Because of the chilly weather outside, we are more susceptible and prone to illnesses this time of year. One of the most common illnesses to contract in the winter is the cold, and a common symptom of the cold is an ear infection.
Ear infections occur when a cold attack causes fluid to become trapped in the middle ear. This mostly affects children, and symptoms of an ear infection include earaches, and thick, yellow fluid coming from the ears.
HOW TO MAKE A SALT SOCK
A Salt Sock is basically just a white cotton sock filled with Sea Salt that you heat up and place on the affected ear for relief.
You will need a clean – ALL WHITE sock. Do not use colored socks, or socks with a colored toe section or colored line in the toe area. There is substance in the colored threads/material that is flammable and can melt when you heat the sock.
Next you will need about 1 – 1.5 cups of Coarse Sea Salt (do not use regular table salt.)
Carefully pour the salt into the sock and tie a knot in the end. It should be about the size of your hand.
Place the sock in the pan and heat it. Be careful not to overheat, you don’t want to cause fire or burn yourself. Usually, you won’t need more that 5-6 minutes of heating. The Salt Sock should be hot to touch, but mild enough not to cause pain or burns when placed on your face.
Cover your ear and the area behind your jaw bone with the sock and relax for a while. You will be amazed by the relief. You can reuse the salt sock for a long time, though it will discolor after a while. Replace with a new one when it gets too old, dirty or worn.
Use this for fast pain relief but remember that the primary course of action is to visit a doctor.