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:
- Shillington’s Ear Formula
- Mother Earth Organic Root Cider – Barrier Island Organics
- Coptis Chinensis – Wise Woman Herbals
- Shillington’s Echinacea Plus
Further Reading:
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