7 Natural remedies for ear infections

Veröffentlicht am: July 04, 2024
Irina  Fink
Irina Fink

Naturopath

Are you struggling with the symptoms of an ear infection and wondering how to get rid of it quickly? Ear infections can be very unpleasant and painful, both in adults and children.

Ear infections can occur in the outer, middle or inner ear. In this guide, we focus on the most common type of ear infection, middle ear infection.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "in many cases, middle ear infections do not require antibiotics because the body's own immune system can fight the infection without the help of antibiotics", and a mild case "often resolves on its own without the need for antibiotic treatment".

So even conventional medicine agrees that antibiotics are often not the way to go, which means it's time to talk about natural treatments for middle ear infections and how to relieve the pain of them.

Contents

 

What is an ear infection?

A middle ear infection, medically known as acute otitis media, can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Most commonly, an ear infection occurs in the middle ear, the air-filled space between the eardrum and the oval window of the ear. The middle ear is responsible for transmitting sound from the outer to the inner ear.

In addition to middle ear inflammation, inflammation of the outer ear (e.g. swimmer's ear) or the inner ear can also occur. Labyrinthitis is a severe inflammation of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance. People with labyrinthitis often suffer from dizziness and a slight loss of hearing.

If a middle ear infection is bacterial, it is usually caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, a virus can also cause otitis media. A cold or allergy can lead to blockage of the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. This blockage can lead to a build-up of fluid and pressure, which can provide a breeding ground for bacteria or viruses that have entered the middle ear through the Eustachian tube and can lead to a middle ear infection.

 

What are the most common symptoms of a middle ear infection?


A middle ear infection causes severe inflammation and fluid accumulation in the ear. The most common symptom is earache. Temporary hearing impairment may also occur. The pain is usually worse when lying down. Fever may also occur.

As far as risk factors for middle ear infections are concerned, children are more prone to middle ear infections than adults, especially children aged 6 months to 2 years, due to the size and shape of their Eustachian tubes and their not yet fully developed immune systems. Babies who are bottle-fed, especially if they are lying down, are more susceptible to infections than babies who are breastfed.

Other risk factors are ear injuries, changes in climate, differences in altitude, the use of a pacifier, middle ear infections in the family and cigarette smoke.

 

7 natural remedies for ear infections


What to do if you have an ear infection? If you're wondering how to treat a middle ear infection at home, you've come to the right place. As experts confirm, an ear infection caused by viruses should not be treated with antibiotics, and that's when these natural but highly effective ear infection remedies can really help. Here are some effective natural remedies for ear infections for adults and children.

 

1. garlic oil


It's not for nothing that you'll find garlic oil on the shelves of your health food store. Several studies have demonstrated the powerful antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties of garlic. It has also been shown to have an extremely positive effect on the immune system. As "nature's antibiotic", garlic oil can help to get to the bottom of a middle ear infection and kill the pathogens.

If you take your child to the doctor for a middle ear infection, you should question the recommendation of antibiotics. In the U.S., an estimated 80 percent of children by the age of three have otitis media, and it is the most common condition in children for which doctors prescribe antibiotics.

Antibiotics should only be prescribed if the infection is bacterial in origin. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends waiting instead of prescribing antibiotics immediately for low-risk children. Many doctors wait 24 to 72 hours to see if symptoms improve, which is often the case.

Antibiotics can also trigger allergies in children. The over-prescription of antibiotics in particular has meant that bacterial middle ear infections have become resistant to antibiotics and are much more difficult to treat.

 

2. probiotics


In complementary and alternative medicine, probiotics are increasingly being used to treat middle ear infections in children, as they have proven to be extremely effective. If you have a middle ear infection, you should do everything you can to strengthen your immune system. One of the best ways is to take probiotics, which are available as supplements and can also be consumed through food, for example by eating kimchi, kombucha, coconut kefir and other fermented foods rich in probiotics.

Probiotics can even help prevent ear infections. According to the Mayo Clinic, certain strains of these "good" bacteria that occur naturally in the body can help prevent ear infections in infants and children. 

Probiotics capsules against ear infections

3. chiropractic treatment


One of the many benefits of chiropractic care is its ability to improve ear infections. Misalignment of the spine in the upper neck can interfere with the body's ability to heal. As a result, nerve signals traveling from the brain to this area are also impaired, which affects overall healing.

In a pilot study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, 332 children aged 27 days to 5 years were studied to assess the effects of a series of four to six chiropractic treatments. Some of the children suffered from acute otitis media, others from chronic otitis media. Overall, the results showed a strong correlation between chiropractic treatments and the resolution of middle ear infections in children.

