This is a guest post by Michelle Ramone.
During the winter, a mom’s number one enemy is the cold and flu. Germs from a single, unprotected sneeze from your child’s classroom can easily infect your home and make your little one sick with an agonizing earache and cold symptoms.
Despite meticulous cold prevention efforts, kids still get sick. You can heal your child back to health and cure throbbing ear pain with natural home remedies.
What Causes an Ear Infection?
An earache can be caused by a legitimate infection or fluid buildup that causes pressure and irritation on the ear drum. Untreated fluid buildup could cause an actual infection. An acute ear infection can also be caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the middle ear as an individual recovers from an upper respiratory tract infection or cold. You can gather more ear infection and earache info on symptoms and treatment by visiting MeMD online.
When your child has an ongoing 102 degree fever and a severe cough, runny nose and ear pain that hasn’t subsided for more than two to three days, you may want to visit the pediatrician. However, according to Mommypotamus.com, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not prescribe antibiotics unless there is an obvious infection (a bulging tympanic membrane). Since many infections clear up without treatment, the AAP recommends the wait-and-see approach for most cases.
During the healing process, you can relieve earache symptoms naturally in several ways.
Garlic
Photo by Donovan Govan via Wikimedia Commons
Garlic contains a compound that is 100 times more effective in fighting disease-causing bacteria than two antibiotics—and does it within a fraction of the time, according to Washington State University researchers.
Garlic contains antiviral properties, alliin and allinase, and by chopping a clove, crushed garlic compounds form allicin — a natural anesthetic with antioxidant activity. Mommypotamus recommends using garlic and mullein oil from a health food store. Put two to three drops in your child’s ear at least four times a day for pain reduction. Learn more about bacteria-fighting compounds in garlic by visiting Medical Daily online.
Essential Oils
Photo by comment-economiser.fr via Flickr
Essential oils applied behind the ear, on the neck and on the temples can reduce inflammation and help facilitate excess fluid drainage. Basil essential oil, for example, is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Mixing up an aromatherapy ear rub with lavender essential oil, tea tree essential oil and a carrier oil (such as vegetable oil from your kitchen) and massaging the mixture outside the ear offers effective relief.
Use lavender oil to create a warm compress and place the cloth over the ear. Effective aromatherapy massage oils also include eucalyptus, chamomile and rosemary, but be sure to research and test the oils before using on your child’s skin. Young skin can be sensitive to certain essential oils.
Elderberry Syrup
Not only can homemade elderberry syrup holistically treat earache symptoms, but it can boost the immune system and tastes great for kids in a berry drink. Try this recipe from Chic Mummy: Combine 1/2 cup dried black elderberries, 1/4 cup dried rosehips and 2 tablespoons dried echinacea with a cinnamon stick, sliced fresh ginger and 3 cups water in a saucepan. Boil and then simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in raw honey. Pour syrup into vintage canning bottles or mason jars with rubber seals.
Children can take two teaspoons three times a day to eliminate cold symptoms. The syrup and its natural berry flavoring even tastes great on toast or in yogurt.
About the Author: Michelle Ramone, a write-from-home blogger and mother of three from New England, is passionate about bringing her kids up in a greener world. She was formerly a hairstylist at an all-vegan product salon, but decided to stay home with her children until they are ready to go to school.
This post is featured on Natural Living Monday, Thank Your Body Thursday and Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways.
