Ear pain can occur suddenly and causes a lot of discomfort. To establish its cause, it is recommended to consult a doctor, but it is not always possible to immediately visit a specialist. One of the most effective and affordable folk remedies for getting rid of ear pain during otitis is geranium. In the article we will examine in more detail the causes of the appearance of painful sensations in the ear, as well as the options and rules for using pelargonium to eliminate this symptom.
Causes of pain in the ear
Sometimes earache occurs under the influence of external factors unfavorable to the body, but it can also be a symptom of various diseases. In the second case, one can almost always observe additional signs that indicate the presence of the disease, but only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.
The main causes of earache include:
- inflammation in the ear or organs adjacent to it;
- large amounts of sulfur in the ear;
- impact on the ear strong gusts of cold wind;
- pathology of the auditory nerve;
- diseases of the vessels, nose, or throat;
- softening and swelling of the ear skin from prolonged contact with water;
- lack of sulfur in the ear canal;
- development of tumors.
Did you know? The word "pelargonium" in Greek means "stork". The reason for choosing such a name was flower seeds, resembling the shape of these birds.
From what and how does geranium help
The flower is grown primarily for ornamental purposes, but it also has many beneficial properties for the human body. The plant contains natural antibiotics - phytoncides, which have a therapeutic effect on all components of the ear and can be a good addition to medical treatment. To eliminate pain in the ear, the leaves of the flower are used.
With earaches, pelargonium can have such an effect on the body:
- relieves pain;
- disinfects the inside of the ear;
- relieves inflammation;
- eliminates puffiness;
- prevents the formation of pus;
- does not allow infection to spread to other organs;
- boosts the body's immunity by stimulating the production of interferons.
How to use
There are several options for using geraniums to treat ear pain. Medicinal decoctions, infusions, compresses are prepared from the leaves of the flower or used fresh.
Important! To get rid of insomnia during otitis, it is recommended to put a small fabric bag with dried flowers and geranium leaves next to the pillow of the patient.
In order for the treatment to bring a long-awaited effect, it is recommended to follow these general rules:
- for the preparation of compresses and juice from pelargonium, use only fresh green leaves of the plant without signs of damage by pests or diseases;
- cut fresh leaves from the plant should be immediately before preparing the medicine;
- to relieve pain with compresses or a whole sheet of pelargonium, you must use the selected tool for at least 30 minutes;
- to achieve the best result, it is recommended to warm the diseased ear while using the medicine from the plant.
The juice
In the event of acute ear pain, geranium juice has a quick healing effect. It is advisable to prepare it immediately before use in order to preserve as much as possible all the beneficial substances that are contained in the leaves of the plant.
Did you know? In eastern countries, pots with blooming white geraniums are placed near the entrance to the house: the rich aroma of this flower well repels snakes.
To get rid of ear pain using geranium juice, you need to perform the following steps:
- Cut a few green leaves from the plant, wash them in water and let dry.
- Crush the leaves in a mortar until smooth.
- Wrap the resulting slurry in 1-2 layers of sterile gauze and squeeze the juice out of it.
- Instill the sap of the plant into a sore ear 1-2 drops. For best effect, it is recommended to preheat the medicine a little.
- You can also dilute the juice of pelargonium with water in equal proportions, soak a cotton swab with this agent and insert it into your ear overnight.
- Repeat the procedure daily until complete recovery.
Decoction
In addition to the means for external use of pelargonium, you can prepare drugs that are taken orally. One of the common options for the treatment of chronic otitis is a decoction of the plant in question. For its preparation will suit both fresh and dry leaves of the flower.
Step-by-step instructions for the preparation of therapeutic decoction of pelargonium are presented below:
- Boil 200 ml of water. Separately put water on a stove in a small saucepan (for a water bath).
- Place a small handful of geranium leaves in a small stewpan and pour a glass of boiling water over them.
