Ear Infections in Children
Did you know that about eighty percent of children have at least one ear infection during their first five years?
A child suspected of having an ear infection should be examined by a doctor generally. Ear infections usually occur following a cold, when the eustachian tube (a structure that allows for the equalisation of the air pressure between the middle ear and the back of the throat) becomes blocked and infected. The bacterial infection resulting from the pus buildup causes pain which can be accompanied by a high fever. The problem is that many doctors routienly prescribe an antibiotic for an ear infection but in my experience the antibiotic does little to nothing in cutting short the infection, it just sets the child up for further immune problems as it begins to destroy the bowel flora, rendering the intestine more "leaky" to partially digested proteins, causing food allergies.
Although antibiotics are usually prescribed for ear infections by conventional doctors, there are many strategies for parents who are interested in a more natural approach. Luckily, I never once had to resort to antibiotics with my four children and have worked with countless parents and caregivers over the years in showing them ways of boosting their children's health naturally without having to take them to the doctors for drug treatments. I can highly recommend a good children's probiotic with any infection.
Breast feeding has proven to protect against ear infections. Recent studies show that the longer a baby is nursed, the less likely he or she will be to contract otitis media and other infections. Possible reasons for this are that mother's milk contains many and varied immune factors and antibodies that protect against disease, and that nursing precludes the use of cow's milk (an irritant to the eustachian tube and a common allergen).
Natural Treatment for Otitis Media
Please do read my article on children and immunity, you may find some of the hints and tips quite useful here. Treatments geared toward boosting the immune system can help children prone to ear infections. I now know after many hours of clinic time with people that if a young or older patient is allowed to mobilise his or her own immune system with an approach such as mullein flower oil ear drops, one thousand milligrams of vitamin C every hour or two (take them up to bowel tolerance), along with the herbal remedy echinacea as well as an appropriate homeopathic remedy, he may not get sick for another year. These treatment modalities often work faster than the antibiotics and are very safe. Once the immune system has been primed and the body learns how to fight off these ear infections without antibiotics, repeated infections are rare. Once you start a child on an antibiotic, you will find that you will be back time and again for more reliance on these drugs which do nothing to enhance health. Antibiotics should only be used if the infection moves to the mastoid bone (behind the ear) or the meninges (the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord).
Mullein Garlic Ear Oil contains virgin olive oil, mullein flowers, garlic and vitamin E, which may be helpful for soothing ear discomforts. Mullein/Garlic Compound has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Mullein/Garlic Compound may ease inflammation and itching, and may have an analgesic (pain relieving) effect. Softens and disperses accumulated earwax. I used Mullein Garlic Oil a lot with two of my three boys when they were younger, and it saved me many a trip to the doctors. I can tell you, it is so satisfying as a father if you can treat your own child without the stress of the doctor's surgery and waiting room, not to mention the expense!
To administer ear drops: Run hot water over a spoon until it is warm, pour a few drops of oil onto the spoon to warm the oil, then put two to three drops in each ear while lying down; plug the ear loosely with a cotton ball. Repeat two or three times a day. May be used in conjunction with ear candling.
