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Natural herbal &
homeopathic help for people with ear infections (otitis media,
otitis externa) & earache
Ear Infections And Earache
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION
- REMEDIES - EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT - EAR INFECTIONS AND EARACHE
Your ear can be broadly divided into three sections: the outer,
middle and inner ear. The outer ear consists of the ear flap (pinna)
and the ear canal. Both of them are designed to channel sound waves
to the eardrum which is nothing but a thin membrane stretching
across the entrance of the middle ear. It vibrates in response to
the frequencies of the incoming sound waves. Then there is the
Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the
nasal cavity (into the throat) and equalizes the air pressure on
both sides of the eardrum. It also does the important job of
draining fluid and bacteria from the middle ear out to the throat.
The middle ear also consists of three bones: the hammer, the
anvil and the stirrup. These bones conduct sound vibrations from the
eardrum through the oval window (or vestibule), present in the inner
ear, into the fluid-filled cochlea. The inner ear also has sensory
cells, the auditory nerve and the special fluid-filled semicircular
canals which are responsible for keeping you in balance, i.e. they
provide you with the sense of balance. Sensory cells in the cochlea
convert the sound waves, which are now in the fluid form, into nerve
impulses, which are then transmitted to the brain by the auditory
nerve. There are more than 30,000 nerve fibers in the inner ear and
the circuitry resembles a telephone system of an average city.
The most common type of ear disorder (particularly in
children) is infection of the middle ear or otitis media. Sometimes,
a cold, an allergy or some foreign particle may cause your
Eustachian tube to get plugged and then it is unable to drain fluid
properly. These tubes then become prone to infection as the fluid
gathers. Otitis media is a particularly serious condition in the
growing years as the human ear needs constant stimulation for normal
hearing which is so critical for speech and language development.
Also remember, untreated infections may cause permanent hearing loss
and may also spread to other parts of the head, such as the brain.
 Symptoms
of Otitis Media
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Pain and itch in the infected ear |
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Fever and falling sick |
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Neck pain and/or headache |
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Difficulty in sleeping |
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Hearing problem in the infected ear |
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Dizziness in some cases (loss of balance) |
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Nasal congestion and fluid discharge from the infected
ear |
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Vomiting |
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In infants, it is often irritability and inconsolable
crying. They may not like drinking their bottle and they
may even pull on their ears. |
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A few other symptoms also associated, though not so
often, with otitis media are
sore throat (pharyngitis),
ringing (tinnitus), buzzing, or other noise in the ear. |
Causes of Otitis Media
Blockage
of the all important Eustachian tube may be caused by any of the
following:
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Respiratory infection such as
cold or
sinus infection |
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Allergies like hay fever, rhinitis |
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Tobacco smoke (active and passive, both) or other
environmental irritants |
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Infected or overgrown adenoids (adenoids are pieces of
soft tissue at the back of the nose and throat that can
swell up and cause breathing difficulties, especially in
children) |
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Sudden increase in pressure (such as during an airplane
take off or landing) |
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High altitude, cold climate |
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Drinking while lying on the back, such as with a propped
bottle (in effect children on bottle feed are generally
prone to otitis media as their ear muscles don’t get
enough exercise as the bottle teat does not reach deep
inside the throat. Also breast fed babies have stronger
immune system) |
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Glue ear, which is the result of the building up of
sticky mucus behind the eardrum. It generally affects
young children. |
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Due to an infection triggered by CATARRH (catarrh is a
thick liquid called phlegm that you have in your nose
and throat due to, say, a cold) |
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Children attending day care, especially with more
children at the center |
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History of family members who are prone to ear
infections |
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Use of a pacifier |
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Excess mucus and saliva produced during
teething |
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Ruptured eardrum |
Another
common disorder in the adults is Otitis Externa, which causes
inflammation of the outer ear and is usually the result of an
infection. It is also known as swimmer’s ear and is generally caused
by bacteria or fungi.
