Sweet Oil for Earaches: History, Uses & Safety

Sweet oil, another name for olive oil, is a home remedy for earaches. Putting sweet oil drops into the ear canal may relieve pain, but the oil does not fight the infection.

History

• In 1846, Lydia Maria Child, a popular writer of advice books for women, touted sweet oil as a way to relieve a child's earache pain. She recommended placing a piece of cotton wool moistened with sweet oil and paragoric, which is derived from opium, in the child's ear.

Function

• A common home remedy today involves warming the sweet oil slightly, and then placing two to three drops into the affected ear.

Misconceptions

• According to U.S. Pharmacist journal, warmed sweet oil can provide short-term relief from ear pain. The oil, however, cannot penetrate far enough to reach the infection, which is usually beyond the ear drum in the middle ear.

Considerations

• Using sweet oil to treat earache can keep parents from taking their children to the doctor promptly. The oil can also make it difficult for a doctor to examine the ear.

Recommendations

• Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can relieve earache pain. One home remedy that may help is placing a warm, moist washcloth or compress over the ear. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.