How Does Sweet Oil Help Earaches?
Earaches can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergens, fungi, impacted ear wax or hearing aids. Otitis media is an inner ear or ear drum infection. Otitis externa is an ear canal infection and is also known as swimmer’s ear. Sweet oil can help the earaches caused by otitis media and otitis externa.
Earaches can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergens, fungi, impacted ear wax or hearing aids. Otitis media is an inner ear or ear drum infection. Otitis externa is an ear canal infection and is also known as swimmer's ear. Sweet oil can help the earaches caused by otitis media and otitis externa.
Considerations
According to the National Library of Medicine, mild ear infections sometimes go away on their own but the Cleveland Clinic says that antibiotics are always required to treat severe otitis. Sweet oil can be used to treat mild ear infections and infections caused by irritants or earwax.
History
Sweet Oil is another term for olive oil. Olive oil has been used for pharmaceutical purposes for thousands of years. Hippocrates used olive oil to treat skin injuries and other wounds. In ancient times, olive oil was also used as a base to make ointments and rubbed onto the skin and hair to make people appear healthier. Sweet oil has been used successfully to soothe ear pain for many years.
Function
Most plant oils loose some of their health benefits because of processing. Olive oil extraction does not require heating or other nutrient draining treatment. The antioxidant and vitamins in olive oil are thought to provide added healing benefits as a result of this minimal processing, says Keith Lehman in the September 2008 "Lighthouse Patriot's Journal."
Expert Insight
Olive oil contains antioxidants, flavonoids, amino acids, and Vitamins E and A. Skin problems that can cause otitis externa are frequently treated successfully with vitamin E or olive oil. According to Drug.com, olive oil drops are an effective way to decrease ear pain. U.S. Pharmacist advises placing warm sweet oil in the ear to temporarily soothe otitis media ear pain. According to ENTNursing.com a few drops of olive oil in the ear daily can help eliminate the wax build-up that causes hearing loss and ear pain. Heat the olive oil by putting it in a container and then placing the container in hot water. Always test the temperature of the sweet oil before inserting drops in the ear.
Theories And Speculation
Pediatricians write more prescriptions for ear infections than for any other illness but most pediatricians agree that many of these prescriptions are unnecessary. Dr. D.M. Spiro in the February 2008 "Current Opinion in Pediatrics" reports that, "Evidence suggests that there is marginal benefit from antibiotics for most children diagnosed with acute otitis media." Spiro suggests that treating first with pain relievers is a more prudent approach to treating earaches. Using olive oil for ear pain is a good first step in the treatment of earaches.
Warnings
Never use sweet oil in your ear if there is ear canal drainage or if the ear drum is ruptured. Consult with your health care provider if you have a fever or if your ear pain is severe. Never use warm sweet oil ear drops before first testing the temperature..