My Grandma Swore by Mustard Oil in the Ear—So I Finally Looked Into It
Growing up, I remember my grandmother gently warming mustard oil on a spoon and dropping it into my ear whenever I complained about the cold or a dull ache. I never questioned it. It was just something she did—like feeding me tulsi leaves when I had a cough. But now, as someone who likes to mix traditional wisdom with a little research, I started wondering: was this just a comforting ritual, or was there something more to it?
Turns out, Ayurveda does have something to say about it. Mustard oil isn’t just a home remedy—it’s considered a warming, sharp, and balancing agent for certain doshic imbalances. Used correctly, it can help with earwax buildup, dryness, and mild discomfort, especially in cold or windy weather. I found an article that breaks this down well on Ask Ayurveda:
https://ask-ayurveda.com/articles/1302-can-we-put-mustard-oil-in-ear-benefits-risks-and-ayurvedic-advice
It covers both the potential benefits and the risks, like using it during infections or if there’s any damage to the eardrum. That part gave me pause. What feels “natural” isn’t always automatically safe.
But what really surprised me was how this old-school practice is popping up again—especially on social media. For example, on Instagram, there’s this calming reel where someone shares their daily mustard oil ritual as part of an ear-care routine. See it here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMvD9bZRG6Y/
Over on Pinterest, there’s an infographic that lays out how mustard oil can soften wax and reduce dryness, almost like a natural alternative to those drugstore ear drops:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/895934919626060472
On Threads, someone talked about how seasonal transitions—especially the windy, dry Vata season—can cause ear issues, and how mustard oil fits into that care plan:
https://www.threads.com/@askayurveda_24/post/DMvD9HEJ1Cn
Twitter had an interesting angle too. One tweet mentioned how mustard oil is used not just for ear pain, but even to soothe mental restlessness during cooler months. I hadn’t thought of it that way before:
https://x.com/1857364984759541760/status/1950564616041328709
There’s also a touching Facebook post where someone recalls their elders warming mustard oil on the stovetop as part of winter self-care routines—reminding us how deeply cultural this practice really is:
https://www.facebook.com/885804900366149/posts/1069723441974293
And finally, I found a LinkedIn post that describes mustard oil as a “forgotten Ayurvedic self-care tool.” That phrase stuck with me—because it’s true. It is something we’ve forgotten or pushed aside:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ask-ayurveda_did-you-know-mustard-oil-is-considered-an-activity-7356330381010190338-G7tD?
For me, learning all this made me appreciate that my grandmother’s instinct wasn’t just tradition—it was aligned with something deeper. I’m not saying we should all start pouring mustard oil into our ears. But I am saying we should pause and reconsider the value in practices that have lasted generations.
What do you think? Have you ever used mustard oil—or had it used on you? Would you try it now, knowing both the pros and the risks?