Natural Health: How to deal with throbbing ear pain and smelly feet

I developed a cold two weeks ago with painful, throbbing ear pain. While these symptoms have subsided, the infection seems to have travelled to my sinuses leaving me with a dull ache in my face. What would you recommend?

I wonder if in fact the infection was originally in your sinus cavity, as this can often trigger earache and infection.

Toothache, jaw pain, tenderness in the face and neck, headaches, and blocked painful ear canals are all common side-effects of sinusitis.There are a number of natural remedies for sinus troubles, some more challenging to implement than others.

The jala neti pot is very effective at clearing mucus and treating infection but can be a little daunting to get used to.

A traditional tool used in Ayurvedic medicine, the jala neti pot looks somewhat like a small teapot and is used to flush saline solution through the sinuses. The saline solution is typically a ratio of 1 teaspoon of pure salt to 500ml of boiled water.

To use, you lean forward over a basin whilst tipping the solution in one nostril and allowing it to flow through the other nostril.

There are some modern products that utilise the neti pot method, instead using a reusable syringe-type applicator and pharmaceutical grade salt to somewhat simplify the process. Nasaline and Sinus Rinse are two well-known brands.

If sinusitis is indeed the root cause, then Bromelain is a natural remedy that may help. Bromelain is an enzyme that is extracted from pineapple that works by breaking down proteins.

This helps to reduce inflammation in the affected area and will help to shift mucus and congestion, reducing the pressure and swelling that you are experiencing. You will need to take 400mg of Bromelain twice daily for three months.

Garlic infused oil is wonderful for any type of infection or pain affecting the ear canals. Simply crush a clove of fresh garlic into a tablespoon (15ml) of olive oil, and infuse overnight (up to 24 hours).

Strain out the garlic and the keep the oil in a cool, dark place – an amber dropper bottle is ideal, but any glass jar or bottle will do in a pinch.

Use a drop of the garlic-infused oil on a small piece of cotton wool, and place gently in the outer ear.

You don’t need to drop the oil directly into the ear, just suspend it in the ear cavity on the cotton wool. You can also rub this garlic oil along the jawline before bed to help with the pain.

Ever since I hit puberty, I’ve had smelly feet. I’m careful to wash and dry them every night but regardless there’s an odour. Is there a natural remedy I could use?

You are doing the right thing by keeping them clean and dry at the end of the day. You might also like to add a foot soak into your nightly routine if you are able.

There are a few tricks to an effective odour-busting foot soak. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a well-known odour eater — adding ¼ cup to your soak water will not only help with the smell, but it will also help treat bacterial or fungal overgrowth.

You can also add the juice of a lemon for extra antibacterial and antifungal benefit, although this will sting if you have any cuts or scratches on your feet.

Another foot soak remedy is to use ordinary black tea. The tannins in tea are supposed to help with excessive sweating of the feet. You will need five teabags for a litre of hot water. Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes for best results.

Internally, you can make a herbal brew using sage (Salvia officinalis) to help modulate sweating, witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) for its astringent properties, and buchu leaf (Barosma betula) to support and balance the kidneys.

Combine these three herbs in equal parts and use a teaspoon to a cup of boiling water. Steep for 4-5 minutes and take three cups daily.Your shoes might need a little treatment too.

Prepare equal parts of cornflour, baking soda, and arrowroot powder with a few drops of cypress, peppermint, rosemary, or tea tree essential oil.

Pour the powder into a plastic container, poke holes in the lid, and shake into your shoes before and after you wear them.

The quirkiest solution for smelly shoes I have come across is to place the offending footwear in a plastic bag and leave them in the freezer overnight to kill off the bacteria!