus worse. So, relaxation and stress management techniques are natural tinnitus remedies. Deep, slow breathing is one safe way to ease tension; however there are countless techniques available to reduce stress.
6. Massage the affected ear area to increase blood flow. A hot compress can also the applied to the neck before retiring to bed.
7. Tinnitus masking is a natural remedy that can be applied. It works by using music or other soothing sound such as the flow of water as in a shower to mask the tinnitus sound in the ear.
8. Persons can have tinnitus relief with alternative treatments such as acupuncture, sacral therapy, magnets, hyperbaric oxygen, or hypnosis.
9. An effective home remedy is to mix 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of glycerin in 1 pint of warm water and apply solution to each nostril using a spray bottle; the solution should drain into the back of the throat. Use thrice daily for three days.

The ear functions by receiving sound waves and sending messages to the brain. The outer ear includes the part of the ear that is visible and the ear canal. The sound waves go through the ear canal and travel to the eardrum and cause it to vibrate. The vibration of the eardrum causes the tiny bones in the ear to move. This movement sends the sound waves to the inner ear.

A narrow tube called the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear with the back of the nose and allows normal fluid drain out of the middle ear. If bacteria or viruses infect the lining of the Eustachian tube, the tube gets swollen and fills with thick mucus. This keeps fluid in the ear from draining normally. The fluid begins to buildup and bacteria can grow in the fluid, increasing pressure behind the eardrum and causing pain, stuffiness, hearing loss, and ear infection.

An earache is described as a temporary or constant sharp, dull or burning pain in one or both ears. In children ear pain is usually caused by the buildup of fluid and pressure behind the eardrum (middle ear). In adults ear pain is largely due to an ear infection

The Eustachian tubes can become blocked because of allergies, a cold or other infection due to inflammation and the buildup of secretions. This is more common in small children, because they have a shorter and more horizontal tube.

Remedies for Earaches

Home Remedies

1. Sooth the ear with the warm setting of a hairdryer or use warm damp compresses. Adversely a cold pack or cold wet wash cloth applied to the outer ear for 20 minutes may reduce pain.
2. Put a few drops of garlic juice in the affected ear. Garlic has a natural antibiotic. Alternately basic leaf juice can be applied.
3. If the ache is from altitude change or built up pressure, chew gum or yawn to contract the muscles and open the Eustachian tubes relieving the pain.
4. Persons that suffer from “swimmer’s ear” can place mineral oil in the ear before going in the water.
5. Persons that have an ear infection can intake large doses of vitamin C. At high levels, this vitamin is a natural antibiotic and antihistamine and will help to reduce any inflammation and fever.
6. Natural healing advocates believe that ear aches and infections are caused fundamentally by improper diet. Foods such as meat, white bread, sugar and chemically-doctored foods should be avoided. A proper diet must include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and proteins sources other than meat. Certain foods, more commonly dairy products like milk, butter, cheese etc tend to aggravate ear infections, so it is better to avoid them during an ear infection
7. Resting in an upright position can help reduce pressure in the middle ear

Simple Home Remedies to Tackle Ear Infections

The following remedies should help in handling the ear infection:

• A well-known home remedy for ear infection is to drop 1-2 drops of onion juice or garlic juice in the infected ear. It is recommended that the juice be diluted with boiled water and cooled before applying it to the affected ear as the remedy has the potential to sting.
• Another option is to use 1-2 drops of warm olive oil.
• To reduce pain and swelling caused due to ear infections, heat a cup of salt for 2-3 minutes in a microwave. Put the salt inside a small bag or a sock and gently place it on the infected area. This will give some relief from the swelling and pain.
• Take a piece of cloth and dip it in warm water. Wring the cloth to remove the excess water and keep it close to the infected ear. The warmth with help to increase circulation.
• Make the following mixture: 3 drops of tea tree essential oil, 2 drops of lavender essential oil, 2 drops of chamomile oil and 1 tablespoon of almond carrier oil. Warm this mixture and add about 2 drops every day, in the infected ear.
• A warm compress can be used to provide some relief from the pain.

Extracting the pus

Pus is generally associated with ear infections. Pus may be whitish-yellow in color or possibly brown, green, red or blue in appearance. To extract the pus, one can fill a small bag or sock with salt and press it against the ear. Ear candling is also used for extracting the pus. Ear candling involves placing a hollow candle, generally made from cloth and paraffin wax, into the ear of the person suffering from ear infection and then, lighting the other end to create a gentle vacuum, along with a certain amount of beneficial smoke and heat. These candles are used to remove any impurities that may be there within the ear.

Using Herbs

Herbs such as Echinacea and Goldenseal have been known to provide a cleansing effect in the body. Echinacea is a very popular herb used in the treatment of flu and colds. It is a recurrent plant that grows up to 60 centimeters in height when it matures and is used for medicinal purposes. The Goldenseal is also a medicinal herb found in the buttercup family and it is native to Eastern North America.
Measured quantities of Vitamin C can also be helpful. Persons who have an ear infection are warned to stay away from dairy products since these drinks and foods have the tendency to increase the production of mucus in the body. This worsens the pain and congestion that usually comes with ear infections.

Steaming with water and oils

The infected person can get a bowl of hot steaming water and essential oils and then drape a towel over his or her head while sitting over the bowl. The essential oils are peppermint, eucalyptus and ginger. This home remedy is known as a steam facial which aides in clearing up congestion among other symptoms which exacerbate ear infections.
Another home remedy includes creating a concoction of grapefruit seed extract, tea tree essential oil and St. John’s Wort oil. A few drops of the mixture in the affected ear every few days should help alleviate the pain as well as fight off the infection.

Tips and Warnings

Keep the following tips and warnings in mind while dealing with ear infection.

• Never use a pin, pen or any other sharp object to clean your ears because this can aggravate the infection and may even cause serious damage to the ears.
• While using hot compress or while heating salt / rice to put inside a cloth bag / sock and applying it on the infected area, make sure that it is only warm and not too hot.
• Always cover your ears while going out in winter so that you can protect your ears from the chill, moist air.