Healing Ear Infections
First, get an otoscope and learn how to examine your child's ears. Learn what a healthy inner ear looks like and what an inflamed ear drum looks like. This will save you trips to a doctor.
Gauge the severity of the ear infection by monitoring your child's temperature and discomfort. If the child is screaming in pain, has a high fever, and liquid draining from the ear, you may have a perforated ear drum. In my opinion, this does not necessarily require medical intervention, as it can resolve naturally, but you need to be the judge of what you believe is best for your child.
It is helpful to treat both ears, even if only one is affected, as the canals are connected.
To help relieve the infection and clogging, take mullein and lobelia tincture internally. Use 30 drops mullein and 15 drops lobelia as needed (every few hours).
If the eardrum is not perforated, use garlic/mullein ear drops, an antibiotic treatment that relieves pain and inflammation. (Make your own (see below) or purchase Herb Pharm drops.) You can also use colloidal silver as drops or swab canal.
To relieve pain and help heal the infection, heat half an onion and secure it over the ear. Make sure it is warm, not hot enough to burn the ear. Cut an onion in half and peel, then gently heat in a small covered sauce pan with a bit of water, just until quite warm. (Don't use the microwave...for anything...ever. Please.) It is helpful to secure the onion over the ear with an ace bandage or by tying a large thin tea towel around the head (like a flour sack towel), or an old t-shirt cut into a large strip. [I have personally used this method and it works well to bring relief!]
Helpful homeopathic remedies:
Belladonna = pain is severe, throbbing and pulsing. Best choice when the ear infection has followed throat infection and/or is accompanied by fever.
Chamomilla = ear pain is of a stitching nature, even slight touch worsens the earache. Pressure in ears with stoppage. Person angry and irritable.
Kali Mur, Calcarea Sulph and Pulsatilla are good for ear infection with discharge. Use Kali for white discharge, Calc for thick yellow discharge, and Pulsatilla for green. Merc Sol is indicated for bloody discharge.
Hepar Sulph can be useful for ear infection with pus discharge and fever.
Clogged sinuses can lead to clogged ears...remember, the tunnels are all connected. :) To relieve earache pain and ear congestion, do a massage with lavender EO, rosemary EO, eucalyptus EO combined with mullein oil (or coconut or olive if you don't have any mullein). Massage around the front of the ear, up over the ear, behind the ear, down along the jaw and down the throat. Use firm (but not agonizing) pressure, go slowly, use little circular motions with your finger pads as you follow the path: up, around, down. Do this at least 5 times a session, throughout the day.
Garlic/mullein ear drop recipe
In a small saucepan, gently simmer a chopped head of garlic and a handful of crushed mullein leaves/flowers in enough olive oil to cover the herb matter. Keep the heat low and simmer for 20-30 minutes and allow the herb matter to steep in the oil until it comes to room temperature, or allow it to steep overnight. Strain the oil and bottle, refrigerate when not using for long periods of time, but warm to apply. Administer a few drops into each ear as often as needed, at least every 30 minutes.
You can buy mullein and other high quality bulk herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.