Symptoms of Otitis Externa
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Itch in the infected ear |
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Discharge of pus from the infected ear |
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Mild to severe earache with pain getting more severe by
movement of the ear lobe or the jaw |
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Slight hearing loss |
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Slight fever |
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Inflammation of the ear |
Causes of Otitis Externa
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Swimming – The moisture that invariably enters and
remains in your ear encourages infection. |
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Shampooing or showering or any other activity that
leaves the outer ear canal damp or wet. |
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Sometimes, little odd things like clippings from a
haircut can fall into the ear canal and irritate the
ears. |
Sometimes you have an earache, and it could be a terrible one,
without having a infection. For example, usually during the day, you
hold your head up and your Eustachian tube drains fluid naturally
into the back of the throat. Chewing and swallowing also contract
the muscles of the Eustachian tube, thereby allowing air into the
middle air. Hence, in some cases, the problem comes up in the night
when these muscles are not getting any exercise, and the tube no
longer drains naturally and the air inside is absorbed and a vacuum
occurs, sucking the eardrum inwards. Ditto is the case with bottle
fed infants as the teat does not reach as far away as it should.
Therefore, you or your child wakes up with a sudden acute earache.
Causes of Earache
There
are quite a few other reasons for your earache including:
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Airplane travel (this may even cause temporary deafness
which can stay up to 48 hours) |
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Deep sea diving |
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Earaches originating somewhere else like pain, infection
or some other disorder in teeth, throat, tonsils, tongue
or jaw |
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Although it is rare, but sometimes a herpes infection
can cause blisters in the ear with persisting pain |
So,
as you can see, your ears can easily get damaged and if they
become infected, may cause a great deal of pain. Hence, it is
always advised that earaches and infections should not be
neglected, but must be taken very seriously and they usually
call for an immediate or early visit to a doctor. Your doctor
will then examine your throat, sinuses, head, neck, and lungs.
He
or she will look inside your ears using an instrument called an
otoscope. The doctor will try and find out areas of dullness or
redness or presence of any air bubbles or fluid behind the
eardrum. The fluid may be bloody or filled with pus. The
physician will also check for any sign of perforation (hole or
holes) in the eardrum.
A
hearing test is usually recommended if your child has had
chronic or recurrent ear infections, but it is difficult to test
hearing if your child is below two years of age.
The use
of these herbs is a time-tested and honored approach to
strengthening the body and treating cold & ear infections & earache.
Many
herbs have been found to be absolutely safe besides being as
effective as conventional medications including eardrops. These
herbal preparations are basically intended to fight infections,
reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.
Earache
is usually treated with eardrops which contain antibiotics to help
fight the infection. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen
or acetaminophen also provide pain relief. If earache is not that
severe, place a warm, damp compress to the outer ear to reduce pain.
Insert
some warm (not hot!) olive oil into the ear canal to relieve pain or
massage gently under each ear. For more serious episodes of earache,
an oral antibiotic together with the eardrops may be prescribed.
Children who experience recurring ear infections may have a surgical
procedure performed that involves having ear tubes inserted.
Natural remedies
More and
more people are choosing herbal and homeopathic remedies as a
natural alternative to antibiotic treatment for ear infections & earache. These
treatments are safe and gentle on the body’s system and also support
overall ear health. Herbs such as Pulsatilla (Pasque Flower) and
Echinacea purpurea act as a nerve relaxant and reduce inflammation
while also stimulating the immune system. Homeopathic ingredients
such as Hepar. Sulph, Belladonna, Pulsatilla and Levisticum radix
treat the symptoms of ear infections.
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Hypoxis Rooperi (extract of African Potato): Hypoxis
contains phytosterols and sterolins, which help to
modulate the effect of the immune system. Research has
shown the beneficial effect of plant sterols and
sterolins on the immune system. Research done on a group
of volunteers demonstrated a significant increase in the
number of T-cells, which are involved in enhancing
immunity. |
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Agothosma betulina (Buchu): This is a urinary antiseptic
and possesses diuretic properties. Buchu has been used
by the natives of the Western Cape of South Africa for
many centuries and assists the body to rid itself of
toxins by stimulating the secretion of retained water. |
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Echinacea purpurea is the best known and researched herb
for supporting the immune system. Over 500 scientific
studies have been documented on this herb. One specific
study investigated the immune-supportive action of this
Echinacea ( Barrett BP, Brown RL, Locken K, et al.
