Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHealth Benefits of GarlicTypes of Ear InfectionsGarlic for Ear Infection or EaracheTreatmentGarlic Side Effects and Risks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Health Benefits of Garlic
Types of Ear Infections
Garlic for Ear Infection or Earache
Treatment
Garlic Side Effects and Risks
Garlicand garlic oil are common home remedies for earaches and ear infections. Garlic has antibacterial properties that some consider a safe and effective natural alternative to medicinal ear drops.
Compounds in garlic have been shown to inhibit different bacteria responsible for ear infections.However, this research is limited to laboratory tests and has not been studied in human trials. Additionally, putting garlic or garlic oil in your ear can cause painful skin reactions and should be used cautiously.
Mint Images / Getty Images
Research has shown that garlic offers many health benefits. Although the mechanism is not widely known, studies have shown that consuming garlic or garlic oil extract has antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties:
Note that although garlic contains these properties, it doesn’t mean that it can fight off infection without any other medical intervention.
4 Benefits of Black Garlic
Benefits for Conditions
Garlic has also been shown to play a positive role in many bodily systems and prevention of diseases:
Although garlic may have some efficacy against bacterial andfungal ear infections,it is not as effective as prescription medications such as fluconazole (an antifungal) and ciprofloxacin (an antibiotic).
Home Remedies for Ear InfectionsSome ear infections will go away on their own. You can use home remedies to relieve the discomfort of the symptoms. Natural ways to do that include:A cold or warm compressOver-the-counter (OTC) ear dropsPopping your ears
Home Remedies for Ear Infections
Some ear infections will go away on their own. You can use home remedies to relieve the discomfort of the symptoms. Natural ways to do that include:A cold or warm compressOver-the-counter (OTC) ear dropsPopping your ears
Some ear infections will go away on their own. You can use home remedies to relieve the discomfort of the symptoms. Natural ways to do that include:
Using Essential Oils for an Ear Infection
Ear Infection Doctor Discussion GuideDownload PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
Garlic oil drops are thought to help earaches and ear infections because the derivatives that possess antibacterial properties are broken down and concentrated. Some studies have found that garlic oil can be as effective as oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin.
However, garlic oil cannot cross the barrier of the middle ear to treat a bacterial infection, and the only likely benefit is pain relief. However, a middle ear infection usually gets better on its own without treatment.
To use garlic oil to treat an earache or ear infection, you can purchase it online or make a solution at home. You will need one garlic clove, olive oil, a pan, a strainer, a glass jar with a lid, a dropper, and a piece of cotton.
You can make your own garlic oil in a few easy steps:
Once the oil is ready, you can use it as you would any other type of eardrop. It is worth noting that this method is not to be used in place of medications. It should only be used as a supplemental treatment.
It’s also thought that eating raw garlic can help reduce ear pain because of its compounds, although there is limited evidence to support this claim.
Watchful Waiting
Ear aches and mild ear infections are treated with a wait-and-see approach. American Academy of Family Physicians advises waiting two to three days for the immune system to clear the infection.
The following home remedies and OTC medications can help relieve symptoms while you wait:
Prescription Medications
Doctors are cautious about prescribing antibiotics for ear infections to avoid overprescribing. If symptoms are not improving after two or three days, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications:
Ear Infection Treatment to Get Rid of Symptoms
Using garlic to treat an ear infection or earache comes with certain risks.
When used topically, garlic oil can causeallergic contact dermatitis.This is a condition where contact with certainallergens(allergy-causing substances) can cause a local skin reaction, manifesting in symptoms like:
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically subside within a few hours to a few days.Before using garlic oil in your ear, test it on a patch of skin to see if you get a reaction.
Consuming garlic can also cause an allergy in some people, leading to a widespread skin reaction and asthma-like symptoms. However, severe allergic reactions likeanaphylaxisare rare and are more commonly associated with raw garlic.
Talk to your healthcare provider before trying garlic oil for an earache. This is especially true if you have a history of allergies.
Risk of BotulismDespite its antimicrobial properties, bacteria likeClostridium botulinumcan thrive in garlic oil.C. botulinum(botulism) attacks the body’s nerves and can cause breathing difficulty, muscle paralysis, and even death in severe cases.To prevent botulism, make garlic oil fresh and store it in your refrigerator at 40 F or under for no longer than seven days.
Risk of Botulism
Despite its antimicrobial properties, bacteria likeClostridium botulinumcan thrive in garlic oil.C. botulinum(botulism) attacks the body’s nerves and can cause breathing difficulty, muscle paralysis, and even death in severe cases.To prevent botulism, make garlic oil fresh and store it in your refrigerator at 40 F or under for no longer than seven days.
