Can Olive Oil Be Used For Ear Pain?

Posted on Thu, 25 May 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 25 May 2017 Answered on

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I have an earache today, and I have taken one 24-hour zyrtec pill this morning. Can I safely put 2-3 drops of olive oil in my ear for the pain?

Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It is safe to use olive oil

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic

It is safe to use olive oil drops in the ear.

Olive oil help in removing excess wax and mild infections, which may be causing pain.

However, if your pain persist after 24 hours or seem to be worsening, or you develop any discharge from ear, hearing difficulty etc please be advised to follow up with an ENT specialist as this may be indicative of infection which requires treatment with antibiotics

You can also use Ibuprofen, if not allergic, for pain for the time being.

Hope this answers your question
Please address any further questions here

Regards
Dr.Lekshmi

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee