Holistic Approach to Ear Infections

I have read that it is not effective to use antibiotics to clear up ear infections that at home remedies will help with the pain and that they will go away on their own. I am anxious to see additional replies on this subject.

This might sound crazy but my nephew had serveral ear infections from birth to 1 years old, my sister took him to a chiropractor and he had his back popped and hasn't had one since......it is jus a suggestion..i know it sounds a little wierd for a baby to go but she swears by it..he is now 5....so it seemed to work for them.

I'm not sure if it is healthy or not, but my mom used to use peroxide in our ears when we had infections. She would just put a few drops in, put in a coton ball and lay us on the side the infection was on. I would however ask your dr. before doing this

My daughter is 4 now, and we have been dealing with ear infections since she was about 6 months old. When she was almost two they put tubes in her ears. She still gets infections, but not as many. My problem is she doesn't complain about it until its too late. When she tells me they hurt and I look in them, I can see green pus coming out of them. I just had her to the ENT the other day and they tested her hearing. The one tube has come out, but the other is not functioning properly. I had used a hot compress and a heating pad to sooth some of the pain and it has seemed to help some. I was also told when she took a bottle it has caused some of the problem. Now we are dealing with reoccurances of strep throat.

My son used to get soo sick on the antibiotics for ear infections. My then chiropractor(who also deals in natural medicine) told me to give him acidophilis for the upset stomach and I used garlic and olive oil mixture for his ears. He hasn't had another ear infection since. I got the mixture at the wellness clinic where the chiropractor worked, but I do believe you can get it at any GNC.

Good Luck and God Bless.

Ear Candling is supposed to work too. There's alot online about it. Good Luck!
B.

I agree with the waiting on antibiotics for a few days... Last time my son had an ear infection I was told that over 60% of ear infection aren't actually infections!! I'm a strong believer in not giving my children meds unless they actually need them. So I told my Dr that if my son didn't NEED the antibiotic then don't perscribe it! He didn't. He said he does usually persribe antibiotics whether he thinks it will benifit the child or not. Most parents are dead set on using antibiotics for so many things and then wonder why antibiotics won't work when thier child really needs it!!! Congrats to you for looking toward other options!!

I had never heard of the ear candling thing before though so I looked it up!! I wouldn't suggest it personally, especially on an 18 mo child. Everything I read about it was negative unless it was from somebody who actually sold the product!!

Just my opinion! Good luck with find something that works!

So, what have you found out?

I just have a question. Does he still take a bottle? If so, does he lay down when he drinks it. Believe it or not, that sometimes is a huge contributor to the ear infections.

I think the holistic approach is okay if an ear infection isn't really an infection. BUT, if it is - use the antibiotic!!! My son has been plagued with ear infections since birth. So was I as a child. He is 8 years old and just this week he has another one, and on Tuesday his ear drum perforated. His infections build up so fast, if I don't catch it the very first day it becomes a huge problem. This is his second infection in just over a month. He has had 2 sets of tubes already and I was told if he has another one within the next 4 months, they will likely suggest tubes again. So be careful!!! Holistic for ear ACHES, yes. But infections require medical treatment.

D.,

I'm sorry your little guy is going through a rough time. I, too would want the repeated antibiotics to stop. Most studies show that ear infections do not clear up any quicker with antibiotics than without them! And one must be very careful about anti-biotic resistance. My mother is resistant because of chronic bronchitis and she got a HORRIBLE infection after surgery that antibiotics would not get rid of.

You can use warm sweet oil, you can buy it at the drug store.

A new study shows that when children get chronic ear infections chiropractic care is very effective at preventing them! My son (3.5) has never had an ear infection, but we were dealing with chronic sinus infections, that seemed to have no apparent cause, after much testing. Finally I took him to my chiropractor and he hasn't had one since! And he sleeps so well.My chiropractor is a mom, so she is great with kids. A good chiropractor should be able to help you find a good homeopathic or naturopathic doctor to help you out.

Good luck to you and your son!

D.

I hope your little fellow is feeling better. I agree with Jaime about the chiropractor. It is amazing how much an adjustment can help. I have been to Quarterson Family Chiropractic in Mckees Rocks, she is wonderful. My son was very constipated when he was taking formula and she helped so much. She also helped me when I was pregnant. Her office # is ###-###-####. I wouldn't recommend anyone else!

you should look into ear tubes

yes i heard of sweet oil from my mom when i had my 1st child in yr 1983.I put a few drops of sweet oil on a tspn, hold it over the stove untill it's warm to my touch, them put the cotton ball in it,let it soak up then pull a piece off to put in my son's ear while the oil was warm, and let him play or just ly down with me untill he fell asleep or stopped crying & tugging at his ear. between his birth to 5 yrs old when he started kinney-garden he had 2 ear infections, but he was my 1st child, so i learned from my mom & more from my granma,then i kept going from their on my own reading what ever i was told about, then sometimes i would ask their doctor if he heard of the herb befor & when he said yes and told me what it was for, i rarly needed to take them unless it was their immunization times. Start early like your doing now with holistic, this way you'll see results sooner than later after his body if full of things he doesn't need.

I am all about the holistic approach and if it works try it. I had the worst ear infection when I was pregnant with my son and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. My son also got them alot when he was younger but he did grow out of it. I would have done anything to make his pain go away. LOL! Good Luck!

has the pediatrician mentioned tubes yet??

ok well my son has had ear infections like crazy in his first year and a half also i would suggest waiting 3 days to give him the antibiotics to see if it starts to clear up on its own i was watching the news a few months ago and they said that waiting a few days to see if antibiotics are neccesary will help prevent your child from becoming immune to them plus ear infections generally will ease up after a few days

I agree with looking into ear tubes. All three of my children have had them and they worked great.