Natural Home Remedies for Ear Infections – With Recipes

Few things are more painful than an acute ear infection – that dull ache that throbs to the beat of your heart interrupted now and again by what feels like an ice pick stabbed through your eardrum.

All too often, we rush to treat an earache or an ear infection with antibiotics. First of all, all earaches are not infections, and all ear infections are not caused by bacteria; they may be caused by a virus or fungus instead. Antibiotics are indiscriminate killers. They kill the good bacteria in the gut along with the bad, disrupting that balance and allowing an overgrowth of Candida.

External Ear Infections

An external ear infection, also called swimmer’s ear, is an infection of the outer ear canal. Water in the ear from a pool or a bathtub or any other source can precipitate this kind of infection. The eardrum becomes inflamed; the ear canal becomes inflamed and swollen. Often there is pain behind and around the ear and tugging on the earlobe hurts.

Internal Ear Infections

An internal ear infection is an infection of the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube can become blocked by swelling and inflammation of the tube itself or it can be blocked by swollen adenoids. If it does not drain, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, or fungi.

Earache

An earache can be caused by a buildup of ear wax or pressure on the eardrum from fluid in the Eustachian tube, or of course, an ear infection.

Chronic earaches are a symptom of a toxic gut. Check out How To Heal Your Gut for more information.

Natural Treatments for an Ear Infection Or Earache

Earaches are often resolved with a combination of heat, warm oil in the ear, and gargling. Warm moist heat aids in increased blood circulation in the area. Alternating hot and cold will increase circulation, even more. Warm oil in the ear (coconut oil or olive oil) loosens and melts ear wax. (Take care to be sure the oil is not too hot. Touch drops to the inner wrist after stirring completely). Gargling with apple cider vinegar helps to open the Eustachian tube, allowing it to drain.

Internal ear infections are greatly helped by gargling with apple cider vinegar, or even better, check out this Root Cider (sip, gargle, and swallow). If caught early enough, the root cider or gargling may be the only treatment needed. But if you’re someone who suffers from regular ear infections, we recommend having the root cider and some of Doc’s Ear Formula ready.

Doc Shillington’s Ear Formula Recipe (Or Purchase Here)

  • 1 cup of organic cold pressed olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of powdered mullein
  • 3 medium-sized cloves of garlic

Put ingredients in a blender and puree. Pour into a jar that is kept in a dark place for two weeks. Shake the mixture daily. Strain and press. Bottle.

Doc says that this is a recipe that can be adjusted for severity. For a bad infection, increase the garlic. For children, he only uses 2 garlic cloves.

This can be used immediately if you do not have a batch made up ahead of time.

If you or your child struggles with ear infections, look at your diet. Eliminating dairy and refined sugars from the diet often make a tremendous difference in the frequency of ear infections, sinus infections, and respiratory infections. If you suspect any other allergens, remember that swelling and inflammation from an allergic response may be the precursor to an infection rather than a symptom of an infection. Also, avoid sugar. It depresses the immune system.

If you find that you tend to get an earache or ear infection every time you indulge in sweets, your problem is probably Candida. See the link below to learn how to get Candida under control.

For any chronic or recurrent condition, a change in diet is the foundation for health. For information on a truly healthy diet that will help build your immune system see the link below.

Recommended Products:
Further Reading:


Natural Remedies for Depression

You can’t watch TV these days without seeing advertisements for pharmaceutical treatments for depression. The current ads offer drugs to take in addition to the drugs you’re already taking that aren’t working. This would be funny if depression wasn’t widespread, incapacitating, and potentially fatal. It would be funnier still if these pharmaceuticals weren’t linked to an increased likelihood of suicidal or homicidal behavior. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, commonly known as the DSM IV is the diagnostic manual used by mental health professional to classify mental illness. (It is currently undergoing revision and will soon be released as the DSM V).

There are several classifications for depression:  Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, Dysthymic Disorder (which the DSM V seeks to reclassify as Chronic Depressive Disorder), Major Depressive Disorders, and Bipolar Disorders. The DSM V proposes the inclusion of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.  If you’ve been paying attention to big pharma ads, you know there is already a pill to treat Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, before it has been officially included as a diagnosis. There is no blood test, no microscopic evidence, no litmus test to diagnose depression. Diagnosis is based on subjective reporting and objective observation. Feelings of sadness, worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, sleep disturbances, appetite disturbance, and thoughts of death or suicide are pervasive and on-going.

It is interesting to note that opposing symptoms are included. Sleep disturbance can be either insomnia or excessive sleep. Appetite can be diminished or increased. Either psychomotor agitation or retardation can be present. Grieving (which may be diagnosed as an Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood) may include all of the symptoms of depression, but not the duration. Clinical Depression can be episodic or on-going. And Seasonal Affective Disorder is, of course, seasonal. If depressive symptoms are not due to grief, what is the cause? Conventional medical treatment targets brain chemistry.  Once again, they are treating the symptom, not the cause.

