Ear Infections:

(Otitis Media, Otitis externa, Serous Otitis Media):

Ear infections occur most commonly in babies and young children, but may occur at any age. In the young, they usually occur because the eustachian tube, which runs from the middle ear to throat, is short and it is easy for bacteria to move between the two. It is important to treat ear infections immediately to prevent any further infection of the mastoid bone and damage to the hearing apparatus. Children with chronic ear infections should have blood allergy (IgG and IgE) testing. Dr. Metcalfe recommends trying the following supplements and treatment guidelines before having tubes inserted in your child’s ears. She finds that children respond so well to herbs and vitamins. A federal panel recommends that even after the ear infection is gone, there may be some fluid remaining in the middle ear. They recommend that this does not require further treatment, such as anti-histamines, antibiotics, steroids, or removal of tonsils or adenoids! Further treatment is needed only if there is pain involved. As a parent you have probably seen your child through many doses of antibiotics for ear infections, with the result of another ear infection soon again. Dr. Metcalfe recommends getting off of the antibiotic roller coaster and prevent future infections by building up your child’s resistance. Otitis externa is an ear infection of the external canal, otherwise known as Swimmer’s Ear. It is caused by a localized bacterial or fungal infection. The skin in the ear canal gets wet or irritated and it becomes weakened allowing infection. It is usually easily and effectively treated with herbal eardrops.

In young children: red ears, tugging, rubbing of earlobe, hearing loss, ear pain, runny nose, congestion, persistent crying, fever.
Adults: Fullness in the ears, pain, discharge in ear canal, fever, congestion, sore throat.

Treatment:

Lifestyle Changes:

Warm, moist compresses to the ears can help alleviate pain and encourage circulation to the ear.
Avoid swimming and wipe ears dry after bathing until external infection clears.
NO smoking or second hand smoke exposure.
A warm steam vaporizer in the bedroom at night.
Massage the eustachian tube by rubbing on the outside of the neck gently between the ear lobe and the front of the neck.

Dietary Changes:

Avoid allergens.
Avoid dairy products as they increase mucous and congestion.
If nursing an infant, make the feeding angle steeper (have the baby sitting up instead of lying down) This will encourage better drainage to the stomach.
No sugar, this weakens the immune system and encourages bacterial growth.
Encourage sucking, this will mobilize the eustachian tube and improve circulation.

Ear Infection Protocol for Infants:

Herbal EarDrops: 3 drops in each ear, twice daily.

Ear Infection Protocol for Children:

Herbal EarDrops: 5 drops in each ear, twice daily.

Ear Infection Protocol for Adults:

Herbal EarDrops: 5 drops in each ear, three times a day.

External Otitis/ Swimmer’s Ear:

Herbal EarDrops: 5 drops in each ear 3x a day.