“Treatment of the common cold with unrefined Echinacea:
a randomized,double-blind, placebo-controlled trial”.
Ann Intern Med 2002;Dec 17, 137(12):939-946). |
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Belladonna (30C) is an herb whose widespread use was
initially purely cosmetic. Sixteenth century Italian
women reportedly applied belladonna solutions to their
eyes to dilate the pupils and achieve a dreamy and
supposedly more desirable appearance (hence the name
belladonna, which is Italian for 'beautiful lady')! In
our formula, this remedy suits those that have
sensitivity to loud noise, often accompanied by
throbbing. |
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Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) – This tall tree doesn’t
produce cloves until the age of 20 years, but then it
bears it continuously for the next almost 50 years.
Clove is basically from the Spice Islands and is
extensively found in South India as well. This tall,
slender evergrenn reaches a height of up to 20mand its
flowers grow in clusters which open up into red and
white bells, if, allowed to bloom. That is usually not
the case as the flower buds are picked for use as
cloves. Clove, that needs a tropical climate to grow can
and is grown in glasshouse environments as well. Clove
oil consists of a substance called eugenol, which gives
clove its characteristic anesthetic, antiseptic,
analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and
antifungal properties. Other important constituents
include tannins and flavonoids which are also cancer
fighting antioxidants. Clove is also used in conjunction
with other herbs in preparations for treating ear
infections. |
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Ferrum phos. (D6) is a biochemic tissue salt which has
many uses in the body. Two of the most important
benefits are in the ability of Ferrum phos. to maintain
strength in the walls of the blood vessels and to
support the body's ability to distribute oxygen-rich
blood and iron to all cells. |
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Ear-Heal Drops
Internal herbal and homeopathic remedy
to support overall ear health.
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Ear-OK Drops
Naturally support ear health and promote
healthy ear wax levels.
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Eddy Ear Sprinkles
Promotes healthy, clear ears in babies
and children.
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ImmunityPlus
Promotes healthy immune system
functioning and helps fight viral and
bacterial infections.
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Most of the naturopaths believe that diet can affect the
functioning of the ears, hence recommend foods rich in
vitamin A and thiamin, that are thought to help repair
damaged cell tissue in the ear and also strengthen the
auditory nerve. Foods rich in
antioxidants and other
important chemicals that
help boost immune function are
important to include in your and your child's daily
diet. Such diet would comprise fresh, darly colored
fruits and vegetables. Eating plenty of omega-3 fatty
acids (a group of essential fatty acids that tend to
reduce inflammation) may be important as well. Zinc and
vitamin C are supposed to help improve the immune
system. Foods rich in xylitol – a sugar alcohol has
properties that fight pneumococcus, a bacteria that
commonly causes ear and upper respiratory infections,
are also recommended, especially in children prone to
ear infections.
You should watch your diet, your likings (dislikings
too), physical condition, other ailments (if any) and
then decide after consulting your doctor as to which
foods are the best for you. Sources of these vital
minerals and vitamins are:
Vitamin-A: Vitamin-A is only found in its native
form in animal foods such as liver, fish, egg yolk and
dairy products like full cream milk. It is found as
beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, in
dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, coriander,
drumsticks) and orange-yellow fruits such as papaya,
mango and pumpkin.
Thiamin (Vitamin B1): potatoes, offal,
seeds, fortified cereals, pork, fish, sunflower seeds,
rice.
Vitamin-C: Citrus fruits, blackcurrant,
vegetables (broccoli, potatoes), red capsicums and
chillies, strawberry, kiwifruit, rockmelon.
Zinc: Dairy products, seafood (oysters), chicken,
beef, eggs.
Omega-3: Seafood; fish such as salmon (especially
Atlantic and red, canned in brine), sardines (canned in
water), mackerel (canned in brine), mullet, tuna etc.,
and pecans and trevally. Walnuts are also an extremely
good source of omega-3.
