Home remedies for Ear Infections

Ear infections are a common occurrence, but often neglected in terms of care required while dealing with them. The reason is less severe symptoms and lack of awareness. However, if neglected ear infections may lead to severe ear damage and even loss of hearing. It is therefore important that ear infections be handled with great care.

One knows one has ear infection when there is some watery secretion from the ear. Over itchiness is felt or even at times there is slight pain. Severe cases of ear infection may cause damage to the ear drums, with slight to intense perforation, with damage spreading to the surrounding bone tissue as well.

Infections in the ear can be caused by several factors. Prominent causes of ear infection are-

•    Presence of bacterial or viral infection in the middle ear.
•    External injury due to use of sharp objects or ear buds
•    Infection due to water reaching the middle ear.
•    Infection in bottle fed babies due to milk trickling to the ear.
•    Infection due to food allergies
•    Ear perforation can also be caused by violent vomiting.
•    Sometimes smoking or being I the vicinity of smokers may also cause infection of the ears.
•    Change in pressure on the ear drum may damage it and that may lead to ear infection.
•    Ear infections due to B-Cat.

In order to maintain good ear health and keep them infection free, it is vital that body gets its sufficient supply of vitamins and minerals. Also the following care needs to be taken on a regular basis-

•    Never poke your ears with sharp objects in order to clean them.
•    The use of ear buds should be restricted to the outer ear only.
•    Avoid water entering the ear during baths and specifically head baths or swimming.
•    Any water in the ear must be drained out.
•    Avoid travelling by air when you have a cold.
•    Always chew on something during air travel to keep pressure from building on the ear drums.
•    Any swishing sound in the ears should be reported to the doctor at the earliest.
•    Do not apply any oil, ointment or ear drops without the doctor’s knowledge.

The following remedies have been known to help with ear infections but must always be cross checked before use, by a herbal practitioner first:

•    In case a bottle fed baby has ear infection, he or she should be fed rice dream, nut milk, or soy milk only and the cow’s milk and all other dairy products should be stopped for one moth.
•    A mixture prepared with 1 tsp salt, 1tsp glycerine and 2 tablespoons warm water often proves helpful in eliminating the ringing or swishing sounds in ears.
•    In case of ear infections caused by long lasting cough, ears must be checked for excessive ear wax. Many herbal practitioners suggest garlic enemas in case the infection is severe or toxin levels are high following fever, chills, cough and cold.
•    Homeopathic medicines like - Belladonna, Calcarea carbonica, Chamomilla, Lycopodium, Pulsatilla, and Sulfur prove effective in ear infections.

Precautions to be taken in case of ear infections-

•    Avoid blowing the nose if you have ear infection.
•    Look out for signs like ringing in ears, pain or blood like discharge. These could indicate a perforated ear drum.
•    Avoid too sweet foods, foods rich in carbohydrates, fruits and fruit juices during ear infections.
•    It is better to rotate foods during ear infections to avoid food allergies.
•    Do not go for swims when the ear is infected.
•    Stuff ears with cotton balls before taking a bath to avoid any water from entering the ear.
•    Consult your doctor at the earliest.