- Put the stewpan with pelargonium in a water bath, cook the mixture for 5 minutes.
- Remove the decoction from the stove, cover the saucepan with the lid and leave the mixture to infuse for 1 hour.
- Strain the obtained product through a sieve and add 50 ml of warm boiled water.
- Use a decoction of pelargonium in chronic otitis media of 1 tbsp. l 30-40 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 1 week.
- You can drip the prepared product into the sore ear with 4 drops 3 times a day.
Important! If, when using pelargonium, the patient feels sharply worse, you should immediately stop using the product and consult a doctor.
Gruel
In order to improve the healing properties of Pelargonium, you can use its leaves in a crushed form. Such a remedy begins to act very quickly and reduces pain in the ear within a few minutes.
To make a medicinal gruel of geranium, you must perform the following steps:
- Cut off 1-2 leaves of geranium, wash them with water and slightly dry.
- Crush the leaves of the flower in a mortar until a homogeneous gruel. If desired, add a few drops of olive oil.
- Cut a small piece of sterile bandage and put a little mass on it. You can twist the rollers of cotton and soak them in the prepared mixture.
- Wrap the slurry in a bandage in the form of a roller. Put the received turunda in a sore ear.
- It is recommended to keep the agent in the ear for about 6 hours. The course of treatment is from 2 to 5 days.
Compress
An effective remedy for earache is a compress from pelargonium. It is best to put it on overnight in order to warm up a sore ear and speed up recovery.
Step-by-step instructions for making a geranium wrap are shown below:
- Rinse and dry 10-12 leaves of geranium, chop them with a knife.
- Connect the cut leaves with 3 tbsp. l oatmeal or rye flour, add 2 tbsp. l camphor alcohol.
- Knead a thick dough out of the indicated ingredients, form an oblong roller from it.
- Cover the dummy with a dough (in a circle) and fix the compress with a film or a clean cloth dressing.
- Leave the remedy overnight and repeat the procedure for 3-4 days until complete recovery.
Whole leaf
The simplest and fastest way to treat earache with geranium is to use a whole leaf of a plant. Due to the presence of essential oils in it, it quickly eliminates the discomfort in the ear and prevents further development of the infection.
Important! When immersing a geranium leaf in your ear, you need to be careful not to place it too deep in the ear canal.
In order to eliminate pain in the ear with the help of a whole piece of pelargonium, it is necessary to carry out the following actions:
- Cut a small leaf from the plant and rinse it thoroughly under running water.
- Dry the sheet, blotting it with a damp cloth until the drops of moisture have been removed.
- Lightly rub the sheet with your hands before extracting the juice.
- Fold the piece into a small tube and gently insert into the ear canal.
- To pain in the ear is no longer renewed, it is recommended to apply such a tool for 1-2 days, changing the sheet of pelargonium in the ear for fresh every 4 hours.
Contraindications and precautions
Despite the fact that the prepared drugs from geranium are folk remedies, do not underestimate their possible negative effects on the body. In some cases, using the plant for the treatment of otitis is strictly prohibited.
The main contraindications include:
- pregnancy;
- the presence of chronic pathology;
- susceptibility to allergies or hypersensitivity to the components of pelargonium;
- the presence of bronchial asthma;
- discharge of pus or blood from the ear;
- mechanical damage to the eardrum;
- children's age up to 3 years.
Learn more about what treats, how to use geranium for medicinal purposes.
These recipes for making preparations from geraniums for earache are good as a first aid and can help to quickly eliminate pain. But if after 1-2 days of their use the pain in the ear periodically appears again, then it is recommended to consult a doctor. If a specialist diagnoses the presence of a disease that is the cause of pain, then only the medications prescribed by the doctor should be used for treatment. Geranium not only decorates the window sills of many gardeners, but also is an excellent painkiller for otitis. By following all the guidelines for using the plant listed in our article, you can quickly eliminate the pain in the ear and speed up the healing process.