What is worse than an earache? A toothache, maybe. The pain of earache is unrelenting and produces an ill-all-over feeling that interferes with all aspects of the sufferer’s daily life. Earache is common among children, but adults may suffer, too.

The first thing to be ruled out is ear infection, either otitis media (middle ear) or otitis externa (outer ear). Damage from an ear infection can cause chronic or permanent hearing loss. Colds, allergies, and upper respiratory infections can lead to the earache.

The accumulation of fluid in the system blocks the eustachian tube and builds up pressure from pus in the middle ear. The eardrum can rupture and release the pus, but usually pus and mucus remain in the middle ear unless treated by a doctor and sometimes even then. Once the acute stage of the infection has passed, otitis media can become chronic, lasting months or years, and seriously damage hearing.

Other common causes for ear pain are excess earwax and perforated eardrum.

It is important that a doctor determines and treats the root cause of the problem. But until that is done, herbal and nutritional home remedies may help to alleviate the pain.

Garlic is well known for its antibiotic and immune-boosting effects. It can actually cure a middle ear infection when warmed garlic oil is dripped into the ear canal. Garlic can be added to the diet in cooking and steeped in water and drunk as tea. Garlic tea is an excellent treatment for colds and flu, as well.

Similar to garlic in its effects is Echinacea. It is taken internally as an herbal tea or in water or juice using a dropper of Echinacea tincture. Drink three times a day. Goldenseal and licorice root can be combined with Echinacea, as a tea or tinctured drink, also three times a day.

Antibiotic and immune-boosting treatments such as these sometimes work better in ear infection than pharmaceuticals. A stubborn middle ear infection can be resistant to the strongest antibiotics. An over-the-counter expectorant is also helpful as part of the problem involved excess humidity and fluid in the system overall brought about by colds and flu.

While earaches are fairly common, they should never be treated lightly. Your hearing is more at risk than you may think.