Did you know that ear infections are the number one cause for trips to the doctors office? Did you know that almost every child by a few months old has been on antibiotics for an ear infection? Are antibiotics really necessary for ear infections? My answer is NO and here is why....
Over the last 19 months I have dealt with about 4 ear infections with my son. In his early days he had a few that got bad and I put him on antibiotics. I did not want to give him antiboitics, but was not sure what else to do. Of course at the Pediatricians office I was never given any natural alternatives. I now want to share a recent experience I had with an ear infection and how for the first time I did not give my son antiboitcs. Instead used a natural alternative and it worked great! On Wednesay night he was up all night screaming and would not sleep. The next morning I took him to the doctor and he had an ear infection in his left ear. Of course immeditely the dr. wrote a prescription for antibiotics with no other explanation. I asked if I could wait a few days and they were happy I would wait to see if it wouldn't heal on it's own. She also stated they thought it could heal without them, but if it didn't in a few days go ahead with the antiboitcs. I immedietely knew I needed an alternative to anitobitcs this time and I was going to find it! God is so amazing because on my way home I drove past a health store I had never seen before. (on the way home from the Ped's office---how great!) I turned around and went in. I asked if they had garlic mullein drops for ear infections. The lady pointed me to it, which I was so thankful for. Low and behold right next to it was a pamplet on ear infections and bacteria resistance. It was by Mary Ann Block. Click here for a must read article on this topic. This statement was big on the front page--
"Studies indicate that 90% of all ear infections will heal entirely on thier own without antiboitic treatment. These same studies show that giving a child an antibiotic for an ear infection can actually cause the ear infection to last longer."
I knew at that moment that for the first time I was on the right track in healing the ear infection naturally and without antiboitcs! As soon as we got home I put two drops in each ear (in case in spread to the other) and some natural pain releiver for the earache. Then I put my son down for a nap and he slept for 4 hours without a fuss, which had not happened the last several days. Then he slept that night for 11+ hours without a fuss! I knew that the Garlic Mullein drops were working and quicker relief then antibiotics! Then on Saturday my dear friend Dr. Meg (I love her!) checked his ears and they looked good 48 hours later...
Trisha's Natural Remedies for an Ear Infection
-Go to the doctor and make sure an ear infection is confirmed
-Make sure the ear drum as not bursted. If so, you will not want to put anything in the ear.
-Get a prescription but be willing to wait a few days before giving it to them
-Go to your nearest health store or better yet have it on hand!
1.) Garlic Mullein drops or Nutri biotic drops (grapefruit seed and tea tree oil)
2.) Natural children's pain relievers for ear infections- I recommend hylands or ABC, but there are many others.
3.) I also suggest immune boosters or vitamin c to help support thier body to fight it off and heal.
4.) I have also heard that chiropractors or those in related fields can make adjustments to help with ear infections. So, if you know of somebody that would be an added bonus!
5.) Can take Garlic, Grapefruit seed extract, or collodial silver orally as they are natural antibloitcs. We did not have to do this.
6.) If your child has a cold you can put Garlic Mullein drops in thier ear for prevention.
-Then head home and put the drops in thier ear as the dosage suggests and give the pain meds. Only give tylenol and motrin if the natural remedies are not working.
-Wait a few days and see if it heals naturally. I am sure you will be surprised how quickly it heals for us it was only a few hours before we saw relief.
-If your child is not finding relief after trying natural remedies then it looks as if antiboitcs will actually be nessasary and it is the 10% that won't heal without them. But, you can be assured with knowing you tried a natural approach first.
I want to add that it is so important to not give antibiotics unless absolutely necessary! I feel very strongly about this from much research I have done. I will have a post later on antibiotic overuse, bacteria resitance, and how antiboitics harm a well functioning immune system and deplete the good bacteria to fight things off. You are doing much harm to your child by giving them antibiotics when it is not necessary. When the time comes when they actually need antiboitcs you will defintely not want them to have a resistance because of overuse when it was not needed! I also want to add that there are times when it is absolutely nessary and I am so thankful we have them to kill nasty infections!
Here are some other good articles on ear infections and antibotics from MSNBC, Dr. Green, Web MD, and Health Link.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16140545/
http://www.drgreene.com/21_768.html
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/news/20060912/cutting-antibiotics-for-ear-infections
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002356.html
If your child gets an ear infection and you try these remedies I would love to hear your results and feedback--It will be helpful to us all!! :)
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Any medical advice should be answered by your highly trained and qualified pediatrician. This information is only my advice and opinion from experience at what I have found helpful for my family.
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