Despite its antimicrobial properties, bacteria likeClostridium botulinumcan thrive in garlic oil.C. botulinum(botulism) attacks the body’s nerves and can cause breathing difficulty, muscle paralysis, and even death in severe cases.
To prevent botulism, make garlic oil fresh and store it in your refrigerator at 40 F or under for no longer than seven days.
Interactions
Eating a little garlic rarely causes any problem, but eating a lot or taking garlic supplements can potentially cause a drug interaction.
This is because the body uses an enzyme called cytochrome P3A4 (CYP3A4) to break down (metabolize) garlic into smaller “bioactive” units. Many other drugs also rely on CYP3A4 for metabolization, creating competition for the available enzyme.
When this happens, the concentration of one drug may go up, increasing the risk of side effects, while the concentration of the other drug may go down, making the drug less effective.
Advise your healthcare provider if you take any of the following drugs before starting garlic supplements:
Who Shouldn’t Use It
Those who have a ruptured eardrum should not use garlic oil as a remedy for their earache. The hole in the eardrum can allow garlic oil to get through and cause issues in the middle ear.
What Are Preauricular Pits?
Summary
Some research has shown garlic to be an effective remedy for earache and ear infections. However, it can potentially cause dermatitis and irritation to your ear. Before trying this at home, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you to use and the right treatment for your condition.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A.Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.Avicenna J Phytomed.2014;4(1):1-14.Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R.Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2019;57(4):161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413University of Rochester Medical Center.Garlic.Ashraf R, Khan RA, Ashraf I, Qureshi AA.Effects of Allium sativum (garlic) on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.Pak J Pharm Sci.2013;26(5):859-863.Ried K, Toben C, Fakler P.Effect of garlic on serum lipids: an updated meta-analysis.Nutr Rev.2013;71(5):282-299. doi:10.1111/nure.12012Sripanidkulchai B.Benefits of aged garlic extract on Alzheimer’s disease: possible mechanisms of action.Exp Ther Med.2020;19(2):1560-1564. doi:10.3892/etm.2019.8390Moosavian SP, Arab A, Paknahad Z, Moradi S.The effects of garlic supplementation on oxidative stress markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med.2020 May;50:102385. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102385U.S. National Library of Medicine:MedlinePlus. Ear infection – acute.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Watchful waiting for ear infections.American Academy of Family Physicians.Clinical practice guidelines: acute otitis externa.American Academy of Pediatrics.Otitis media: quick reference.Chiriac A, Chiriac AE, Naznean A, Podoleanu C, Stolnicu S.Self‐medication garlic‐induced irritant skin lesions – case series.Int Wound J.2017 Dec;14(6):1407–1408. doi:10.1111/iwj.12818Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, Meštrović-Štefekov J, Stanić-Duktaj S, Lugović-Mihić L.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis - skin lesion characteristics.Acta Clin Croat. 2018 Dec;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Garlic.University of Manchester (UK).Allergy information for: garlic (Allium sativum).U.S. Department of Agriculture.Can you get botulism from garlic in oil?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About botulism.Berginc K, Kristl A.The mechanisms responsible for garlic - drug interactions and their in vivo relevance.Curr Drug Metab.2013 Jan;14(1):90-101.Eftekhari Z.Garlic: a brief overview of its interaction with chemical drugs. Plant Biotech. 2020;2(2):31-32.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Perforated eardrum.
