See a doctor if: Severe or lasting ear pain, discharge or bleeding from the ear, sudden or persistent hearing loss, spinning dizziness, or blockage that does not clear after a cold settles - see a doctor
Kitchen remedies
Swallow, yawn or chew (sip water, chew gum, suck a boiled sweet) during take-off and landing; gentle jaw movements; a warm compress over the ear; steam inhalation and saline drops to open the nose when congested; for babies on a flight, feeding or a pacifier helps
Featured herbs
How to prepare
Cautions
Do NOT blow the nose hard or force air against a painful ear. Avoid putting oils, water or cotton buds deep into the ear canal. People with a current ear infection or a burst eardrum should not do pressure-equalising blowing.
Related remedies
Earache & Ear Blockage (mild, traditional)Conjunctivitis / Red Eye (mild, supportive)Tinnitus / Ear Ringing (supportive)Dry / Tired Eyes (supportive)Swimmer's Ear / Outer-ear Irritation (mild, supportive)Loss of Smell & Taste after a Cold (supportive)Ear Wax Build-up / Blocked Ear (mild, supportive)Dry / Crusty Nasal Passages (supportive)
When to see a doctor. Home remedies are for minor, self-limiting complaints in adults. They are not a substitute for medical care, and herbs can interact with medicines. Not for children under the ages stated, in pregnancy, or with chronic conditions without a doctor's advice.
