Nature's Amazing Ear Infection Cures

118 Pages·2008·0.5 MB·English

Nature’s Amazing
Ear Infection Cures
Elizabeth Noble BSc. Dip Nat Res. Dip Nat Ther..
Naturopath
Member of the Complementary Medicine Association
Director Wholistic Therapy Centre
Wholistic Therapy Centre
Suite 10, 876A Pittwater Rd, Dee Why 2099
Suite 5, 169A Pacific Highway, Hornsby 2077
Ph (Australia) 1300 650 169 Fax [phone]
WholisticTherapyCentre.com
©Elizabeth Noble 2008 www.WholisticTherapyCentre.com Page 1
DISCLAIMER
This e-book’s intention is to inform and educate. It is not to replace medical advice given by your
health professional. It is recommended that you consult your doctor or health professional before
following any therapeutic advice, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Never
reduce or discontinue your prescribed medication without the consent of your doctor. The author
cannot take medical or legal responsibility for illness arising out of the failure to seek medical advice
from a doctor.
©Elizabeth Noble 2008 www.WholisticTherapyCentre.com Page 2
Nature’s Amazing Ear Infection Cures
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 - Ear Infections - the facts you need to know
What is an ear infection? ` ` ` ` ` ` 5
What type of ear infection do I have? 5
Signs and symptoms of ear infections 6
When to call a doctor 7
What happens when you get an ear infection? 7
What are the complications of ear infections? 9
How do doctors diagnose ear infections - what terminology do they use? 10
The conventional medical approach to ear infections (and what’s wrong with it)...Pain killers,
anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, antihistamines, myringectomy, tympanostomy (tubes),
adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy 11
The causes and triggers of ear infections...Viruses, bacteria and fungi, allergy, environmental
irritants, biomedical obstruction, nutrient deficiency, incorrect infant feeding
15
Chapter 2 - Caring for ear infections at home
Compresses and poultices 23
Natural ear drops 24
Essential oils 25
Lymphatic Massage 27
Homeopathy 28
Acupressure 29
Chiropractic and osteopathy 31
Ear wax removal 31
Care when travelling 32
Chapter 3 - Targeted supplements, herbs and foods to eliminate ear
infections
The benefits of supplements 33
Vitamin C 34
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Zinc 38
Vitamin A and beta carotene 39
Vitamin E 41
Selenium 42
Essential fatty acids 42
N-acetylcysteine (NAC)and Colloidal silver 43
Bvitamins, CoQ10, Manganese 44
Healing Herbs 45
Foods as medicine 50
Chapter 4 - The Immune Boosting Diet
The importance of a healthy diet 57
The Immune Boosting diet 58
Selecting your protein 58
Selecting your carbohydrate 61
Selecting your fat 65
The importance of water 68
Helpful hints for your diet 69
Foods to avoid 69
Chapter 5 - Are you allergic?
How to track down a food allergy 76
How to track down an environmental allergy or sensitivity 79
Chapter 6 - Lifestyle factors for optimal immunity
14 easy ways to beat the stress habit 85
Exercise 93
Sunlight 95
Chapter 7 - Detoxification for a new you
Gastrointestinal cleansing 97
Liver cleansing 101
Chapter 8 - Your ear infection action plan Page 105
Strategies to prevent ear infections 105
Strategies to treat ear infections 110
©Elizabeth Noble 2008 www.WholisticTherapyCentre.com Page 4
CHAPTER 1:
EAR INFECTIONS - THE FACTS YOU
NEED TO KNOW
What is an ear infection?
An ear infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Infection can also be triggered by
allergy, enlarged adenoids or tonsils, structural problems in the skull or jaw, or environmental
irritants like cigarette smoke.
What type of ear infection do I have?
Middle ear infection (otitis media)
Middle ear infection is the most common type of ear infection. It affects the chamber lying
behind the eardrum that contains three bony ossicles that conduct sound to the inner ear.
Middle ear infection often follows a cold or respiratory infection.