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A.Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.Avicenna J Phytomed.2014;4(1):1-14.Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R.Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2019;57(4):161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413University of Rochester Medical Center.Garlic.Ashraf R, Khan RA, Ashraf I, Qureshi AA.Effects of Allium sativum (garlic) on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.Pak J Pharm Sci.2013;26(5):859-863.Ried K, Toben C, Fakler P.Effect of garlic on serum lipids: an updated meta-analysis.Nutr Rev.2013;71(5):282-299. doi:10.1111/nure.12012Sripanidkulchai B.Benefits of aged garlic extract on Alzheimer’s disease: possible mechanisms of action.Exp Ther Med.2020;19(2):1560-1564. doi:10.3892/etm.2019.8390Moosavian SP, Arab A, Paknahad Z, Moradi S.The effects of garlic supplementation on oxidative stress markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med.2020 May;50:102385. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102385U.S. National Library of Medicine:MedlinePlus. Ear infection – acute.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Watchful waiting for ear infections.American Academy of Family Physicians.Clinical practice guidelines: acute otitis externa.American Academy of Pediatrics.Otitis media: quick reference.Chiriac A, Chiriac AE, Naznean A, Podoleanu C, Stolnicu S.Self‐medication garlic‐induced irritant skin lesions – case series.Int Wound J.2017 Dec;14(6):1407–1408. doi:10.1111/iwj.12818Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, Meštrović-Štefekov J, Stanić-Duktaj S, Lugović-Mihić L.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis - skin lesion characteristics.Acta Clin Croat. 2018 Dec;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Garlic.University of Manchester (UK).Allergy information for: garlic (Allium sativum).U.S. Department of Agriculture.Can you get botulism from garlic in oil?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About botulism.Berginc K, Kristl A.The mechanisms responsible for garlic - drug interactions and their in vivo relevance.Curr Drug Metab.2013 Jan;14(1):90-101.Eftekhari Z.Garlic: a brief overview of its interaction with chemical drugs. Plant Biotech. 2020;2(2):31-32.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Perforated eardrum.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A.Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.Avicenna J Phytomed.2014;4(1):1-14.Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R.Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2019;57(4):161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413University of Rochester Medical Center.Garlic.Ashraf R, Khan RA, Ashraf I, Qureshi AA.Effects of Allium sativum (garlic) on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.Pak J Pharm Sci.2013;26(5):859-863.Ried K, Toben C, Fakler P.Effect of garlic on serum lipids: an updated meta-analysis.Nutr Rev.2013;71(5):282-299. doi:10.1111/nure.12012Sripanidkulchai B.Benefits of aged garlic extract on Alzheimer’s disease: possible mechanisms of action.Exp Ther Med.2020;19(2):1560-1564. doi:10.3892/etm.2019.8390Moosavian SP, Arab A, Paknahad Z, Moradi S.The effects of garlic supplementation on oxidative stress markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med.2020 May;50:102385. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102385U.S. National Library of Medicine:MedlinePlus. Ear infection – acute.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Watchful waiting for ear infections.American Academy of Family Physicians.Clinical practice guidelines: acute otitis externa.American Academy of Pediatrics.Otitis media: quick reference.Chiriac A, Chiriac AE, Naznean A, Podoleanu C, Stolnicu S.Self‐medication garlic‐induced irritant skin lesions – case series.Int Wound J.2017 Dec;14(6):1407–1408. doi:10.1111/iwj.12818Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, Meštrović-Štefekov J, Stanić-Duktaj S, Lugović-Mihić L.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis - skin lesion characteristics.Acta Clin Croat. 2018 Dec;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Garlic.University of Manchester (UK).Allergy information for: garlic (Allium sativum).U.S. Department of Agriculture.Can you get botulism from garlic in oil?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About botulism.Berginc K, Kristl A.The mechanisms responsible for garlic - drug interactions and their in vivo relevance.Curr Drug Metab.2013 Jan;14(1):90-101.Eftekhari Z.Garlic: a brief overview of its interaction with chemical drugs. Plant Biotech. 2020;2(2):31-32.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Perforated eardrum.
Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A.Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.Avicenna J Phytomed.2014;4(1):1-14.
Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R.Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2019;57(4):161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413
University of Rochester Medical Center.Garlic.
Ashraf R, Khan RA, Ashraf I, Qureshi AA.Effects of Allium sativum (garlic) on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.Pak J Pharm Sci.2013;26(5):859-863.
Ried K, Toben C, Fakler P.Effect of garlic on serum lipids: an updated meta-analysis.Nutr Rev.2013;71(5):282-299. doi:10.1111/nure.12012
Sripanidkulchai B.Benefits of aged garlic extract on Alzheimer’s disease: possible mechanisms of action.Exp Ther Med.2020;19(2):1560-1564. doi:10.3892/etm.2019.8390
Moosavian SP, Arab A, Paknahad Z, Moradi S.The effects of garlic supplementation on oxidative stress markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med.2020 May;50:102385. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102385
U.S. National Library of Medicine:MedlinePlus. Ear infection – acute.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Watchful waiting for ear infections.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Clinical practice guidelines: acute otitis externa.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Otitis media: quick reference.
Chiriac A, Chiriac AE, Naznean A, Podoleanu C, Stolnicu S.Self‐medication garlic‐induced irritant skin lesions – case series.Int Wound J.2017 Dec;14(6):1407–1408. doi:10.1111/iwj.12818
Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, Meštrović-Štefekov J, Stanić-Duktaj S, Lugović-Mihić L.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis - skin lesion characteristics.Acta Clin Croat. 2018 Dec;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Garlic.
University of Manchester (UK).Allergy information for: garlic (Allium sativum).
U.S. Department of Agriculture.Can you get botulism from garlic in oil?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About botulism.
Berginc K, Kristl A.The mechanisms responsible for garlic - drug interactions and their in vivo relevance.Curr Drug Metab.2013 Jan;14(1):90-101.
Eftekhari Z.Garlic: a brief overview of its interaction with chemical drugs. Plant Biotech. 2020;2(2):31-32.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Perforated eardrum.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
