Onion bags: A home remedy for earaches

You can combat earaches with onion bags. Here you will find out how easy it is to make this home remedy and how it works.

Anyone who suffers from ear pain has probably used onion sachets as a home remedy. Thanks to the essential oils of the onion, they are said to have an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. Since onion bags are heated, the warmth often helps against annoying earaches. They are often recommended, especially for middle ear infections.

In our instructions we will show you how to make and use your own onion bags.

Instructions: Make your own onion bags

An onion sachet is also often used for earaches because all the ingredients are usually already available at home. This is what you need to make an onion bag:

• 1-2 onions
• a tea towel or washcloth
• a hat or scarf
• a thread
• a saucepan with a lid

And this is how it works:

1. First cut the onions into small pieces. They should be as small and delicate as possible.
2. Warm the onion pieces on the heater, in a water bath or using a hot water bottle. You can also briefly put them in boiling water to warm them up.
3. Now wrap the warm onions in a tea towel and tie it with a thread.
4. Place the onion bag on your ear for up to an hour. If you wear a hat and tuck the bag underneath, you don’t have to hold it with your hand. You can also lie on a hot water bottle with the onion bag on your ear.
5. You can repeat this process up to three times a day.

Why do onion bags help against earache?

According to Netdoktor, onion bags are effective against pain and swelling and also have an antibacterial and anti-vital effect. The home remedy is also suitable for pregnant women and children. Onion bags for children should only be lukewarm and securely attached to their heads.

Experimental studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory effects of onion sachets. Onion bags can provide relief, especially at the beginning of the symptoms, as ENT doctor Stefan Appenrodt confirmed in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung magazine. This is due to the mustard oils and sulfur compounds contained in the essential oils of the onion.

That’s why onion juice is also an effective home remedy for a sore throat. According to Netdoktor, onions even help with mosquito bites. You don’t even need a bag of onions for this, you just have to place a halved onion on the sting.

But onions are not the only home remedy for earaches: potato wraps can also provide relief. However, if your ear pain does not go away in the long term, you should consult your family doctor. Remember: onion bags are only useful for minor complaints.

Edited by Lea Hermann

Read more on Techzle\.com:

• Eating onions raw: Why it’s so healthy
• Make fried onions yourself: Simple recipe for crispy onions
• Onion tea recipe: quick relief from colds

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