With the number of people we know who have sprouted snouts and tails in this season of swine flu, I thought now would be a good time to let you people in on a handy tip for cold and flu season. Now you know we’re pretty granola around here, so it should come as no surprise to you that I have a home remedy for that most common of childhood ailments: ear infections.
If you’re going to have lots of babies, you’re going to have lots of ear infections. Besides the fact that I’m not a big fan of giving my kids loads of antibiotics, I can’t be running back and forth to the doctor every time someone gets an ear infection. With my gang, I’d be in there every other week. And then they’d all get the swine flu and I would have to be committed to a padded cell.
So.
I bought an otoscope off of Amazon. I’m not an expert at looking in ears. But I can line everybody up and compare the healthy ears to the ears of the children who are inexplicably fussy. Half the time, I don’t even need the otoscope to check that there’s an ear infection. I just know.
Once I identify the proper head to medicate, I go into my kitchen and get out the olive oil. And I make an Ear Infection Vinaigrette. Usually, I just add lavender oil to the olive oil until it smells good (ten drops or so?). If I know the infection is bad or if the child is especially cranky, I also add garlic oil. Mullein is another great herbal antibiotic to add straight into the olive oil. If the child is really upset, I lightly heat the oil so it feels nice and warm going in the ear. I just take a tiny dropper and fill their ear up with oil. It will run out and that’s okay. We keep this up about two or three times a day for a week.
If I just use the lavender oil, the child will smell great. If I have to pull out the garlic oil, the child will smell like a garlic-loving Italian.
All of our children have been treated successfully this way numerous times. I’ve used it on myself (the curse of tiny ear canals) and Andrew. The reason it works is that lavender and garlic are natural antiseptics. The oil carries the “medicine” directly to the infected area. No side effects.
Yes, I have definitely bought the “ear oils” from the health food store. And most of them work fine. To pick the right one, read the ingredients. You want to be able to recognize everything in there and you’re looking for garlic, mullein, and lavender toward the top of the list.
But don’t be afraid to make your own oil at home if your baby wakes up crying at 11pm and no stores are open.
My kids have never complained about the oil. If they get a cold, I usually go ahead and start putting oil in their ears just to avoid the infection starting. Usually it only takes a week or so for the ear to clear up. I would certainly take any child in to a doctor if they weren’t better in a week.
And, people, I’m no doctor. I’m no nurse. I’m no trained medical anything. I’m just a mom telling you what works for me. So take my advice with a grain of salt. Or a teaspoon of oil, whichever you prefer.
11.5.2009
I do the garlic oil thing too -just did last night. However, my husband’s warned me this winter that he does NOT want to see that stuff around the house because he can’t stand the smell of it (last night he put it on the window sill (sp ?) and closed the window !) I should try the lavander, he would probably prefer that !
I am intrigued about the otoscope. I have a friend (mother of 5) who is a doctor and she said you really have to be specialised in ear problems to examine a child. She took her own babies to the pediatrician ! So I thought I would never be able to find an infection since I’m not even a doctor. I wish you could give me a lesson on ear examinations ! I just put the oil in their ears when they complain and/or have a fever and it always works (can’t hurt them if they don’t have an infection) !
11.5.2009
My mother-in-law made a big batch for us this summer, so we’re stocked up for winter thankfully! Her mix doesn’t include lavender, which is good or I’d have the same problem as Rebecca above. My husband loathes the smell of lavender for some reason, lol.
Thankfully, so far we have not had any ear infections here… I’m living in fear though because I remember having them when I was a child and the pain was horrible!
As soon as anybody even thinks about having one I’m going to be oiling their little ears!
11.5.2009
Good advice and it does work! i had not heard of lavender before! that would definitely be an improvement to the nostrils.:) ((hugs))jen
11.5.2009
Ooh! I’m definitely trying this!
11.5.2009
Yes! This works wonders
We use it on our kids as well. Also, an onion, juiced and strained through a cloth– a few drops in the ear works the same way. I finally tried it even on my littlest after he had a bad reaction to three different antibiotics in a row. We’ll never take antibiotics for an ear infection again!
11.5.2009
Thank you! I recently bought an otoscope, thinking I would take them to the dr. if I saw anything, but now I can try this first! As always, I appreciate all of your tips!
11.24.2009
I started to get an itchy ear today and remember this post. I was able to find garlic mullein ear oil, but not one with lavender. Fingers crossed this still works.