10 DIY Home Remedies for Ear Infection Using Olive Oil

An ear infection is a common problem faced by both adults, and more often, children. It is caused by a viral or bacterial infection that affects middle ear, or due to allergies or colds.

There are tons of medication for treatment but if you think that the infection is at an early stage, try using a natural way. Olive oil is one of the best self care remedies for relieving pain and preventing infection.

Keep reading to learn how you can use warm olive oil for ear infection and more!

Is Warm Olive Oil Good for Earache?

• Olive oil contains antibacterial and antiviral properties that deal with the bacteria causing infection.
• It helps to clear up the excess ear wax that blocks the Eustachian tubes.
• It acts as a protective layer to prevent bacteria and virus infection.
• Olive oil soothes the tightly stretched tissues of ear drum which in turn helps in reducing the pain.
• It contains fragile polyphenols, antioxidants which protect cells from damage and reduces the inflammation.

How to Use Olive Oil for Earache?

We have listed several ways of using olive oil with a detailed description. Try any one of these regularly to treat the ear infection.

1. Warm Olive Oil

Lukewarm olive oil provides immense relief from the pain and clears the blockage caused by either fluids or excessive earwax.

• Warm up some olive oil.
• Using an ear dropper, pour few drops of warm olive oil into the ear. Remember, it should not be hot.
• Plug the ears with a cotton ball.
• Gently massage the outer part of the ear or cover the ear with a warm compress.
• Leave it on for a couple of minutes.
• Remove the cotton ball and lie down facing the treated ear downwards.
• After few minutes, using a tissue paper or Q-tip, clean the outer ear.
• Repeat the process once or twice in a day.

2. Olive Oil and Garlic

Garlic infused olive oil makes a potent remedy to treat an ear infection. It helps to kill the bacteria causing infection.

• Add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and minced garlic (1 clove) into a small pan.
• Heat the mixture on low heat for 20 minutes.
• Now, remove from the flame and let the mixture steep for few minutes.
• Once the mixture is warm enough to touch, strain it and pour few drops of it into the ear.
• Plug the ear with a cotton ball and remove it after few hours.
• Repeat the application 2 times in a day until the ear infection clears.

Note: If you don’t want to heat the ingredients, then you can achieve the same thing by adding minced garlic to olive oil and letting it steep for 2 – 3 hours.

3. Olive Oil and Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil contains mild antibacterial properties which help to clear the infection effectively.

• Combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 drops of tea tree oil, 1 teaspoon each of colloidal silver and apple cider vinegar.
• Warm up the mixture slightly. Make sure you don’t overheat the mixture.
• Lie down by facing the infected ear upwards.
• Using an ear dropper, pour few drops of the mixture into the infected ear.
• Leave it on for 5 minutes.
• Turn and lay down facing the infected ear downwards. This helps in draining out the olive oil completely.
• Using a tissue paper, clean the outer ear.
• Repeat the process 2 – 3 times in a day.

Alternatively: You can just add few drops of tea tree oil to 2 tablespoons of olive oil and follow the same process.

4. Olive Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar balances the pH level of the ear which creates an inhospitable environment for virus and bacteria to thrive.

• Combine 2 – 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.
• Heat the mixture on medium heat for 30 minutes.
• Remove from the flame and let the mixture cool down until warm enough for the application.
• Lie down facing the infection ear upwards and pour few drops of the mixture into the ear. Make sure the mixture is warm enough before the application.
• Cover the ear using a cotton ball. Leave it on for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cotton ball and clean the outer part of the ear using a tissue paper.
• Follow the process 2 – 3 times in a day to get quick relief from an ear infection.

5. Cinnamon and Olive Oil for Ear Infection

Adding cinnamon to olive oil increases the effectiveness of the remedy.

• Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon powder into 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Heat the mixture for a minute and let it cool down to body temperature.
• Strain the mixture through a fine sieve.
• Pour 3 drops of the mixture into the infected ear.
• Repeat the process 2 times in a day.

6. Onion and Olive Oil for Ear Infection

The antibacterial properties present in onion helps to kill the bacteria causing infection.

• In a small saucepan, add olive oil and grated onions.
• Heat the mixture for few minutes.
• Remove from the flame and let the mixture steep for 15 minutes.
• Strain the mixture and add few drops of warm solution into the ear.
• Place a warm compress on the ear for few minutes.
• Repeat the process 2 times in a day.

7. Olive Oil and Cloves

Cloves contain antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which help in providing relief from an ear infection.

• Take a couple of cloves and grind them to powder.
• Mix clove powder with a tablespoon of olive oil.
• Heat the mixture for few minutes (make sure it does not get too hot).
• When it is warm enough, pour few drops of oil mixture in the infected ear.
• Cover it with a cotton ball and leave it on for as long as possible.
• Repeat the process 2 – 3 times in a day.

8. Olive Oil and Mullein

• Take a teaspoon of mullein flowers and combine it with 1/2 cup of boiling water.
• Stir it well and allow it to cool for few minutes.
• Combine 1 tablespoon each of mullein tea and olive oil. Let the mixture steep overnight.
• Pour a drop of this solution in the infected ear.
• Repeat the process regularly to get quick relief from the ear infection.

9. Olive Oil and Peppermint Oil

The antibacterial properties of peppermint oil treat the infection by removing the bacteria causing the infection.

• Combine 5 drops of olive oil and 1 drop of peppermint oil.
• Stir it well and pour this mixture of peppermint oil and olive oil in ear for pain by using ear dropper.
• Leave it on for a while to ease the pain and infection.

Note: If you are sensitive to the peppermint oil, you can always dilute it with more amounts of olive oil.

10. Olive Oil and Lavender Oil

This process is effective in treating an ear infection in both babies and adults.

• Combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 5 drops of lavender oil.
• Gently warm up the mixture.
• For ear infection in babies: Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and gently rub it around outside of the ear.
• For ear infection in youngsters and adults: Pour few drops of the solution into the ear and apply a warm compress.
• Repeat the process 2 times in a day.

Tips and Precautions:

• Pour 2 – 3 drops of olive oil in each ear canal before going for swimming to avoid the water going into your ears, as this can cause additional pain and infection to you.
• It is good to clean your ears after taking shower / swimming.
• Avoid trying the above remedies if the ear drum is ruptured. If you suspect your ear drum is ruptured then consult a doctor immediately.
• Check the temperature of olive oil before pouring it into the ear. Make sure the oil is warm, but not hot.
• Avoid swimming until the ear infection clears.
• Avoid consuming dairy products while suffering from pain as it can increase the pain and swelling.
• It is better to cover the ears with scarf or cap before going outside as pollution can worsen the infection.
• If the ear infection persists even after trying the remedies for 3 – 4 days then consult a doctor.

Did you find this article on olive oil and ear infections helpful? Have you tried any other method to treat your ear infection? Share your experience and suggestions in the comment section below.

Rajee Datti

Hi everyone, this is Rajee!

I live the beautiful city of Baltimore, where my husband works.

I’m from India. I have been visiting India on and off for past few years and my mom was an inspiration for me to start this site. She has a wealth of knowledge on home remedies for a large number of health problems, and we grew up in an environment where frequent visits to the doctor just wasn’t logistically or financially feasible.

Despite this, she managed to raise a family of healthy kids, and my goal here at Home Remedies for Life is to pass on some of her knowledge of natural remedies.