Xylitol: Birch, strawberries, and raspberries. |
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Lactobacillus – a probiotic or healthy bacteria may
reduce the incidence of respiratory infections, like
colds and sinusitis, and with them, the associated
complications such as ear infections. |
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People with chronic ear infections are generally advised
to avoid dairy products and have plenty of garlic,
onions, horseradish and chilli peppers as these reduce
the production of mucus and subsequent retention of it
in the ear canal. |
Some most effective home made remedies for Ear Infections And
Earache are:
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Mango leaf juice – Extract a teaspoon of mango leaves
and warm it slightly. Pour a few drops in your ear (it
should be bearable). |
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Heat 2 teaspoons of mustard oil and add ½ a teaspoon of
carom seeds and a flake of crushed garlic. Boil the
mixture till it gets fiery red. Filter the mixture to
use it as ear drops (2-3 drops I each ear twice a day).
This is especially helpful if the pain is due to a boil
inside the ear. |
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Lime juice – Mix a few drops of lime juice in a teaspoon
of lukewarm water. Put 4-5 drops of the solution into
the ear twice daily. |
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Sit straight and keep your head up as your Eustachian
tubes clear up (they drain into the back of your throat)
when you are upright. Do this specifically when in
trouble. |
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Sip something (if you are not interested in having
anything, go for water) so that the muscular action
helps the eustachian tubes in opening and draining. |
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Yawn or chew a wad of chewing gum – both these actions
move the muscles that open up the Eustachian tubes.
People do this inside an airplane, you can also try with
great amount of success in the night before going to
bed. |
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Breastfeed your baby. The benefit has been discussed
above. |
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Choose child care very carefully as children exposed to
large groups of other children are more likely to come
into contact with the ear infections causing viruses.
Patience is one virtue which every parent should hold
till at least 3 years, by which age, children generally
out live ear infections. |
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Quit smoking – If you already have ear problems, smoking
will push you towards an infection by littering the air
with irritants, subsequently leading to congestion in
the Eustachian tubes. Passive smoking will have exactly
the same effect on others, more so on your child. |
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Similar precautions are to be taken in case of woodstove
fires. Soot and smoke from the fires load the air with
hard-to-breathe and irritating toxins. |
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Swimming usually exacerbates an ear infection,
particularly the pain from changes in pressure if
swimming under water. Therefore, if a ruptured eardrum
is present, swimming is out of the question and even
without a rupture, diving and swimming underwater should
be avoided if you have an ear infection. If your child
has ear tubes, he should use earplugs or cotton balls
coated with petroleum jelly when swimming to prevent
infection. Shallow water swimming (less than 33 feet) is
seen to be a major culprit. So, avoid super snug
earplugs and wet suits with very tight fitting hoods as
they prevent equalization of pressure during descent. |
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Hair drier – Use a hair drier for drying your ear and
also when you have an earache. Put it on a low, warm
setting and hold it 1 ½ feet from your ear and aim it at
your aching ear. It dries off any moisture and also
soothes inflammation. Alternatively, applying warm
compresses (for example, using a warm clot or hot water
bottle filled with warm water) may help relieve pain. |
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Air travel – First things first, don’t sleep while
ascending and descending. These are the times when there
is sudden change in the air pressure. Chew a wad of
chewing gum at take off and landing as this will keep
the pressure equal on both the sides of eardrum. If you
still get that feeling of numbness and pain, then try
this. Hold your nose with fingers, shut your mouth and
using your cheek and throat muscles, force the air back
into your nose against your fingers. A popping sound
shall tell you that the pressure has been released and
equalized. Also, if you have a cold or a sinus problem,
take an over-the-counter oral or nasal decongestant
before boarding your flight. |
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Ear-Heal Drops
Internal herbal and homeopathic remedy
to support overall ear health.
|
|
|
Ear-OK Drops
Naturally support ear health and promote
healthy ear wax levels.
|
|
|
Eddy Ear Sprinkles
Promotes healthy, clear ears in babies
and children.
|
|
|
ImmunityPlus
Promotes healthy immune system
functioning and helps fight viral and
bacterial infections.
|
|
|
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