Natural Ear Infection Remedies

[robinforman]

My daughter (8 months) has her FOURTH ear infection right now... which means she has had that many rounds of antibiotics (actually more than that because one required multiple rounds of AB). I am concerned about giving her antibiotics EVERY time she get an ear infection, especially if she gets them as often as she has been. So I am hoping you guys might have some tried-and-true methods for dealing with them outside of AB. I did a search but found some iffy sounding stuff, so I wanted to check here and see if anyone had any they had actually personally used. Thanks in advance!

 

[emmasmommy]

I would LOVE to see the answers for this. DD2 is on her 6th one in 4 mo. She goes tomorrow to the ENT..

 

[Leila]

It's not a natural remedy, but when my aunt (who is an RN) was faced with the possibility of my cousin needing tubes, she insisted that his ped put him on a low-dose antibiotic for 30 days. He was 18 months old at the time--he's 31 now and has never had another EI. My mom did the same for my baby sister, also no more EIs.

 

[Lukasmummy]

A few drops of warm olive oil was always what the doctor recommended when Lukas and me have ear infections over and over again. Always worked really well unless we had stuff leaking out of it so might be worth a try. Hugs Crystal x

 

[jannylynn]

Has your ped suggested tubes? I heard that after 4 in one year they should get them. DS had them and hasn't had antibiotics since then. He was 2 then and he's 6 now!!!

I wouldn't mess around with not taking the antibiotics. It can cause their ear drum to rupture if the infections get too bad and since you can't see if it's getting any better, that can be really scary! You could try some things for prevention such as Claritin and nasal rinses after the next round of antibiotics. But some baby get them because the tube that drains the ear is too small so it really might not matter what you do except put in the tubes to enlarge that tube.

 

[Sarah8914]

if you're nursing, i've heard breastmilk is great for just about anything! (eyes, ears, nose, really!)

 

[newfiemountiewife]

I have heard shredded carrots wrapped in a damn paper towel over the ear. I forget why it works, but people I know have used it.

 

[iJenny]

Go to a local health store (Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods even) and get some pure tea tree oil (melaleuca oil) Mix a few drops up with a 1/2 tsp of olive oil and put 1-2 drops in ears 2-3 times a day. Melaleuca oil is a natural antiseptic to relieve pain and perhaps even the infection.

 

[nanienamou]

Actually, some studies show that antibiotics are not necessary for each and every ear infection.

My oldest son had lots of ear infections a while back. After 3 courses of antibiotics that failed to work, I decided to try something 'natural'.

This is what I do, and it work in a couple of hours. I used this technique on each of my 3 boys.

I take a coton ball and wet it with olive oil. Then I smash a clove of garlic (you want to get the juices) and I put it (or just a piece if it's big) in the cotton ball and stick it in the ear. Yes, it smells, but it works. That's because garlic and olive oil are natural antibiotics. If your child is young, you can secure the coton ball into place with a headband.

 

[skylers mom]

Well I don't have a remedy but my little boy had chronic ear infections until he was 3 years old. He took antibiotic after antibiotic. It would clear up but as soon as the medicine was over he would just get them right back. Finally our doctor suggested that he be tested for allergies. They drew his blood and turned out he was highly allergic-off the chart- to dairy products. Well he loved cheese whole milk and the like. We changed him to soy milk and cut back the dairy and the child has never had another ear infection! We were so relieved that he did not have to have tubes. I would ask your doctor to check him for allergies before doing the tubes. By the way I am an RN and the antibiotics are needed as it is an infection in your childs body. As frequently as your little one is having them there has got to be a root cause. I would check into the allergy thing though. It can't hurt!

 

[Lyd]

My understanding is that 95% of ear infections are viral and don't really need to be treated by antibiotics. But, the test to find out about that is difficult and expensive, so doctors just prescribe antibiotics. We have found a homeopathic remedy that works wonders. Hyland's Earache Tablets. Everytime one of our kids starts to act like his/her ears are bugging them, we give the tablets and the earache is always gone within a day or so. I have only had to go to the doctor for an ear infection once with my kids, and that was the time we neglected to give the Hyland's Tabs. They are the best!

http://www.hylands.com/

I can buy these at my local grocery store, so they shouldn't be too hard to find.