Natural Ear Infection Treatments

Understanding Ear Infections

When fluids and inflammation build up behind the ear drum it can cause an ear infection. Ear infections are most common in babies and children because their Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal, compared to adults, making it easier for bacteria to travel from the throat to the ear.

The majority of ear infections are viral, meaning an antibiotic won’t help. Most doctors do not test if the infection is viral or bacterial, and prescribe an antibiotic anyways.

Most infections without treatment often get better on their own within 2-3 days without antibiotics. So it’s plausible for antibiotics to appear to have helped, when really the infection just cleared naturally on its own. However, since trapped fluid creates a breeding ground for bacteria, it's important to get things draining so it doesn't turn bacterial.

The best thing you can do is to focus on draining the fluid, fighting the infection, and decreasing the inflammation.

The Main Focus when Treating Ear Infections

Draining the fluid!!!! And guess what? While antibiotics can treat the bacteria causing a bacterial ear infection, they DON’T directly drain the trapped fluid, fix the underlying Eustachian tube dysfunction that contributed to poor drainage, or guarantee that fluid won’t build up again.

Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy

Research on osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for ear infections is limited, but a small 2025 review found that gentle OMT techniques may help middle-ear fluid clear faster, improve middle-ear function, and possibly reduce recurrent infections or the need for ear tubes.

OMT is different from traditional chiropractic care and typically involves gentle techniques like soft-tissue work, myofascial release, cranial techniques, and techniques intended to support fluid movement and drainage.

I have worked in airway dentistry for over 10 years alongside dozens of airway dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, myofunctional therapists, and osteopaths - and I can assure you, osteopathic treatment and craniosacral therapy can be POWERFUL (even if the research hasn’t fully caught up with what we see clinically). In many cases, our practice won’t move forward with certain treatments until osteopathic care is completed first because we consistently see better outcomes when the body is properly prepared and supported.

Chiropractic Care

There isn’t the same clinical evidence supporting chiropractic care for ear infections, but if that’s more easily accessible to you, there are plenty of positive anecdotal reports from parents who feel it has helped their children (which we love!!!). Including us!

Gentle chiropractic adjustments can help reduce tension and restrictions in the neck, jaw, and tissues around the base of the skull, supporting the muscles involved in opening the Eustachian tubes and normal fluid movement from the head and neck.

We have an osteopath, craniosacral therapist, and chiropractor that we see. Our last ear infection happened in my two-year-old two days before we left for vacation. We couldn’t get in with our DO or craniosacral therapist, but thankfully our chiropractor was able to squeeze us in. Evelyn’s neck was SO tight, and after just one adjustment, I could tell a huge difference in her overall comfort. Both of my kids tend to have quite a bit of eye oozing during ear infections, and within just a few hours, hers decreased tremendously.

The Nike "Swoosh" Pull

And if you can’t get in with a practitioner, you can try this gentle at-home technique. Gently pull the outer ear down and back in a “Nike swoosh” motion. The theory is that gently mobilizing the tissues around the ear and jaw may support normal Eustachian tube function and fluid movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_5BWjcNpOQ

While this technique hasn’t been clinically proven to drain middle-ear fluid or treat an ear infection, it’s quick, gentle, and something something my kids ask me to do which tells me it's at the very least providing some form of comfort.

Castor Oil Drainage Massage

Castor oil is deeply penetrative and helps lower inflammation and encourages blood flow to the area applied which signals white blood cells.

Apply it around the ear and gently massage behind the ear bone, down along the jawline, the sides of the neck, and toward the collarbones to encourage lymphatic drainage. If you have a vibration tool, you can also use it around the collarbone area to further support lymph flow. The goal is to encourage fluid movement and support drainage from the middle ear through the Eustachian tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84RX6oT7QOg

Vibration Plate

Don't go out and buy one, but if you have one already and your kid is up for it, get them on there! My kids love ours, and they can help indirectly with congestion by creating gentle whole-body movement that supports circulation and lymphatic fluid movement.

Because the lymphatic system relies on movement and muscle contractions to help move fluid, vibration may support lymphatic drainage and the clearance of excess fluid and inflammatory byproducts.

Garlic and Mullein Oil

Mullein oil is a natural astringent, which helps dry up the fluid. It's also a natural antibiotic and antiviral. One study showed that naturopathic ear drops containing garlic was just as effective in managing ear pain as OTC ear drops (1). Another found that allicin and s-allyl cysteine (SAC), two derivatives of garlic, were effective at killing certain microorganisms that cause ear infections (2). However, these treatments were found to be less effective than ciprofloxacin or fluconazole. I usually start garlic drops as soon as congestion begins, as a preventative.

We use Herb Pharm and Wally's Naturals. If you need something today Wally's Naturals is in most pharmacies and grocery stories.

*do not put anything inside the ear if it is perforated.

Steamed Onion Compress

Onions have natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help provide relief from earaches. They also are effective at drawing out pain, infections, swelling, and inflammation.

You can make a warm compress with half a steamed onion

• steam onion until soft (10-15 minutes) or

• bake at 450F for 15 minutes or until soft 

• then cut in half, wrap in a thin cloth and hold it to the ear until it’s cold. You can also place it in a cup and hold that to the ear.