It can occur at any age but it is most common in children under 6 years of age - particularly
those aged 3 months to 3 years. This is largely because children get more colds and other
respiratory infections as their immune systems mature. It is also because children’s
Eustachian tubes are shorter than adults, making the tubes easier to block and allow microbes
to travel up them more rapidly. Children’s Eustachian tubes are also horizontal rather than
slanted, so they do not drain as well as adults.
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Middle ear infection is the number one childhood health problem in America. It accounts for
an estimated 30% of all visits to pediatricians.
External ear infection or swimmers ear (otitis externa)
External ear infection affects the outer ear and ear canal. It is often caused by swimming in
polluted water, however can also be caused by scratching or damaging the outer ear from an
object stuck in it or by an implement used to clean out ear wax. Swimmers ear is most
common in teenagers who swim a lot. It may result from the repeated wetting and softening
of the external ear which makes it an ideal breeding ground for microbes to thrive.
Inner ear infection (otitis media)
An infection of the inner ear affects the convoluted system of cavities and ducts that make up
the inner ear. These delicate structures are involved in hearing and balance. Infections of the
inner ear are usually viral. Less commonly the cause is bacterial. An inner ear infection may
follow a middle ear infection or meningitis.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of an ear infection?
Middle ear infection symptoms:
(cid:1) Usually ear pain in one or both ears. Pain usually worsens when lying down which
changes pressure in the ear and inhibits drainage. In young children and babies, pain can
be indicated if the child grizzles a lot, and rubs, tugs or clutches the ear. The first sign that
ayoungchild may have otits media may be sleeplessness or a change in their behaviour.
(cid:1) Muffled hearing since the eardrum cannot vibrate normally.
(cid:1) Pus - often tinged with blood, may spill into the external ear canal if the eardrum has
ruptured due to pressure. This may be detected as a dry crust in and around the ear. If an
eardrum has been ruptured it will relieve the earache as pressure is released. (The eardrum
will repair itself over a week or so, but it is important to avoid swimming or bathing the
head under water which may lead to further infection).
(cid:1) Early in the inflammation, the eardrum looks pink on examination. Later on it appears red
and bulging (be aware that it may also appear this way if a child has been crying)
External ear infection symptoms:
(cid:1) Itching of the ear or ear canal
(cid:1) Redness or scaling in the ear canal
(cid:1) Ear pain worsened when pulling the outer ear
(cid:1) Ayellow or pus-like drainage from the ear
(cid:1) Reduced hearing if the ear canal is swollen
Inner ear infection symptoms:
(cid:1) Nausea or vomiting
(cid:1) Vertigo
(cid:1) Loss of balance
(cid:1) Hearing loss
(cid:1) Ringing or fullness in ear
(cid:1) Headaches
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Ear infections can also be accompanied by the classic signs of infection like:
(cid:1) Fever
(cid:1) Fatigue
(cid:1) Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or loose stools
(cid:1) Swollen glands
Should I call the doctor?
Seek medical care if there is:
(cid:1) Severe ear pain
(cid:1) Severe headache
(cid:1) Extreme weakness
(cid:1) Stiff neck
(cid:1) Loss of alertness
(cid:1) Swelling, redness or pain in the bony part behind the ear
(cid:1) Profuse discharge from the ear or any discharge in a child less than 7 years old
(cid:1) Hearing loss lasting more than 2 weeks
(cid:1) No improvement in ear ache when using the natural methods described in this book,
within 24 hours in a young child, or 2 -3 days in an older child or adult
What happens when you get an ear infection?
Your body has a comprehensive defense system designed to protect you from invading
organisms, foreign objects and allergens.
Your ears are part of this system. They produce ear wax to protect the ear drum from dust,
irritants and microbes. The middle ear is lined with a mucous membrane whose job it is to
secrete a protective layer of mucous to trap viruses, bacteria, and fungi that may have got into
the middle ear through the Eustachian tube or a perforated eardrum. This mucous layer also
has tiny hairs called cilia which sweep any organisms or foreign irritants out of your ears.
