Ear Aches

What are Ear Aches?

Earache may indicate an ear infection, which is more common in children as the Eustachian tube is much shorter and is more likely to get clogged by un-drained fluid. Three out of four children will have at least one ear infection by the age of three, with ear infection remaining one of the most common reasons parents bring their child to the doctor. Antibiotics, most commonly prescribed to children for ear infection, do virtually nothing for most infections, do not speed up recovery, and potentially increase the risk of side effects. While only half of ear infections are caused by viruses, and there is no way to determine whether the infection is viral or bacterial, antibiotics are only needed to treat one in eight children with ear infections. The rest will recover on their own, and the healing process can be helped using natural remedies.
Avoid antibiotics and discover how natural remedies can alleviate pain, speed up the healing process, and prevent recurrent infection.

Treatment

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Shonishin acupuncture, acupressure, and Chinese herbal remedies may be used individually or in combination to treat a number of acute and chronic childhood illnesses. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been treating childhood ailments for centuries, and pediatric acupuncture in the West is becoming increasingly common in treating colic, earaches, digestive issues, ADHD, and many other frequent pediatric health concerns. Acupuncture for children provides a safe treatment alternative to invasive medical interventions or pharmaceuticals, and is effective in naturally and gently reestablishing and maintaining childhood health. Children benefit largely to preventative medicine, and react quickly and positively to Traditional Chinese therapies.
Shonishin is a Japanese form of acupuncture that was specifically designed in the 1700’s to treat childhood illnesses. Over the years it has been refined by Japanese masters and has become an integral part of pediatric treatment in Japan. Shonishin was based on theories from Chinese medical texts and is still considered to be an essential part of pediatric acupuncture treatment.
Children can start receiving acupuncture treatments from birth and continue them all through childhood. Traditional Chinese Medicine minimizes the need for medications and invasive therapies, and provides excellent preventative care. Number of treatments depends of severity of illness, duration of symptoms, and child’s vitality. Studies have found that children who receive acupuncture therapy report less pain, increased school attendance, improved sleep, and increased participated in extracurricular activities.

Natural Supplements can be of relief also such as: -Mullein Oil: Mullein is an anti-inflammatory found in a wild flowering plant, commonly used to treat ear infection. Drop directly into infected ear. – Allicin Oil: Allicin is an anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory compound found in garlic. Can also use garlic oil (garlic infused with olive oil). Drop directed into infected ear. * Note- can buy combination formula with mullein, allicin (garlic oil), and/or St. John’s wort flower. Echinacea and Vitamins A & C: to stimulate body to produce more white blood cells to fight viral and bacterial infection.

Simple Treatments can be of relief also such as: – Raise the head of the bed or crib to allow tubes to drain fluid naturally. Lying down tends to make ear pain worsen. – Warm compress; heat may help alleviate pain. – Have child drink fluids, to encourage action of swallowing which helps tubes open and drain. – Ensure child has enough sleep in order for body to recover from infection.

Signs to Watch Out For: – Abnormally coloured fluid draining from ear – Persistent high fever greater than 102°, or any fever in babies less than 6 months old – Extreme lethargy and/or unresponsiveness – Severe pain or other symptoms of illness that last longer than a few days.

Diet and Nutrition

Growth and development of babies and children is highly relied on by the nutritional intake of food. This is the time in their lives that sets the stage for their digestive and physical health that will affect the rest of their lives. Many people know already that mother’s breast milk provides many nutritional benefits to newborns that nothing else in the world can provide.

Breast feeding is recommended the most by healthcare practitioners as an infant’s primary source of food for the first 6 months. This is because it is scientifically proven that babies who are feed by breast milk in their entirety for the first 6 months have less health problems including: respiratory illnesses, digestion disturbances, immunity deficiencies, and even childhood obesity.

At Whole Family Health we can help you sufficiently devise a plan to help with breast feeding goals and the weaning process after the course of 6 months. We know that in today’s society many moms work and maintain a full time career on top of taking care of her family. However, by investing in her child’s nutrition for the first six months to a year by providing breast milk she is ensuring that her child will be healthier in the long run.

Lifestyle and Mind-Body Medicine

Children can absolutely be taught from a young age the benefits of mindfulness and meditation!

In addition to acupuncture and nutrition, learning relaxation techniques are greatly beneficial to general health and wellbeing. Chronic, or acute, lifestyle stress can have a wide variety of negative effects on the body, including reproductive organ blood flow and hormone regulation. Physical and psychological stress can make existing symptoms worse and delay overall internal healing.

Techniques that elicit the relaxation response (a state of deep relaxation in which the heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate decrease, muscle tension relaxes, stress hormone levels fall, and the mind becomes tranquil), and relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga may aid greatly in bringing balance to mental and emotional states. Practicing focused deep-breathing, meditation, yoga, tai-chi and other activities are among those that can increase your chances of a healthy life. Listening to music, focused breathing, or being outside in nature are also effective methods of managing stress.