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- Los Angeles' Dr. Michael Daignault has seen it so many times in the ER now that he's asking Americans to please stop putting garlic inside their ears.
- The doc decided to speak up after one patient was complaining about an ear infection and noticed a "yellowish-white object wedged" in the patient's ear. The guy had read that garlic and its oil was a great homeopathic treatment for ear infections and decided to give it a try.
- Dr. Daignault does say plenty of studies suggest that garlic is great for a healthy diet and does have some antimicrobial properties, but jamming a clove of the stuff in your ear doesn't actually reach the infection.
- Instead, it would likely cause contact dermatitis, a type of allergic reaction, in your ear, making your pain and discomfort even worse.
- Dr. Daignault recommends seeing a doctor so they can look in your ear and prescribe antibiotics if necessary.