How to Use Onion to Treat Ear Infections
Ear infections of the middle and inner ear are very common. In today’s post, we’ll show you how to fight them using onions.
What is an ear infection?
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Causes
Ear infections most commonly afflict children because their Eustachian tubes aren’t fully developed, which makes them easier to block. The Eustachian tubes are responsible for draining fluid found in the tympanic membrane. In most cases, this builds up due to sudden changes in climate.
When the tubes become obstructed, an infection results.
Additional causes can include:
- Allergies
- Colds
- Abrupt changes in weather
- Tobacco smoke
Ear infections aren’t contagious, but because the common cold is a typical cause it’s a good idea to prevent this disease. It’s very easy for a cold to spread among children and lead to this type of infection.
Onions
This vegetable is native to Asia but crop varieties have been dispersed around the world. Because it’s so widely used, it’s very easy and affordable to find.
Onions are rich in vitamins, such as C and B6, and minerals like iron and potassium. Thanks to this, they strengthen your immune system and fight allergies and inflammation, while eliminating toxins more effectively.
What properties do onions have?
Onions are an indispensable source of nutrients. As we already mentioned, they boost your immune system, which is responsible for providing your body’s defenses and preventing diseases. One of these includes diabetes, because onions don’t contain sugar.
Onions help control blood sugar levels and eliminate harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that affect your digestive system.
How should you use onions?
We recommend making an onion soup if you have the symptoms of ear infections.
Note: Don’t consume too much onion. If you exceed the daily recommended amount, it can lead to bad breath and gas.
Onions for ear infections
Below we’ll share some treatments you can make at home and at very low expense.
1-Onion ear plugs
One of the methods we suggest for relieving an ear infection is very easy to do at home.
What should you do?
- Chop an onion into small pieces.
- Place them in the affected ear before going to bed and leave them in overnight.
2-Onion compresses
What do you need?
- 1 onion
- A knife
- A juicer
- Cotton or a piece of cloth for a compress
What should you do?
- Heat the whole onion in an oven at 350º F for 15 minutes. You can also warm it on the stove for 20 to 30 minutes.
- After this time, cut the onion in half.
- Use a juicer to extract the juice from the onion.
- Soak the cotton or cloth in the onion juice.
- When it reaches a moderate temperature, place the compress over the ear that has the infection.
- You can also use an eye dropper and fill it with juice. Add two drops in the affected ear before going to bed.
Remember that the onion juice should not be too hot, or it could cause a more serious injury.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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Jacobs, J., Springer, D. A., & Crothers, D. (2001). Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial. The Pediatric infectious disease journal, 20(2), 177-183.
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Klein, J. O. (1999). Management of acute otitis media in an era of increasing antibiotic resistance. International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology, 49, S15-S17.
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Saemundsdottir, G. (2004). U.S. Patent Application No. 10/398,548.