The Foundation for any Natural Remedy for Depression

The brain is a body organ, and like everything else on the body, it’s health is dependent on gut health. As with any symptom of dysfunction or disease, health begins with proper nutrition, exercise, and detoxification. Eliminate all processed foods, refined sugar, sugar substitutes, corn syrup, artificial flavorings, colors, preservatives, MSG, hydrogenated oils, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, drugs, and GMOs. Avoid allergens and soy. Eat a diet rich in fresh, raw, organic vegetables and fruits (more vegetables than fruit).

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Get some vitamin D. Sunlight is the best source. But if you suffer from depression seasonally, you probably need light therapy or vitamin D supplementation as well. Also consider healthy fatty acids and B vitamins (a complex, not just one or two). Heavy metals, mold, fungi, and environmental toxins are common contributors to depression. Stop using any and all artificial fragrances, including (but is not limited to) cologne, perfume, soap, shampoo, candles, air fresheners, household cleaners, and detergents. Complete a full body detox or a Candida cleanse.

Exercise. Yes, we know it’s the last thing you want to do when you’re feeling lethargic due to depression. But studies have shown that exercise alone can be as effective as pharmaceuticals in treating depression. Which is better for you? Get good sleep. Get up in the morning and get outside into the early morning light. This is a great time for a walk. Early morning light will help set your internal clock if you suffer from insomnia. Forcing yourself out of bed is essential if you are sleeping round the clock. Now, the part that’s hard to face.

sleepEvery chronic condition is to some extent a subconscious or conscious choice. We chose our lifestyle, our diet, our partners, our commitment to health. Anyone suffering from an ongoing illness owes it to themselves to ask the hard question: “What am I getting out of this? What does being depressed do for me?” Until we face the truth and discover what being ill gives us, it is nearly impossible to make the changes required to recover.  When the illness we face is depression or anxiety, facing this truth is essential. No one beats depression unless they really want to. In today’s society, we tend to adopt a self-indulgent victim mentality. Too often we define ourselves by our losses or traumas. “I am a rape victim.” I am an incest survivor. I am a quadriplegic.” These labels and, too often, the support groups designed to help us, perpetuate the victim mentality. Psychotherapy is a wonderful tool designed to help you gain insight and develop new behaviors and thought processes. But therapy is limited by the skill of the clinician and the motivation of the client. Choose a therapist well, one who understands the mind-body connection. And do the work.

Related: Running Without Knee Pain

Exercise: The Best Natural Remedy for Depression

There are so many choices. Each option has important benefits. All exercise decreases stress hormones and increases endorphins, which are natural chemicals in the body responsible for elevating one’s mood. Exercise also releases adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine. All of these natural chemicals are essential to proper mental health. Here we’ll list our top four choices for fighting depression naturally. And we recommend, if possible, to exercise outdoors and in nature. hiking High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an excellent regimen. HIIT builds speed and power very quickly and is awesome for getting the body to release a lot of endorphins. It’s also a great choice for someone who is trying to find excuses for not working out, as it takes much less time than a good yoga session or a long run. Weight lifting helps increase testosterone. Low testosterone can cause depression for both men and women. Weight lifting can also show fast results in muscle tone and physical appearance, which can boost self-esteem, an issue for most anyone suffering from depression.

Yoga is an amazing exercise that rejuvenates, energizes, heals, and balances the body, mind, and spirit. Cardio is well known for its benefits, but making it a hobby for life has wonderful rewards. Bicycling, running, and swimming are a few of the easiest, least expensive, most rewarding hobbies there are (though obviously bicycling can get a bit more expensive, the more you get into it). Ever heard of a “runner’s high?” It’s an amazing feeling. It takes time to get into the kind of physical condition to reach the runner’s high, but it’s such an amazing, surreal, euphoric feeling. Words cannot do it justice.

Supplements For Depression

Herbs

Nutrition

Aromatherapy for Natural Depression Remedies

Bergamot, peppermint, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, geranium, sage, jasmine, and lavender are known for helping to elevate mood.

Candida and Depression

If you are depressed while you suffer from regular yeast infections or athletes foot, or have taken antibiotics recently, there is a connection. Our brains are inextricably tied to our gastrointestinal tract and our mental well being is dependent on healthy intestines. Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and a host of other mental illness from autism to ADHD can be caused by an imbalance of gut microbes like fungi, and “bad” bacteria. Read more at How Candida Leads to Depression.

