Natural Ear Infection Treatments

view this post on Instagram

Understanding Ear Infections

When fluids and inflammation build up behind the ear drum it can cause an ear infection. Ear infections are most common in babies and children because their Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal, compared to adults, making it easier for bacteria to travel from the throat to the ear.

The majority of ear infections are viral, meaning an antibiotic won’t help. Most doctors do not test if the infection is viral or bacterial, but prescribe an antibiotic anyways. And because most ear infections clear up on their own, an antibiotic may seem to “help,” when in reality it just cleared up on its own.

The best thing you can do is to focus on draining the fluid, fighting the infection, and decreasing the inflammation. *do not put anything inside the ear if it is perforated.

Chiropractic Care

Because of the shape of children’s Eustachian tubes they cannot drain well. Chiropractic adjustments help temporarily straighten the tube to allow natural drainage. 

The most preventative approach would be to seek chiropractic care weekly at the first sign of congestion. If that’s not possible, then at least seeking out care as soon as an ear infection develops. And if even that is not possible, you can perform an at-home lymphatic draining massage yourself. There are plenty of YouTube videos that can walk you through step by step what to do.

Garlic Oil

Garlic is a natural antibiotic and antiviral. One study showed that naturopathic ear drops containing garlic was just as effective in managing ear pain as OTC ear drops (1). Another found that allicin and s-allyl cysteine (SAC), two derivatives of garlic, were effective at killing certain microorganisms that cause ear infections (2). However, these treatments were found to be less effective than ciprofloxacin or fluconazole. I recommend starting garlic drops as soon as congestion begins, as a preventative.

This is the garlic oil we use.

OTC Pain Management Drops

• Dr. Green Mom drops (code: ALEXKELLY)

• Hyland's drops

• Plant Therapy ear relief

• Rowe Casa earache oil (code: ALEX20)

• Earthley ear ache ease (code: ALEXK10)

Steamed Onion Compress

Onions have natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help provide relief from earaches. They also are effective at drawing out pain, infections, swelling, and inflammation.

You can make a warm compress with half a steamed onion

• steam onion until soft (10-15 minutes) or

• bake at 450F for 15 minutes or until soft 

then cut in half, wrap in a thin cloth and hold it to the ear until it’s cold. You can also place it in a cup and hold that to the ear.

If you don’t have access to an onion, any warm compress will provide some relief - a heating pad, warm wash cloth, etc.

Salt Sock (to help relieve pain)

• Heat up 1 c of coarse sea salt in microwave or skillet (warm but not too hot)

• Pour into a clean, white sock (not colored; colored thread can melt if heated)

• Tie a knot at the end of the sock

• Press warm salt sock against the ear for 10-15 min

• Repeat for relief as needed

Homeopathics

The “right” homeopathic treatment will look different case by case, as they are best chosen based on symptoms. But a few to consider are:

• Belladonna: intense bouts of earaches that come and go suddenly 

• Hepar sulphuris calcereum: very painful or infected earaches, with bulging eardrums or pus formation 

• Mercurius solubility: advanced ear infections, with pus formation, shooting pain, and roaring in the ear. Typically this person will be very sensitive to temperature. 

• Pulsatilla: for ear infections that follow or accompany a cold

• Aconitum napellus: for earaches occurring after exposure to cold weather 

• Kali muriaticum: for ear congestion with cracking sounds in the ear, worsened by the change in pressure 

• Magnesia phosphoric: for earaches that feel better when warmth and pressure is applied

When antibiotics might be necessary

• If a child is under two and has an infection in both ears 

• The child has a history of burst eardrums

• If there are indications of a bacterial infection

  • like pus or fluid leaking from the ear

• No significant improvement shown after 2 days of natural treatment

I suggest giving at least 2 days of trying the above natural remedies, and see if the body will heal itself. Typically it will. However, if pain increases and things seem to worsen it may be a good idea to be seen. If you decide to go the antibiotic route, florastor is a great tool to help the gut throughout the course.

• florastor baby

• florastor kids

• florastor adults

Florastor is a probiotic proven resistant to most common antibiotics and can be taken during the full course of an antibiotic.

Treating Ear Infections: In Practice

Step 1: diagnose ear infection. either at home with an otoscope or through your doctor. If through your doctor, you can go ahead and have them call in an antibiotic if you want, but I would try the natural methods for 1-2 days before giving it - unless it’s already been raging for days on end. Trust your gut!

Step 2: apply onion compress, or warm compress. can do this as often as needed for comfort. 

Step 3: laying on side, apply 1-2 drops of garlic oil in ear and wait for 5 minutes (laying still this long may not be possible depending on age. that’s okay! do what you can)

Step 4: apply relief drops, laying on side again for 5 minutes. and give homeopathic pellets, if desired.

Step 5: schedule with a chiropractor and/or start at-home lymphatic massages

Repeat every few hours.

View my full holistic medicine cabinet HERE.

.....

Sources:

1 Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, Cohen HA. Efficacy of Naturopathic Extracts in the Management of Ear Pain Associated With Acute Otitis Media. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155(7):796–799. doi:10.1001/archpedi.155.7.796

2 Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R. Antimicrobial Activity of Garlic Derivatives on Common Causative Microorganisms of the External Ear Canal and Chronic Middle Ear Infections. Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 Dec;57(4):161-165. doi: 10.5152/tao.2019.4413. Epub 2019 Dec 1. PMID: 32128511; PMCID: PMC7032553.