The treatment depends on what’s actually causing the symptoms.
What Can You Do Instead?
If your ear hurts, don’t put garlic, oil, cotton swabs, or other objects inside the ear canal.
For mild discomfort, a warm compress held against the outside of the ear may provide some relief. Pain medicine may also sometimes be appropriate, depending on the person’s age and health situation.
But if the pain persists, gets worse, or is accompanied by hearing changes, dizziness, fever, or drainage from the ear, medical evaluation is important.
Be Especially Careful With Ear Discharge
Fluid coming from the ear can have several causes, including an ear infection or a damaged eardrum.
If there is discharge, particularly if it is accompanied by significant pain or hearing changes, it’s better to have the ear examined rather than trying a home remedy.
A ruptured eardrum can sometimes heal on its own, but putting inappropriate substances into the ear can make the situation more complicated.
The Bottom Line
Garlic may have interesting properties when consumed as food, but putting raw garlic or garlic oil inside your ear is not a proven treatment for an ear infection.
The fact that a remedy is natural or has been used traditionally doesn’t automatically prove that it is safe or effective.
If you’re experiencing ear pain, the safest approach is to determine what’s causing it rather than attempting to treat the problem by placing garlic inside the ear.
Garlic can have a place in your kitchen—but that doesn’t mean it belongs inside your ear.