Conclusion

If depression is affecting you, you need a plan of action. A “to do” list can help you get started. The time for contemplation is over. It’s time to act. Now. One step at a time. Kill the candida, and take B and D vitamins, first and foremost. Stay busy, stick with that to do list, and do everything you can to get yourself outside, connected to nature, with sunlight, exercising. The rest will usually take care of itself.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:


Reduce Muscle Soreness

Whether you’re looking to recover quickly from a tough workout that caused DOMs (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), trying to heal as fast as possible from an injury, or you suffer from chronic aches and pains, this regimen will reduce muscle soreness and cut healing and recovery time in half (or less).

Step 1: Perform hot and cold hydro­therapy immediately after your workout or when muscles are sore for any reason. If you’re working out at a gym with a dry sauna, get in the sauna with the temperature as high as it can go for about 10 minutes then get in a cold shower, or, if there is a fairly cold pool, jump in the pool then get into a cold shower.

Step 2: Flooding the body with anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids will rapidly speed healing. The best way to do this is with Dr. Budwig’s Flax and Quark. Eat this once or twice a day. It is absolutely amazing! Just doing this alone will cut recovery time in half.

Step 3: Deep Tissue Repair Oil is an amazing, natural way to reduce muscle soreness. It dramatically improves blood circulation where the tincture is applied, without swelling. It is an excellent pain reliever, and unlike other balms and ointments for muscle soreness, it actually heals, too.

What to Eat: Ginger is anti-inflammatory, and the University of Georgia recently found that daily ginger consumption also reduces muscle pain and soreness caused by exercise. This step is actually most effective if ginger has been consumed daily for the last seven days preceding the muscle soreness.

Cherries, and especially tart cherries have been proven in scientific studies to relieve muscle soreness. The studies typically use tart cherry juice. Black cherry juice works particularly well.   A healthy alkaline based diet will go a long way in reducing muscle soreness and preventing muscle soreness as well. Eat right, eat an alkaline based diet, and consume ginger every day, and muscle soreness will be eliminated or dramatically reduced. Read all about cherries here.



Issue 14 – True Health

Fitness vs. Health – Letter from the Editor

Natural Remedies for Insomnia

How to Breathe

The Body’s Temperature Tolerance

Chemical Dumbing Down Of Society

Is Caffeine Making You Fat?

Ingredients to Avoid

School Lunches

Cold Sores vs. Canker Sores

Dental Fluorodosis

Five Reasons for Sprouting at Home

Dangers in Cosmetics

The Soap and Shampoo Conspiracy

Natural Deodorant

No High Fructose Corn Syrup!

Uses for Baking Soda

Organic vs. Local

Advanced Glycated End Products



Fitness vs. Health – Letter from the Editor

Lance Armstrong, seven time winner of the Tour de France, is a great example of physical fitness. But at one point in his life, this world-class athlete was so unhealthy he was ravaged by cancer. Is he healthy today? It’s hard to say. I would bet he’s healthier than the average person, but I would guess he’s not as healthy as he could be. Men who exercise regularly and consume large quantities of bodybuilding supplements and energy drinks are not healthy. Have you ever read the ingredients on some of those protein powders, muscle gain formulas, and weight loss pills? Filled with everything from artificial colors to sugar, these concoctions do not benefit the body.

Steroids are another example of how health and fitness are not necessarily synonymous. With a proper fitness program, steroids can elevate one’s fitness to a level that is tough, if not impossible, for one to achieve by natural means. But, as we all know, steroids are not healthy. Like many perfectly legal performance enhancement supplements and bodybuilding supplements, steroids are dangerous. You may have seen yoga practitioners with acne, runners with seasonal allergies, or ironman competitors popping Excedrin for their headaches. These are not healthy individuals.

Fitness and health can certainly complement each other. And you cannot be healthy without some degree of fitness. But health is about living life without the need for prescription drugs. Being healthy is living without allergies. Living healthy means you don’t get diagnosed with Type II diabetes or arthritis in your forties or fifties and blame your age or genetics. Living healthy is living without aches and pains. Living healthy is taking responsibility for your own health and not blindly putting it in the hands of doctors.

Being both physically fit and healthy is an amazing feeling. Imagine waking up after a great night’s sleep full of energy with no aches and pains, at any age, clear headed, and ready to take on the day. For some people this isn’t possible. But for most people, including a great many who think they have no choice, health is a viable option.

Michael Edwards

Signature

Editor in Chief



Natural Herbal Remedies for Insomnia

Eliminate stimulants from your diet. Coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, energy drinks… If you won’t give these up, be sure to limit them to the early hours of the day. Thyroid and adrenal fatigue can lead to insomnia and poor quality sleep, so address those glands if needed. B vitamins are essential to the nervous system and deficiencies can result in disruption of sleep cycles. Take a high-quality B complex vitamin each day. If you do not get daily exposure to sunlight or you live north of Atlanta, Georgia or Los Angeles, California, supplement with vitamin D. If you suffer from regular insomnia please check out How To Heal Your Gut and Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones.