Despite this formidable defense system, some microorganisms can still infect the ears. When
this happens an inflammatory response kicks in straight away. The affected part of the ear
sends out biochemical distress signals that attract white blood cells like phagocytes.
Phagocytes live in the blood and body tissue. They eat other cells like viruses, bacteria and
cellular debris like old or dead cells. They can also release substances called pyrogens that
can induce a fever and kill off viruses and bacteria.
Fever.
Fever is a common symptom at the onset of ear infections.
If you have a fever, it is there for a reason - it plays a critical role in fighting invading viruses
and bacteria. Fever raises your body temperature to the point where viruses and bacteria
cannot flourish. Fever increases production of interferon - an anti viral protein that protects
adjoining cells from infection. It also increases the activity of your white blood cells - your
infection-fighting cells. Fever will make you feel tired and lethargic, giving your body a
chance to rest and divert its energy into fighting the infection.
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In most cases a fever should not be lowered unless it gets too high (above 105 or 40 °C). To
suppress it can make the infection linger longer. One study showed that people who took
aspirin and Tylenol suppressed their body’s ability to produce antibodies to destroy the
infective organism.
If your temperature exceeds 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) and you feel you need to lower it,
rather than resorting to medication, have a luke warm bath or sponge the body with luke
warm water. Avoid using cold water as this can chill the body to the point where the body
starts shivering and actually elevates temperature.
Untreated fevers caused by infection will seldom go over 41 degrees C (105°F) unless you are
overdressed, or trapped in a hot place. The brain's thermostat will stop the fever from
climbing above 106°F.
Some parents fear that fevers will cause seizures or in their children. For the great majority of
children, this is not the case. However, febrile convulsions do occur in some children.
Always watch children carefully and make sure they are not dressed too warmly or rugged up
in blankets. Never give aspirin to children under 16, as it has been linked to a Reye’s
Syndrome - a potentially fatal disease involving the liver and brain.
Inflammation and pain
The other common symptom of ear infections is ear inflammation and pain.
The reason why your ears become inflamed is to help the blood vessels widen and become
more permeable. This allows more white blood cells, immune substances and warmth to
flood the tissue. The inflamed ear is typically characterised by redness, swelling and pain.
Histamine may also be produced to make more mucous to trap the infection, and enhance the
flooding of immune cells to the area. Histamine also creates more swelling.
When the middle ear becomes inflamed the membranes lining the middle ear swell. This
causes the opening of the Eustachian tube to become obstructed and stops fluid from draining
out of the middle ear. As inflammation builds up, fluid production increases and puts pressure
on the eardrum and other sensitive structures in the ear. This can cause pain.
Ruptured eardrum
When the Eustachian tube is blocked, there is no way to regulate pressure in the middle ear.
The eardrum may rupture, and fluid may drain out into the external ear. In other cases the
inflammation subsides and the Eustachian tube opens, allowing fluid to drain properly out of
the middle ear.
Swollen lymph nodes
Another symptom many people associate with an ear infection is swollen lymph nodes or
glands. These normally come up in the neck but can also be apparent in the armpits or groin.
The lymph nodes or glands are small masses of specialised tissue that drain the lymph of
antigens and help in the production of antibodies. When the lymph nodes are swollen, it
indicates that your body is working overtime to fight the attack on your body.
Poor appetite, nausea and diarrhea
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This is the body’s way of emptying the stomach of dangerous substances or bugs. It also
makes you cut down your food intake so less energy is needed for digestion, more for fighting
the infection.
Inner ear infections are commonly associated with nausea or vomiting due to fluid in the
inner ear or swelling of the membranous labyrinth which puts pressure onto sensitive nerves.

Muffled hearing
During an ear infection, muffled or reduced hearing frequently occurs. This may be from an
inflamed ear canal or fluid in the ears that prevents the transmission of sound to the inner ear.
