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Eddy Ear Sprinkles
Promotes healthy, clear ears in babies and children.
Ear-Heal
Internal herbal drops promotes outer, middle and inner ear health and balance.
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Natural Cures and Remedies for Ear Infections
Ear infections are very common in children and babies. The medical term is otitis media. Otitis means inflammation and media means middle, as the infection occurs in the middle ear. In most cases it will clear up on its on in just a few days.
How Can You Tell If Your Child Has An Ear Infection?
Symptoms
When your child is to young to tell you that their ear hurts, you need to know what to look for:
- Baby tugs or pulls on ear
- Cries more than usual
- Is Irritable
- Seems to miss certain sounds
- Has trouble sleeping
- May develop a fever
- Fluid draining from the ears
Other symptoms are:
- Headaches
- Itching ears
- Pain or aching in one or both ears
- And possibly some nausea
What Causes Ear Infection?
Because a child's Eustachian tubes (the narrow passage way that connects the middle ear to the nose) are narrower than an adult or older child's, it is easily blocked by fluid in the ear. This also usually happens during a cold.
Another cause is the swelling of the adenoids. These are located in the upper throat near the Eustachian tubes. Sometimes the adenoids get infected causing them to enlarge and block the Eustachian tubes and so spread the infection.
The main reason babies and small children are susceptible to ear infections is because their immune system is not fully developed yet.
Children who are exposed to cigarette smoke or other pollutants are at higher risk to have ear infections.
As ear infections occur more frequently in the fall and winter, cold air may also be a factor.
Another cause for recurrent ear infections can actually be the medications given to your child to suppress an initial infection or cold or flu --such as aspirin, decongestants, Tylenol, antibiotics or other drugs.
Another cause can be airborne and food allergies. The most common allergens that could be causing ear infection are milk and dairy products, wheat, eggs, chocolate, citrus, corn, soy, peanuts, shellfish and yeast. Dairy is the number one food allergen that is thought to cause ear infections.
Ear Infection Complications:
Ear infections that last a long time or recur frequently can lead to the following complications:
- Short-term hearing loss caused by the pressure of fluid buildup in the ear.
- Long-term hearing loss if fluid remains in the ear for a prolonged period of time.
- Ruptured eardrum if too much fluid builds up causing excess pressure. The rupture usually heals on its own.
- If the ear infection is untreated it can lead to a sinusitis called mastoiditis.
- It is very rare but it is possible for the infection to move to other parts of the head or even the brain.
Natural Cures and Remedies for Ear Infections
Colloidal Silver -- Colloidal silver is a natural antibiotic. It can be used both internally and externally. Put one drop of colloidal silver in the ear. You should notice improvement in just one hour. Put the drops in the ear twice a day, in the evening and in the morning. Follow the instructions on the bottle for taking internally. You can also buy it as a spray and spray it into the nostrils to clear up the nasal passages. This helps the ear infection as well.
Tea Tree Oil -- Put five to ten drops of warm tea tree oil into a tablespoon of olive oil and mix. Put 2-3 drops in the infected ear twice a day.
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) -- Of course you will need this in the liquid form. Thoroughly mix 3-5 drops of GSE with 1 oz. of glycerin or alcohol or both. Put 1-2 drops in affected ear 1-2 times daily. Do not use GSE full strength in the ears. You can buy a product with similar ingredients called Ear Drops by NutriBiotic.
Echinacea -- Echinacea supports the immune system's response helping your child's ear infection heal quicker. Start using it as soon as symptoms occur and keep using it for a few more days after the infection is gone.
Vitamin C -- Another way to boost your child's immune system is to give them vitamin C. You will need to give them more than the typical daily dosage. They will need at least 1,000 mg given throughout the day. You don't need to give it to them all at once.
Astragalus -- Astragalus is an herbal that is recommended if your child has recurrent ear infections.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes
A healthy diet with lots of whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, whole grains, meat, etc. Avoid processed or packaged foods.
Good fats such as flax seed oil, primrose oil, olive oil, borage seed oil, fish oil, coconut oil and organic butter enhance the immune system and overall health. Stay away from hydrogenated oils found in deep fried foods, margarine, vegetable oils, peanut oil and soybean oil. Essential fatty acids (the good fats) are essential to normal immune and nervous system function and essential to a growing child.
Keep sugar out of your child's diet as much as possible. It has been found in various studies that sugar suppresses the immune system.
Find out if your child has any food allergies and remove them from their diet.
Keep your child away from cigarette smoke or other air pollutants such as air fresheners, perfumes, colognes, cleaning supplies, etc.
Final Note:
Although ear infections usually heal by themselves and don't typically need antibiotics, here are some warning signs that you should watch out for: A high fever, stiff neck, listlessness and abnormal mental function. If any of these things occur, take your child to a doctor immediately.
Antibiotics are rarely needed to treat ear infections and yet antibiotics are usually prescribed. If there are no severe symptoms, such as mentioned above, you should be able to wait about four days. If the infection is not gone in four days, then antibiotics might be needed.
Also, all of the above works just as well for older children and adults.
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