Children's Centre
EAR ACHES
Otitis Media - Middle Ear Infection
Often occurs as a consequence of a cold or teething or a childhood illness.
Common symptoms: pain in ear, a sense of obstruction or congestion in the ear, fever, partial loss of hearing. Young children may wake crying in the night, have a fever, or go off their food.
Fluid build-up behind the ear-drum can result in extreme pain and can cause the drum to burst.
In babies and young children the build-up of fluid occurs because the Eustachian tube (which normally drains the middle ear to the throat; and is very narrow) becomes blocked with mucus.
Pain lessens once the middle ear discharges fluid: seek professional homeopathic help if this occurs - especially if the discharge is smelly.
Avoid flying (which increases pressure in the ears), swimming or contact with water until the ear is completely healed.
In a young child ear ache may accompany teething as the pain from the gums radiates to the ear: Chamomilla 6c or 30c is the best homeopathic remedy in this case. Babies commonly rub or pull the affected ear if it's hurting, and there are other tell-tale signs such as irritability, crying or a temperature.
Give lots of drinks (water, juice): you may want to avoid giving dairy produce until the congestion eases (especially milk and cheese), although breast milk is fine, and may be all that the child wants. If they suffer from repeated ear trouble, you may want to try goat's milk for your children,using the nanny goat formula for babies.
A soothing compress - for instance, a warm hot water bottle wrapped in a towel - can help if held against the ear.
For older children and adults, put two drops of Mullein oil (Verbascum) into the affected ear every 4 hours - unless there's a discharge.
70% of cases of acute otitis media in children do not respond to antibiotics and will heal on their own with rest, extra fluid and homeopathic remedies. This is because often there are no bacteria present, especially where there is simply redness and inflammation of the eardrum.
Food sensitivity is a major cause of otitis with almost 90% of children having sensitivity to dairy produce, wheat or eggs. Try goats' milk or soya milk or rice milk as an alternative to cows' milk. Sensitivities in the gut cause an increase in mucus production which then builds up in the eustachian tube.
Babies who have been totally breast-fed have a much lower incidence of otitis.
Genetic factors may be involved in families with a history of eczema, asthma, hay fever or food sensitivities.
Cranial osteopathy and homeopathy can help where there has been a difficult birth using forceps or venteuse, with resulting tension in the bones around the ears.
The DPT and MMR vaccines are among the major causes of ear infection and glue ear.
Poor nutrition and malabsorption are also important factors.
Do not be tempted to push anything into the ears, such as ear-cleaning cotton buds.
Homeopathic remedies
Homeopathy is very effective in treating earache and ear inflammation.
In acute cases take the remedies every hour, or more often if the child is screaming in pain. In more chronic cases, take one dose 3-4 times a day.
In very severe cases, plus the remedy. To do this, place 2 pills into a cup of water, stir and sip as frequently as needed. Keep shaking or stirring the water before sipping - this releases the energy of the remedy into the water and slightly raises the potency at each shake or stir.
Aconite
- This is the first remedy to think of for earache.
- Use in the first 24 hours if ear ache comes on suddenly - especially at night.
- Give in 30c potency every 2 or 3 hours for 4 doses.
Belladonna
- Right-sided ear ache; high fever. There may also be tonsillitis, worse on the RIGHT side.
- Sudden throbbing pains.
- Hot, feverish red face; glassy eyes.
- Radiates heat from body; but cold hands and feet.
- Give in 30c potency, plussed (i.e. put one pill in a cup of water, then stir or shake); give sips frequently until pain subsides. If fever remains high after 3 or 4 doses of Belladonna , give one dose of Sulphur 30c and then resume the Belladonna .
Chamomilla
- First remedy to think of if earache is associated with teething (at any age!).
- Child screams with pain.
- Irritable: nothing pleases.
- One red cheek indicates teething on that side.
- Green stool.
Hepar Sulph
- This is the number one pus remedy. Ear ache with thick yellow discharge.
- Very chilly; irritable; sensitive; can't bear anyone to touch the ear.
- Sticking pains in ears and throat.
- Children become very over-sensitive.
Lachesis
- Left-sided ear ache.
- Very much worse at night or while trying to sleep.
- Swollen, constricted feeling in throat; worse for swallowing saliva.
- This remedy may be needed for children who are jealous after the birth of a sibling.
Lycopodium
- Right-sided ear ache, or ache starts on the right and goes to the left ear.
- Worse between 4pm and 8pm (often as children come home after school).
- Ear feels stopped-up; maybe ringing and buzzing.
- The ear discharge is yellow, thick and burning.
- Often accompanied by digestive symptoms: gas and bloating.
- Child feels anxious and insecure, and doesn't want to be left alone.
Mercury
- Use towards end of illness.
- Offensive green discharge, smelly.
- Sweating is profuse and often at night, with chills.
- Lots of saliva or drooling onto pillow at night. Bad/metallic taste in mouth or bad breath.
- Swollen glands in neck.
Plantago tincture
- Put 2 drops into the affected ear; also rub the tincture onto the affected tooth and gum if associated with ear ache.
Pulsatilla
- Earache after getting wet, e.g. swimming.
- Earaches after chicken pox, measles or mumps.
- Earaches in children who feel emotionally upset after the birth of a sibling.
- Earache with clingingness and weeping. Child demanding; feels better for cuddles.
- Better for being outside.
- No thirst.
Australian Bush Flower Essences
- Bush Fuchsia; Sunshine Wattle
Glue Ear - chronic otitis media
Comes after recurrent inflammation of the middle ear, affecting hearing.
Common when a child has had repeated courses of antibiotics, or is sensitive to dairy products (e.g. milk, cheese).
Best treatments are cranial osteopathy and professional homeopathy. See earlier advice regarding changing to goat's milk.
Conventional treatment is to prescribe a three-month course of antibiotics. This is best avoided as it only compounds the problem, since glue ear is not caused by bacteria. Common causes include the DPT and MMR vaccines, or sensitivity to dairy products.
70% of the immune system is in the gut. Antibiotics strip the gut of beneficial bacteria (which contribute to the immune system) and may trigger food sensitivities and mucus production.
Otitis Externa
- Infection in ear canal - the outer ear.
- Common with food sensitivities.
- Dryness and itching in ear canal.
- Discharge from either ear.
- Can occur after swimming if sensitive to chlorine.
- Boost the immune system for kids with zinc lozenges (zinc and Echinacea).
- Bioforce Echinacea Complex is a herbal tincture including plantago, which is great for inflammation of the ear.
- Homeopathic remedy: Graphites 6c or 30c twice daily for a week.
- Seek professional treatment to clear any food sensitivities or if the symptoms persist after a week using Graphites .
- If you need to use antibiotics, support your gut flora with a good pro-biotic (e.g. Bifidobacterium Infantis powder for infants; or ABC-Dophylis for children up to 4 years of age - store in fridge).