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Tinnitus is any noise like buzzing or ringing in the ear. It is often a symptom of an inner ear
infection, but may also be caused by wax in the ear, eardrum damage, drugs like aspirin or
quinine, auditory nerve abnormalities, or diseases of the inner ear like Meniere’s disease or
otosclerosis (an overgrowth of the bone in the inner ear). In some cases, tinnitus and other
inner ear symptoms can be triggered by allergies, blood vessel abnormalities (like
arteriosclerosis) or fluid retention during the pre-menstrual period in women.
Poor balance
Part of the function of the ear is balance. Particularly if the inner ear is affected, loss of
balance, dizziness and vertigo can occur.
Are ear infections seasonal?
Since 50% of middle ear infections follow an upper respiratory problem like a cold or flu,
then they follow the cold and flu season which peaks in winter and is lowest in summer.
Inner ear infections would probably be similar. External ear infections are more likely in
summer when swimming is at its peak.
Are ear infections contagious?
Inner and middle ear infections are not passed from person to person. They usually follow a
previous infection or are triggered by allergy or an environmental irritant.
The microbes from external ear infections can be passed on in susceptible individuals under
conditions of poor hygiene. A good clean of the ear after bathing and swimming should
minimise any problem.
How long do ear infections last?
Although the pain usually disappears in a couple of days, it can take 10 days or longer to
resolve an acute ear infection. In some cases fluid may remain in the ear, with or without
infection for weeks or months after. These times will be minimised with the natural methods
outlined in the book.
What are the complications of ear infections?
(cid:1) Hearing loss or a permanent ringing in the ear may eventuate from an untreated inner ear
infection.
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(cid:1) The most common complication of middle ear infections is that fluid in the middle ear
may persist for weeks or months after having otitis media. There may be a feeling of
fullness or ringing in the ear, or a popping or clicking sound when swallowing or sucking.
This condition can result in temporary hearing loss. If the condition does not heal, the
hearing loss may become permanent. In growing children, hearing loss may also affect the
verbal and emotional growth of the child.
There is still much controversy about the impact of hearing loss from chronic otitis media.
Some studies show that the hearing loss suffered is modest and generally not sufficient to
cause problems with communication. There is still uncertainty as to whether or not
prolonged hearing loss from otitis media can lead to developmental delays, and if so, if
they are permanent.
Other more serious, but rare complications of ear infections may include:
(cid:1) Scarring or thickening of the eardrum
(cid:1) Growth of polyps or cysts in the ear
(cid:1) Tympanosclerosis - the production of hard, dense connective tissue around the eardrum
and middle ear bones
(cid:1) Mastoiditis - inflammation or infection of the mastoid - part of the temporal bone located
just behind the ear. Symptoms can include a thick discharge of pus from the ear, redness
or tenderness of the bony part behind the ear, fever, headache, the ear pushed outward
with a sagging ear canal, and x-rays showing breakdown of the mastoid cells. Masoiditis
can be followed by other complications like meningitis or inflammation of the brain.
How do doctors diagnose ear infections?
Along with the patient’s symptoms, signs and medical history, the doctor will normally
inspect the ear, ear canal and the eardrum with an otoscope - a handheld device with a small
light.
An external ear infection may be diagnosed if the ear canal is red or swollen or if there is a
discharge from the ear canal.
Normally the eardrum is pearly gray, shiny and fairly transparent. If the ear drum has lost its
lustre or is red, bulging or perforated, a middle ear infection may be present. Remember the
eardrum may also be red if a child has been crying. The appearance of a fluid line or bubbles
behind the ear drum will indicate the presence of fluid in the middle ear.
Amore useful test is the pneumatic otoscope which pumps air into the external ear canal and
forces the ear drum slightly inward. When the air is released, the eardrum returns to its
normal position. If the eardrum does not move, or only a little, it means the middle ear is full
of fluid.
Asimilar test is done with a tympanometer which again pumps air into the ear canal. It then
electronically measures the movement of the eardrum as the air is released. This movement is
then plotted on a graph. If the graph is flat it means that the eardrum did not move, indicating
fluid in the middle ear.
To see if fluid is infective a cell culture may be taken from the external or middle ear to
ascertain if a bacteria, virus or fungi is present.
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