Ear Infections: Break the Vicious Cycle
by author Stacelynn Caughlan, Cl.N, CH, CBC

Natural remedies can be very effective at curbing an ear infection, but a strong, healthy immune system is even better. The best ways to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection are to stimulate the child’s own immune defences and to use natural microbials. Because many infections are precipitated by a viral infection attacking the respiratory system, this approach will cover all bases.

Be sure the child’s diet is free of refined and/or concentrated sugars (e.g., table sugar, corn syrup) and low in naturally occurring sugars such as those in fruit juices. Sugar is known to lower the body’s resistance to infection. It also feeds the yeast that may be triggering the infections in the first place. If your child is dealing with a severe yeast infection as determined by a qualified health-care practitioner, it is especially important to make the necessary dietary changes.

Vegetable proteins such as beans, peas and nuts, as well as whole grains, colourful fruits and vegetables and adequate water/fluids should make up the bulk of your child’s diet. When an ear infection is present, avoid pasteurized dairy and cheese products because these encourage mucus formation.

For a child under eight months, breastmilk should still be the primary source of calories. Breastfeeding has been clinically proven to reduce the risk of ear infections. It is best to continue nursing until your child is weaned naturally, which could be two years or more. Breastmilk is also a convenient carrier for many of the following suggested remedies. The nursing mother can take an adult dose and pass on the benefits via her breastmilk.

Echinacea stimulates the white blood cells that are necessary for eliminating pathogens. Children prone to chronic ear infections have benefited from continual use of echinacea throughout the cold and flu season with a one week break out of every four. Otherwise, a dose at the first sign of symptoms and every three to four hours thereafter may prevent the problem from progressing. Choose a children’s glycerite (alcohol-free) formula and follow the instructions on the bottle. Seek professional advice on higher dosages for acute infection.
Zinc supplements also boost the immune system. For children old enough to chew, zinc lozenges are very convenient. Some varieties contain echinacea or other immune-boosting remedies. Up to 30 milligrams per day is needed for acute illness and five to 10 mg on a regular basis.

Vitamin C increases the immune response and is an anti-inflammatory. Children’s chewable and liquid vitamin C supplements are available. Be sure to brush their teeth afterward, as this acidic vitamin can erode tooth enamel. Most children tolerate 100 to 500 mg a day during illness. If your child develops loose stools (a sign of excess), decrease dosage. Watch for signs of dehydration should this last for more than one day.

Garlic is surprisingly well tolerated by little tastebuds if they are introduced to it early in life. Breastfed babies can taste garlic in mom’s breastmilk after she eats this potent anti-microbial herb. For smaller children, and older ones who might refuse to eat it, rub infused garlic oil (see recipe) onto the soles of the feet, where it’s readily absorbed into the body.

Allergens

Second-hand smoke has been proven to increase a child’s risk of ear infections. Seasonal allergies (hay fever) and sensitivities to pollen, mould, pet dander, dust and food proteins may also trigger recurring ear infections. The immune system’s response to foreign invaders usually results in inflammatory congestion that can block the eustachian tubes. Because the body is so busy trying to ward off "invaders," it’s incapable of appropriately dealing with bacterial overgrowth that may occur in the middle ear’s warm, moist environment. Keep your child’s environment reasonably free of allergens by installing an air filter as well as using hypoallergenic materials such as organic cotton sheets and pillowcases. Clean often with natural cleansers such as baking soda and vinegar. Never smoke around your children.

Food allergies must be identified and avoided until the body is strong enough to resist an inappropriate immune response. Common culprits include homogenized and pasteurized dairy products, soy, wheat, corn, eggs and oranges. It’s best to work with a practitioner who can help you identify problematic foods while still ensuring a healthy diet. Be wary of practitioners who put nursing moms or small children on very restrictive elimination diets. This can sometimes do more harm than good, and compliance is minimal after a short while.

Probiotics

Ear infections are one of the most common reasons why antibiotics are prescribed to children. But a subsequent side-effect can be the proliferation of yeast (candida) in the body. Yeast infections may leave the immune system weakened and vulnerable, and a child more susceptible to ear infections–hence the vicious cycle.

Yeast infections cause an imbalance in the intestinal flora required to properly digest food and protect the body from pathogenic growth. It’s important to replace missing flora with fermented foods such as kefir and yogurt as well as probiotics such as acidophilus. Most children will benefit from daily supplementation.

Breastmilk also supports the growth of intestinal flora, thereby enhancing the immune system. Breastfeeding supplies important immune-enhancing substances, further reduces the risk of developing allergies by protecting the intestines (leaky intestines allow more foreign material into the bloodstream) and contributes to appropriate physical development of the eustachian tubes.

Luckily, there are ways of breaking the vicious cycle. Some solutions, such as becoming more aware of food allergens, take time and persistence. Others may provide more immediate relief until the "big picture" can be seen clearly and addressed.

Antibiotic Overuse

When you visit your family doctor about an ear infection, flu or other ailment, chances are high that you will receive a prescription for antibiotics. They’ve been the popular treatment of many health problems since the 1940s, when they came on the market as one of the biggest advancements in medicine. But we are now discovering that antibiotics have dangerous side-effects and that their overuse has helped create highly resistant bacteria that wipe out the body’s “good” bacteria. The result: many bacterial infections are more difficult to treat than ever, including ear and skin infections, pneumonia and urinary tract infections.

Stacelynn Caughlan, Cl.N, CH, CBC, is a prenatal/pediatric herbalist and nutritionist, birth doula and certified breastfeeding counsellor. She maintains a private practice in Vancouver at Gaia Garden Healing Clinic. Phone 604-224-5501. Website: motherandchildhealth.com.

Source: alive #239, September 2002