It’s true – there are stories of people putting garlic in ears for tinnitus relief. But does this help reduce tinnitus symptoms, or just make you smell like garlic?
Unfortunately, there are no studies that show putting garlic in your ears will cure tinnitus, especially full pieces of garlic. Those suffering from tinnitus will need to find a more researched and scientifically-based solution elsewhere. However, there is some science behind using garlic in other ways to reduce pain, such as garlic oil for earaches.
What are the health benefits of garlic?
Although the idea of sticking garlic into your ear sounds silly, garlic does possess some important health benefits.
Garlic has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to ease arthritis symptoms, support your immune system and contains antibacterial properties. Incredibly, garlic has also been shown to reduce the likelihood of getting a cold and reduce your cold symptoms if you do happen to get sick.
Another study has shown that applying garlic may help reduce pain from earaches. One study found that naturopathic ear drops (containing garlic) were just as effective treating ear pain in children experiencing middle ear infections than an over-the-counter ear drop.
Obviously, experiencing ear pain from an earache is not the same sensation as tinnitus. So can garlic really make a difference against tinnitus symptoms?
Will Garlic in My Ears Cure Tinnitus?
The simple answer is: no. Garlic cannot cure tinnitus, especially if you’re inserting whole pieces of garlic into your ears. However, there has been reports that garlic could help tinnitus symptoms and related pain.
You can either add garlic into your weekly meals, or take an odourless garlic supplement in order to increase your garlic intake and help relieve some tinnitus pain. As mentioned before, this ingredient has shown that it can help reduce inflammation and increase blood flow and circulation, allowing blood to freely circulate around your body without being hindered by inflammation or high blood pressure.
While garlic can help reduce pain, it’s important to note that “no scientific studies have been conducted to investigate the possible effects of garlic on tinnitus.” While it may provide temporary pain relief from tinnitus symptoms, it will not cure the condition.
Currently, there is no known solution to cure tinnitus, so please be aware of any product claiming to do so. Tinnitus “cures” such as Quiet Mind Plus and Tonaki Tinnitus Protocol are both examples of products claiming to cure this condition, which in fact is not scientifically proven.
Garlic Oil for Ear Pain
Whether you choose to make garlic oil ear drops at home or buy them at the store, they can be used to treat pain from ear aches, ear infection, and to a lesser degree, tinnitus pain.
To use garlic oil drops, the individual with the ear pain should lay on their side with the sore ear facing up. There are two common ways to administer the oil:
- Soak a cotton ball with garlic oil and rest it inside the ear so the oil will seep into the canal. Remain in the same position for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Use two or three drops into the sore ear, ideally when the garlic oil is warm. If the oil is too hot or too cold, it can cause more issues and additional pain and discomfort. You can then use a cotton ball at the top of the ear to stop any oil from seeping out while the individual stays laying down for 10 to 15 minutes.
Both the International Association for Food Protection and the Food and Drug Administration recommend storing any homemade garlic oil in the refrigerator and use it within three days. Otherwise, you can purchase commercially-made garlic oil from the store and follow the usage instructions on the bottle.
Some believe that the antioxidant properties of garlic can help reduce the ringing in the ears sensation often felt with tinnitus. To make your own garlic oil, one recipe calls for:
- Blend about six cloves of garlic with a cup olive oil until it is evenly mixed
- Let the mixture steep for about a week
- Strain out the garlic and apply a few drops of the remaining liquid in the ear
Again, garlic oil has shown some positive results against ear pain, but it does not cure tinnitus. Garlic in your ears also doesn’t reverse hearing loss and you should talk to your doctor about the use of hearing aids if you’re looking to get a level of hearing back. Garlic will not do this.
Side Effects of Garlic for Ear Pain
As with most homemade remedies, there are always risks. You should not use any garlic-related remedies if you have a ruptured eardrum, but speak to your doctor about pain relief methods instead.
You may also experience skin irritation when using garlic. It’s always important to do a patch-test before using any new treatments. You can do this by putting a small amount of the product on your skin (such as your arm or hand) and wait to see if you experience any negative reactions. If you feel any burning, redness or discomfort where the garlic oil has been applied, clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Do not continue to use the oil but contact your health care provider for medical advice.
Symptoms of Tinnitus
For those unfamiliar with tinnitus, this condition occurs when you can hear noises that aren’t caused by an outside source. The pitch and sound can change over time and is usually different person-to-person. You may hear the sound in both ears, only in one ear, or in your head. Tinnitus can sound like:
- Ringing
- Buzzing
- Humming
- Hissing
- Throbbing
There are a few different causes and explanations for tinnitus, but unfortunately there is still a lot of confusion over this condition and possible treatments. Events such as exposure to loud noise has been seen to cause tinnitus, or damage of sensory hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear. Some believe tinnitus may even be a side effect of certain medications, or even linked to anxiety and depression.
