How To Use Essential Oils For Earaches

You might consider using essential oils for earaches and ear pain or infection only if the problem is in the external ear canal. Middle or inner ear infections require professional attention—consult a healthcare provider as appropriate to avoid possible damage to the eardrum.

Important: Never put essential oils directly into your ears. However, you can put diluted essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in the outer ear.

Recommended Essential Oils for Earache

The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness suggests the following essential oils:

• Basil
• Eucalyptus radiata
• Lavender
• Roman chamomile
• Rosemary ct. cineole
  
• Tea tree
  

1. Blend 6 drops of your chosen essential oil in one teaspoon carrier oil.
2. Put 3 drops of the blend on a cotton ball and place it in your outer ear.
3. Repeat 3 times a day as needed.

Massage Blends

You can also make blends to massage around the outside of your ear. Massage around both ears (even if only one ear aches) every few hours. Also massage the ear lobes.

Ear pain blend #1:

• 2 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 1 drop peppermint essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

Source: Massage & Aromatherapy: Simple Techniques at Home

Ear pain blend #2:

• 1 drop grapefruit essential oil
• 1 drop clove essential oil
• 1 drop lavender essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Source: Essential Oils For Healing

Ear pain blend #3:

• 2 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 1 drop lavender essential oil
• 1 drop tea tree essential oil
• 1 drop geranium essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Source: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Essential Oil for Earache In Children

For children, you can make a warm compress using essential oils for earaches:

1. Add 3 drops of roman chamomile essential oil to a bowl of hot water.
2. Dip the compress in the water, wring out the compress, and apply it over the ear. 
3. When the compress cools, apply a new one. 

After using the compress, make a blend of:

• 3 drops lavender essential oil
  
• 3 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

Dab a cotton ball in the blend. Gently place the cotton ball in the ear, replacing the cotton ball with a new one three times a day.

Source: Healing With Aromatherapy

Essential Oils for Ear Infections

Seek professional help for infections. Use these aromatherapy blends as adjunct therapy.

For ear infections in adults, blend:

• 8 drops lavender essential oil
  
• 8 drops tea tree essential oil
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 

Massage the blend around the outside of your ear and down your neck. 

For children, use only four drops of each essential oil in the olive oil. For infants and toddlers, blend only two drops of each essential oil with the olive oil.

Source: Essential Oils & Aromatherapy for Dummies

An alternative blend is

• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil
  
• 6 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

For children, use half the amount of essential oil.

Source: Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art

For best results, use these blends around both ears, even if you have pain on only one side. Continue using the blend for several days after the pain goes away so the problem doesn't return.

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Photo Credit: Iain via Wikimedia Commons [CC-BY-SA-3.0]