It’s not always necessary to take antibiotics if you have ear pain from an ear infection. Try these at-home remedies instead to feel better.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, ear infections can take one to two weeks to completely heal. In addition, many pediatric and adult patients with ear infections are advised to wait it out without using antibiotics. This is based on recommendations printed in the February 2016 issue of the journal Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. Natural cures are also beneficial.

Home cures [for ear infections] may be comforting, but there is no scientific evidence to support them, according to otolaryngologist Matthew Bush, MD, an assistant professor of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery at University of Kentucky Health Care in Lexington.

The good news regarding these tactics? They won’t hurt you and may even be effective.

1. An ear pop

Dr. Austin Rose, an otolaryngologist and director of the pediatric rhinology, allergy, and sinus surgery program at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, advises patients to close their mouths, grip their nostrils, and try to breathe out through their noses. Similar to the pressure shift you experience while changing altitude, such as in a plane or on a mountain, you should hear or feel a little pop. According to Dr. Rose, the capacity to pop your ears is beneficial and perhaps “essential for scuba divers and pilots.” If it hurts, try again after giving other tactics a chance to succeed because it shouldn’t.

2. A wet compress

A washcloth can be used to create a warm compress by soaking it in warm water, wringing out the excess water, folding it into a rectangle, and placing it over your ear. The dampness and warmth may assist to relieve ear congestion. If you have a fever, you can also use a cool compress made of cold water.

3. Steam

Steam is extremely good in clearing congestion, much like wet heat. Try breathing in the steam from a sizable bowl of water, a steamy shower, or bath. (As you hunch over the bowl, drape a towel over your head to create a tent.)

4. Using saltwater in the mouth

Gargling with warm saltwater could help relieve your symptoms because sore throats and ear ache can occasionally be connected, according to Rose. According to advice from the American Academy of Family Physicians, combine 1 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water.

5. Rubbing alcohol with vinegar

According to Dr. Bush, this mixture can help lessen the discomfort associated with swimmer’s ear. Use a dropper to administer a mixture of half vinegar and half rubbing alcohol into your ear canal. (Only make sure you don’t have an eardrum hole or a tympanostomy tube, and that you stop if you experience pain). Using this mixture after leaving the pool can help avoid swimmer’s ear, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery.

While ear infections and ear pain frequently subside with time and care, some cases necessitate more drastic measures. Both experts believe that it is time to call the doctor if you have tried all these treatments for a day or two and are still experiencing discomfort and fever. Additionally, as ear pain can result from a variety of medical issues aside from ear infections, you might need your doctor’s assistance in figuring out the source of the discomfort.

Occasionally, significant ear infection consequences are seen, according to Rose. He underlines that if your ear pain is accompanied with facial weakness, a high fever, a seizure, bloody discharge from the ear, or if the ear pain sufferer is a newborn, you should seek emergency medical attention. It’s vital to see a doctor if ear pain or infection recurs because, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, children who have repeated ear infections run the risk of hearing loss and communication issues.