Another study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics examined the effect of chiropractic treatments on the symptoms of otitis media in 46 children aged up to 5 years. The typical treatment regimen consisted of three treatments per week for one week, followed by two treatments per week for one week, followed by one treatment per week. This study was a limited, non-randomized, retrospective cohort study, but the results were quite interesting: 93 percent of all cases improved, 75 percent within 10 days or less, and 43 percent with only one or two treatments. 

With a middle ear infection, fluid accumulates in the middle ear cavity, creating a favorable environment for viruses and bacteria. The idea behind chiropractic treatment of middle ear infections is that treating the spine, particularly the cervical spine, can help to relax the muscles around the Eustachian tubes so that the fluid can drain away more easily. Chiropractic treatment also aims to restore the natural function of the nervous system, which can benefit the health of the whole body.

 

4. determine the actual cause (allergies)


One of the main causes of middle ear infections can be food allergies. Researchers have found that children with food allergies are more likely to suffer from middle ear infections. In a study first published in 2004, it was found that almost half of the children suffering from otitis media with fluid accumulation had a food allergy.

If your child is allergic to gluten, dairy products, nuts or other foods that they eat regularly, this can contribute to the development of a middle ear infection. If you or your child suffer from chronic ear infections, it is worth having an IgG food sensitivity test carried out to identify possible food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances. It is generally recommended to avoid conventional cow's milk. You can replace cow's milk products with goat's milk, goat's milk yoghurt and goat's cheese.

 

5. mullein


Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a plant whose flower oil is considered one of the best natural remedies for earache. A tincture containing mullein alone or in combination with other herbs is available on the internet and in health food stores as a natural remedy for earache and ear infections.

A study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine shows that herbal ear drops containing mullein are as effective as a painkiller in relieving pain. Mullein oil is also used as a natural treatment for ear infections (and much more) in dogs.

 

6. warmth and peace


Don't underestimate the healing power of rest. When your body (or your child's) is trying to fight an ear infection, rest and a healthy diet are crucial.
Applying heat to the ear can also help with the pain. Use a warm washcloth to do this, but make sure it's not too hot and is wrung out well.

 

7. vitamin D

Vitamin D is known to boost the immune system, and research shows how it can specifically help with ear infections. A case-control study published in the Norwegian journal Acta Paediatrica in 2017 showed that the risk of chronic otitis media with secretion discharge can be reduced by increasing serum vitamin D levels through increased sun exposure, higher dietary vitamin D intake and vitamin D supplementation.

Vitamin D for ear infections

Conventional treatment


Many doctors who are not sure whether it is a viral or bacterial infection prescribe antibiotics, usually amoxicillin, a penicillin antibiotic. The typical duration of treatment for children under 6 years of age and for children with a severe middle ear infection is 10 days. For children aged 6 years and older or with a mild to moderate infection, treatment usually lasts five to seven days. However, most children with uncomplicated acute otitis media recover completely without antibiotic therapy.

And once again, if a virus is the cause of a middle ear infection, antibiotics will not help and should not be prescribed.

 

Other remedies for middle ear infections

The best foods for middle ear infections

  • Water: Helps to maintain fluid balance and loosen mucus.
  • Wild fish: Omega-3 fatty acids in wild fish (including chia and linseed) help to reduce inflammation.
  • Dairy-free baby food: If a baby drinks formula, it is advisable to switch to coconut or goat's milk products, which are less likely to cause allergies. However, breastfeeding is best.
  • Fruit and vegetables with a high vitamin C content: they strengthen the immune system and help the body to fight off infections.

These foods should be avoided:

  • Potential food allergens: The most common allergens include conventional dairy products, gluten, shrimp and peanuts.
  • Conventional dairy products: Pasteurized cow's milk products can be mucus-forming and exacerbate infections.
  • Sugar: Reduces immune function and promotes inflammation.
  • Processed foods: These foods may contain additional chemicals and colorants that infants may be sensitive to

 

Other dietary supplements for middle ear infections

  • Zinc (10 mg 2x daily for children from 2 years of age)
    Zinc strengthens the immune system and promotes wound healing.
  • Vitamin C (1,000 mg 3 times a day for adults, 500 mg 2 times a day for children aged 6 to 12)
    Vitamin C strengthens the immune function and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
  • Vitamin D3 (400 IU - 2,000 IU daily at the age of 2-12 years)
    Vitamin D3 supports the immune system.


Precautionary measures for otitis media


If you experience dizziness, drowsiness or hearing loss and these symptoms do not improve or even worsen after a few days, you should consult a doctor.

Contact your pediatrician immediately if:

your child appears very ill and shows symptoms such as a stiff neck and high fever (over 40 degrees).
your child suddenly has hearing loss, dizziness or severe pain.
you notice redness, swelling or pain behind or near your child's ear, especially if your child does not move the muscles on that side of the face.
You should always consult a pediatrician with children under 6 months of age with otitis media and/or fever.