Herbal Remedies and Supplements for Insomnia

To fix the biological clock long term,  diet is key; B vitamins, thyroid health, and exercise are paramount.  But the right combination of the following herbal remedies will knock almost anyone out at least for the first few nights they’re used, without the pharmaceutical side effects.

Tryptophan

Our bodies require tryptophan, an amino acid, to make serotonin and melatonin. It can help you fall asleep and improve your quality of sleep by lengthening the time you spend in deep sleep. In addition, studies have shown an increase in alertness upon waking.

Valerian Root

Valerian root also aids in sleep onset as well as quality of sleep. The best results are found when combining valerian root with melatonin or hops. Take 400-500 mg at bedtime.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland. It does not help with the  length of sleep or sleep quality, but it does help with sleep onset. Side effects may include nightmares and daytime drowsiness. Dosage ranges from 1-10 mg.

Hops

Hops extract is another sleep aid that improves sleep and aids in sleep onset. It works well with valerian extract and the combination may help increase alpha brain waves.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh minimizes sleep disturbances and reduces irritability and mood swings

Passion Flower

Passion flower clears anxiety and restores the body to a more peaceful state

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is known as an adaptogen that block stress messages in the body, promoting relaxation and peacefulness.

Chamomile flower

Chamomile flower and leaf soothes anxiety and has sedative properties

Skullcap

Skullcap promotes calmness and increases the body’s ability to adapt to stress. It also acts as a sedative for aches and pain

My Own Protocol for Insomnia

Exercise. Anytime I need to get to sleep on time no matter what, I make sure I exercised that day. I set the right sleep environment. If thoughts are swirling in my mind, I write them down. A bedside journal can be a great sleep aid.

Before going to sleep, all the lights should be turned off or covered (those little blue, red, flashing lights on electronics inhibit proper sleep rhythms). Absolute darkness aids in melatonin production. It also helps to have a set bedtime. Make sure your bedtime allows for eight hours of sleep. Get up at the same time every morning no matter what. Even if you can’t go to sleep at the right time, going to bed at the right time and staying up eventually fixes one’s sleep schedule.

Get grounded, and take that time to do some peaceful meditation. This can be especially beneficial to our internal clock if done early morning and just before bedtime.

L-Tryptophan, Shillington’s Nerve Sedative Formula, and some B vitamins will knock me out within a half an hour every time. I like L-Tryptophan better than a melatonin supplement because it increases production of melatonin and serotonin.

Take 1,000 to 3,000 (some need 3k but many people only need 1) mgs of L-Tryptophan with two droppers full of Shillington’s Nerve Sedative.

Shillington’s Nerve Sedative Recipe (or click here to purchase):

2 – parts Valerian Root
2 – parts Lobelia Seed Pods
2 – parts Passion Flower
1 – part Hops Flowers
1 – part Black Cohosh
1 – part Blue Cohosh
1 – part Skullcap
1 – part Wild Yam

A “part” is a measurement by volume.  Blend all ingredients together and make into a tincture using a 50 – 50 Blend of Alcohol and distilled water. For more, see How to Make a Tincture.

A dropperful is considered to be about 1/2 way up the dropper from a two ounce bottle.

Be sure to shake well before each use.

Conclusion

Once you get your biological clock reset, your new sleep habits require discipline, but you will reap the benefits of healthy, restful sleep. The trick to having a set sleep schedule (besides health) is all in the wakeup time. If 7a.m. is when you want to wake up, then that’s when you wake up, no matter what for the next 6 weeks.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:
Sources:


The Body’s Temperature Tolerance

A Sign of Health

A few days ago I turned off the A.C. and opened the windows. The temperature dived as we move into the fall. Last night, the temperature dropped to 43°. Inside I woke up to a house at 48°. But I wasn’t uncomfortable. My hands and feet were as warm as the rest of my body. I went outside with a t-shirt and shorts and was still comfortable.

I wasn’t always like this, but I am comfortable with temperatures from 40° to 103° F. I used to hate the heat. Back when I was out of shape,  I hated to sweat.  It felt toxic, and it was. I was unhealthy and my sweat smelled bad and felt “icky”. I was overweight. Just about anything temperature under 80° was fine with me. At over 350 pounds I had plenty of insulation for the cold weather.

When I lost weight this changed. Hot weather was a bit easier to deal with, as I did not sweat as easily, but cold weather was much more difficult for me. My feet and hands would get cold easily. If it did get over 85° I would be uncomfortable.

The healthier I became the less temperature extremes bothered me. I noticed that a little bit of sweat, even a lot of sweat, feels good. And the colder weather is more comfortable because my blood is healthier, and I have much better circulation now.