Ear Infections

[tjporter]

Doc Jones,

I am needing some guidance in herbs for my 11 year old daughter. Over the years she has had some problems with drainage/infection in one ear due to having tubes as a small child. Just today the ear doctor told us she had wax build up and infection that had developed behind it. The tissue in her ear is fragile and started to bleed when he was vacuuming it out. He gave me a prescription for some drops that have an antibiotic as well as a steroid to help heal her ear.

I would like to go a natural route. I have some mullein, but want to know from you what your recommendation would be. I’m supposed to take her back in in two weeks to recheck.

Thanks!

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Well, as you know, I can’t diagnose or prescribe particularly over the internet.

But we can talk about herbs and ears. 🙂

I have always used onion juice on my kids (that’s thirty ears if anybody’s counting). I grind up an onion and strain it through a cloth. Lots of folks also use garlic oil/juice. No surprise as they’re in the same family. I haven’t ever tried Mullein but many really like it. It’s the flower that is used not the leaf. They make an oil infusion and then use drops into the ear.

The onion juice has always worked so well for me that I never had a reason to investigate the others.

It’s important to not put stuff in the ears if the ear drum is not intact.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[tjporter]

Thank you so much for “talking to me about herbs and ears”

It is most helpful!

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

You bet. Hope the little rascal gets feeling better.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Lady Solidago]

I like candling, to pull the wax out, and garlic oil.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Lady Solidago wrote: I like candling, to pull the wax out, and garlic oil.

Garlic oil works well. You can add Mullein flowers to it too which really enhances it. Or, if you’re lazy like me, you can just grind up an onion. 🙄

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Roots]

Would garlic oil work, as well, in relieving and/or reversing hearing loss?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Roots wrote: Would garlic oil work, as well, in relieving and/or reversing hearing loss?

Garlic’s role is principally anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. So, if the hearing loss is caused by active infection or inflammation…sure. In most cases though, hearing loss is caused by other mechanisms and garlic won’t likely help.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

HUGE wax deposits was the cause of most of my wife’s hearing losses.

[cerulean blueStudent]

How is onion juice used for earaches? Do you dropper a few drops in? How long does it stay there? Is the patient (me) supposed to lay with the ear down at some point to drain out the liquid? How many times should treatment be done and how often?

Thanks

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Kimmer10 wrote: How is onion juice used for earaches? Do you dropper a few drops in? How long does it stay there? Is the patient (me) supposed to lay with the ear down at some point to drain out the liquid? How many times should treatment be done and how often?

Thanks

I grind up an onion, strain the juice through a cloth and put a few drops directly into the ear while the kid lies on the couch, ear up, watching cartoons. If it stays in for the whole cartoon, you win.

I haven’t done any research to validate whether it matters what cartoon they watch.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[NikkyStudent]

IdahoHerbalist wrote: HUGE wax deposits was the cause of most of my wife’s hearing losses.

do you have a help to get the wax out of ears when there is to much build up ?

[Michelle KochStudent]

You can irrigate the ear with hydrogen peroxide to soften the wax, then flush it out with saline. A baby bulb syringe is handy for shooting the fluid into the ear. A lot of times, though, the wax is impacted and won’t come out with irrigation, in which case a qualified medical professional will need to dig it out with a special tool. Do not try to dig it out yourself! It doesn’t usually end well when people do that.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Here’s a thing for getting it out.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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