OTC Pain Management Drops

• Dr. Green Mom drops (code: ALEXKELLY)

• Hyland's drops

• Plant Therapy ear relief

• Rowe Casa earache oil (code: ALEX20)

• Earthley ear ache ease (code: ALEXK10)

Salt Sock (to help relieve pain)

• Heat up 1 c of coarse sea salt in microwave or skillet (warm but not too hot)

• Pour into a clean, white sock (not colored; colored thread can melt if heated)

• Tie a knot at the end of the sock

• Press warm salt sock against the ear for 10-15 min

• Repeat for relief as needed

Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy can help promote circulation, support the body's natural inflammatory reponse, and encourage cellular energy production. The warmth can also be very soothing!

Cut Out Dairy

Dairy can increase mucus production, so we like to eliminate it during ear infections to reduce the congestion and inflammation contributing to the fluid build up in the middle ear.

Homeopathy

The “right” homeopathic treatment will look different case by case, as they are best chosen based on symptoms. But a few to consider are:

• Belladonna: intense bouts of earaches that come and go suddenly 

• Hepar sulphuris calcereum: very painful or infected earaches, with bulging eardrums or pus formation 

• Mercurius solubility: advanced ear infections, with pus formation, shooting pain, and roaring in the ear. Typically this person will be very sensitive to temperature. 

• Pulsatilla: for ear infections that follow or accompany a cold

• Aconitum napellus: for earaches occurring after exposure to cold weather 

• Kali muriaticum: for ear congestion with cracking sounds in the ear, worsened by the change in pressure 

• Magnesia phosphoric: for earaches that feel better when warmth and pressure is applied

When Antibiotics Might Be Necessary

• If a child is under two and has an infection in both ears 

• The child has a history of burst eardrums

• If there are indications of a bacterial infection

  • like pus or fluid leaking from the ear

• No significant improvement shown after 2 days of natural treatment

I like to give 2 days of trying the above remedies, and see if the body will heal itself. Typically it will. However, if there's no improvement, pain increases, and/or things seem to worsen I would (and have) considered antibiotics.

If you decide to go the antibiotic route: Learn how to mitigate antibiotic side effects here

Ear Popper - for PREVENTION

I learned about this from the GOAT of ENTs and airway health, Dr. Soroush Zaghi. This is not to be used during an active ear Infection, but as a preventative whenever you start to feel congestion coming on! The NeilMed Eustachi, helps unblocks plugged ears by helping exercise the eustachian tubes.

He recommends using the Eustachi severl times a dayt whenever the ear feels congested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g27cUd5tOfA&t=27s

Treating Ear Infections: In Practice

Step 1: Diagnose ear infection. either at home with an otoscope or through your doctor. If through your doctor, you can go ahead and have them call in an antibiotic if you want, but I usually try the natural methods for 1-2 days before giving it - unless it’s already been raging for days on end. Trust your gut!

Strep 2: Get a OMT, CST, or chiropractic adjustment on the schedule

Step 3: Apply mullein oil drops (if no perforation) - laying on side apply 1-2 drops of garlic oil in ear and wait for 5 minutes (laying still this long may not be possible depending on age. That’s okay! Do what you can)

Step 4: Get to work on drainage and comfort

• "Nike swoosh" ear technique

• Castor oil massage

• Bodywork appointment

Strep 5: Apply Onion Compress or Salt Sock (if needed for comfort)

Step 6: Apply relief drops laying on side again for 5 minutes, and/or give homeopathic pellets (if needed for comfort)

Step 7: Red light therapy and snuggles

Repeat every few hours or as needed.

*This is just an example. The steps don't have to be followed in this exact order. If you need to focus on pain relief first before working on drainage, etc. that's fine. Do what's best for the individual case.

View my full holistic medicine cabinet HERE.

A Note on Chronic Ear Infections

There are several reasons a child may experience recurrent ear infections, but if your child also chronically mouth breathes, has a narrow palate, low tongue posture, difficulty keeping their lips closed at rest, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or other airway concerns, I highly recommend looking deeper with an airway-focused dentist.

Persistent middle-ear fluid isn’t always just an “ear problem.” The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and helps ventilate the middle ear, regulate pressure, and clear fluid. It opens primarily during swallowing and yawning through the action of muscles in the palate and throat.

Because breathing, swallowing, tongue function, and craniofacial development are interconnected, chronic nasal obstruction, enlarged adenoids, and certain structural or functional differences may contribute to Eustachian tube dysfunction and recurrent ear problems in some children.

Depending on the child, addressing contributing factors may involve improving nasal breathing, evaluating enlarged tonsils or adenoids, myofunctional therapy, assessing tongue mobility and swallowing patterns, or orthodontic treatment such as palatal expansion when clinically appropriate.

Ear tubes can be incredibly helpful and necessary for some children, but if your child struggles with persistent fluid or recurrent infections, it may also be worth looking beyond the ears and evaluating their breathing, airway, oral function, and craniofacial development to see if there are contributing factors that can be addressed.

Great video of Dr. Soroush Zahi, the GOAT of airway ENTs, speaking on this.

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Sources:

1 Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, Cohen HA. Efficacy of Naturopathic Extracts in the Management of Ear Pain Associated With Acute Otitis Media. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155(7):796–799. doi:10.1001/archpedi.155.7.796

2 Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R. Antimicrobial Activity of Garlic Derivatives on Common Causative Microorganisms of the External Ear Canal and Chronic Middle Ear Infections. Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 Dec;57(4):161-165. doi: 10.5152/tao.2019.4413. Epub 2019 Dec 1. PMID: 32128511; PMCID: PMC7032553.