Alternatives for Treating Ear Infections

My youngest daughter suffered from ear infections for much of her childhood. Twenty five years ago, the internet did not exist and information about alternative methods of treatment were not readily available.  She was treated with amoxicillin and when that was ineffective, she underwent multiple ear tube surgeries and an adenoidectomy.

I wish I would have known 25 years ago that there were options other than amoxicillian, with its side effects, and surgery with its inherent risks.

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Parents today have access to information that provides a broader range of options for treating their child's ear pain or infection.

Explore the Cause

Ear infections can be bacterial or viral.  The cause can be a blocked or swollen ear tube. 

Food Allergies - Ear infections can be caused by food allergies.  Milk, soy, egg whites, wheat, fish, and peanuts are the most common foods that can create swelling in the tube connecting the ear and throat.  This causes fluid build up in the ear tube which creates a warm, moist environment where bacteria can grow.  

The book, Cure your Child with Food, by Kelly Dorfman documents many cases of childhood illness and conditions related to food allergies.  Wheat and dairy are the top two allergens described in her book.

Chiropractic Care - Many ear infections occur because the neck is misaligned which leads to fluid build up in the ear tubes.  The birthing process can misalign the baby's neck, setting the infant up for a childhood of ear problems.

When working on infants chiropractors use gentle pressure to ease the spine back into alignment.  This non-invasive, painless procedure can often clear up an infection and prevent future problems.  To learn more check out this website.

Treat the Infection with Plant Based Remedies

You will find garlic in almost all the remedy recipes for ear infections.  Garlic has many medicinal applications and is considered a very effective natural antibiotic.

Garlic grown in the back yard.

Mullein/Garlic Infused Oil

An infused oil using the dried flowers of the mullein plant along with fresh garlic cloves can be an effective treatment.  You can find garlic mullein oil online, in natural health stores, or simply make it yourself.  Mullein is considered, by most, a weed and grows wild throughout the United States.  

To learn more about mullein click here.

A mullein plant growing next to my house.

When you need relief fast, here are instructions for making an oil that will relieve pain and promote healing.

Mullein/Garlic Oil - Quick Method

2 to 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 to 3 tablespoons dried mullein flowers
Olive oil - organic extra virgin

• Place garlic and mullein flowers in a double boiler and pour in enough oil to just cover the herbs.

• With the burner on low, heat gently for 30 minutes

• When oil is cool enough to handle, strain using a jelly bag.

• Pour into a small jar, cover with a lid, and store in the refrigerator.

To use,

Warm oil to room temperature by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water.  Using a dropper, place 3 to 4 drops in each ear and rub gently around the base of the ear. You can administer the drops every half hour or as often as needed to address the pain.  Remember that the oil should be warm but never hot.


If you have time to make the mullein/garlic oil in advance, instructions for making herbal infused oils can be found here.  I also found some very detailed information about treating ear infections on Hippy Homemaker blog.

Ear Infection Tincture

To help fight the infection Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health suggests a tincture made from;

1 part echinacea root
1 part fresh garlic
1 part usnea
1/4 part ginger root
1/4 part goldenseal root (organically grown)

Echinacea is often called Purple Coneflower.

Instructions for making tinctures can be found here.  Rosemary recommends using 1/8 teaspoon diluted in warm water or juice three times daily.  These herbs can also be powdered and encapsulated for use by older children who can swallow pills. Be sure to do your own research to determine the best dosage for your child.  Rosemary also suggests;

• Avoiding foods that can cause congestion such as eggs, dairy, wheat, sugar, orange juice and refined processed food.

• Encouraging the child to rest even if they feel better the next day.

• Making a decongestant tea with fresh grated ginger, fresh squeezed lemons and sweetened with honey or maple syrup.

• Applying garlic mullein flower oil to both ears.  This oil relives pain as it fights the infection.

The book, Be your Own Doctor, by Rachel Weaver M.H. is like an Amish cookbook; chocked full of homespun ideas, but light on detailed instructions.

I am including Rachel's recommendations because many remedies she suggests use common pantry items.  Sometimes ear pain strikes in the middle of the night, and garlic and onions may be the only things you have on hand.

• Give your child lots of liquids, along with echinacea, vitamin C, and acidophilus.

• Feed your child raw chopped garlic.  Put on buttered bread or add honey to a spoonful to make it more palatable.

• Make a garlic salve by blending together, 1/3 C coconut oil, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 8 garlic cloves - peeled, and 5 drops of lavender essential oil.  Rub around your child's ears, and on their throat and neck.

• Apply drops of garlic/mullein oil in their ears.

• Cut an onion in half.  Microwave until it is just soft, then cool to room temperature.  Put one half over each ear and fasten in place with a cotton towel.

• Heat a rice or salt sock in the microwave until warm and wrap over both ears.

Note;  Pain caused by water in the eardrum or a perforated eardrum should not be treated with herbal oils.

Consult a medical professional if you have health concerns.

Please note: The objective of this blog is to raise awareness of alternative ways to achieve wellness and to empower you to take an active role in your health decisions.  To accomplish this, you will need to explore these subjects in greater depth and then determine what makes sense for your life.  My hope is that this information will inspire you to start your own search into ways to make your life happier, healthier and more fulfilling.