Earache is a neuralgic condition of the ear, often caused either due to boils in the outer ear or due to inflammation of the middle or internal ear. The latter condition arises as a result of exposure to cold, common cold, sinusitis, tonsillitis, decayed teeth, eruption of teeth in children and cutting of wisdom teeth in adults. The most serious of these disorders is middle-ear infection, known as ofitis media in medical parlance. Earache is fairly common in children who are susceptible to cold or indulge in sweets.

Symptoms of Middle Ear Infection:
In otitis media, inflammation occurs on that portion of the ear, which is directly behind the eardrum. This pain in the ear is usually of a piercing type and is not attended with fever. Pus is discharged into the outer ear. As the condition progresses, the inner ear becomes seriously affected, and hearing is considerably impaired. There is suppuration of middle ear through a perforation of drum. In case of children, suppuration may start slowly without any reason. If the suppuration is left unattended, it may result in deafness.

Causes of Middle Ear Infection:
Middle-ear infection generally follows the infection of upper respiratory tract. The swelling of the mucous in the throat blocks the Eustachian tube, which connects the ears with the throat and nose. This causes the pus to collect in the middle ear cavity.

The real cause of middle-ear infection is, however, the outcome of previous medical treatment of childhood fevers or due to operations for the removal of tonsils or adenoids. The disease denotes that toxins, which nature has been trying to throw off through the usual channels of elimination, have been diverted back into the system and have been lodged in the inner-ear structure. This causes the continual suppuration and discharge associated with the disease.

Treatment of Middle Ear Infection by Nature Cure:
Diet:
A thorough internal cleansing of the system is essential to get rid of toxins, which are the root of the trouble, and clear up the infection. To begin with, the patient should be on an orange juice diluted with water for three to five days. A warm-water enema should be administered daily during this period to cleanse the bowels. After the short juice fast, the patient should adopt an exclusive diet of fresh fruits for further three to five days. Thereafter, he may gradually adopt a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on whole grain cereals, raw or lightly cooked vegetables and fresh fruits.

Further short juice fast followed by an exclusive fruit diet should be undertaken at two or three monthly intervals, until the discharge has completely cleared up. Children can, however, commence the treatment with an all-fruit diet, instead of juice fast, for four or five days, with two or three consecutive days at monthly intervals. The patient should avoid white flour, sugar and all products made from them, pickles, condiments and flesh foods. He should completely eliminate the foods, which raise the amount of phlegm like milled rice, sugar and lentils.

Water Treatments:
The pain of middle-ear infection can be relieved by hot fomentations to the side of the head over the ear or by hot footbath. Irrigation of the ear with very hot water temperature (120 to 130F) will also help relieve the pain.

Home Remedies:
Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of earache and discharge from the ear resulting from middle-ear infection. The most important of these is the use of /garlic. A few cloves should be warmed and mashed with salt. This mixture should be wrapped in a piece of woolen cloth and placed on the painful ear. Simultaneously, two or three cloves of garlic should be chewed daily for few days. It will give relief.

Garlic oil is also a popular remedy for earache. If garlic oil is not available, a few peeled cloves of garlic can be put in a tablespoon of any sweet oil, except groundnut oil. This oil should be heated, till the oil becomes brown with charred garlic pieces. The oil should then be filtered and cooled and a few drops should be put in the affected ear. This will give immediate relief. The use of margosa oil has been found effective in infection and inflammation of the ear. One or two drops of this oil can be instilled into the ear with beneficial results.

The use of breast milk is a popular remedy for the inflammatory condition of the ear. Few drops of this milk put in the affected ear will give relief. Mother`s milk would be preferable, but if `it is not available, the milk of any healthy lactating women can be used. Onion is beneficial in the treatment of pus in the ear. The juice extracted from an onion should be slightly warmed and put in the ear two or three times daily. It will bring good results.

Exercises:
The patient should undertake regular exercises and outdoor games. Fresh air and sun bathing are of vital importance. The patient should sit in the sun so that sunlight penetrates the inner part of his ear for 15 minutes. It will help stop the discharge of pus from the ear.

Treatment of Middle Ear Infection by Ayurveda: