United States – A patient that I had the opportunity to encounter in the ER recently presented self-reporting hearing loss probably due to an ear infection. Before giving a brief history – “How many days has it hurt? Any fever, chills, or sore throat? Have you been swimming recently in the ocean or a lake?” – it was rather difficult not to pay attention to the yellowish-white object sticking out of the ear canal, as reported by The USA Today.
A fresh garlic clove.
Of course, as I stand before you today, having been an practicing emergency physician for ten years, you can only imagine the cases that I have come across. I believe the general public has a good sense of that because every time I meet someone for the first time they will ask me, You know the most outrageous thing you have encountered in the ER?
But what has left me amused most is the belief that people hold firmly to homemade remedies and all-in-one drugs in the age where people trust more scientifically discovered drugs and cures. One of the best-known but actually ineffective treatments is to put garlic cloves or garlic oil into the ear to get rid of an ear infection. Where did that remedy come from?
The Ancient Roots of Garlic as Medicine
Garlic is known for its healing or medicinal value and has been used for the purpose for at least 3 millennia. Garlic was once held as one of the most valuable remedies in ancient Indian medicine, its Sanskrit name Mahoushudh means ‘cure all. ’ Traditional Chinese medicine utilized garlic for treating lung infections and digestive disorders. This compress was described by the ancient Egyptians in their documents and their was evidence that it was effective in the treatment of abscesses.
However, the actual compound responsible for its antibacterial effects, namely allicin was not identified until mid 20th Century. Many subsequent laboratory experiments have consequently established that garlic possesses antimicrobial properties.
Therefore it should not come as a surprise that the prophylactic properties inherent to garlic have been passed down from one generation to another across the world. However, does garlic help treat ear infections if it is put directly into the ear?
The Truth About Garlic for Ear Infections
Being a purely anatomical concern, garlic in any form inserted into the ear would not even get to the site of infection; on the contrary, it might cause a local inflammation or an allergic one in the ear canal. More harm could be inflicted by garlic oil if the tympanic membrane happens to be perforated; the oil could penetrate deeper into the ear. On the same note, garlic oil could even worsen the ear infection because some micro-organisms grow in a wet liquid.
The truth is that there is sometimes confusion when you think that a certain home remedy is responsible when there is a positive outcome. However, generations of observational successful causation of a home remedy is a powerful catharsis. It is also a chance to honor a patient’s beliefs and education.
So what is the upshot?
The Takeaway
Garlic has several healthy qualities when integrated properly in the diet and consists of immune boosting properties, as well as antioxidants, anti inflammatory ingredients. To a great extent, most conditions that affect the ears will improve on their own without the need for medical intervention. However, if the pain or discomfort continues and goes along with fever, hearing problems, or a very bad headache or dizziness, then you should visit a doctor because there may be a need to apply antibiotics. You should never insert anything into the ear in order to avoid causing complication to the infection or even making a hole on the tympanic membrane, as reported by The USA Today.
However, patients tell me, “My aunt used garlic, which worked wonders for her. ” The reason for this is that most cases of otitis media can resolve themselves as the body’s immune system fights off the infection that is most of the time caused by an upper respiratory virus. If the infection is chronic, if it is associated with pain, fever or other signs of systemic involvement, oral antibiotics may be administered by a health care provider. Those are safe and rather effective at eradicating that source of bacteria lurking behind the eardrum known as a tympanic membrane.