by Dr. Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Dr. Robert Ullman
A No Brainer to Use Homeopathy for Ear Infections
In our 30+ years of practice, childhood ear infections (otitis media) are one of the conditions that respond practically 100% to homeopathy! If we have the opportunity to treat the mom during her pregnancy, we recommend breastfeeding, and that no dairy be introduced to the baby before one year. We provide an infant’s allergy-prevention diet for the newborn, which we have used consistently since we first started our practice. In many cases, this program prevents the child from getting allergies, in the form of ear infections, eczema, and asthma, from the start. But, the mainstay of our treatment is the one best homeopathic medicine for the child.
What Conventional Medicine Has to Offer
Your pediatrician will prescribe antibiotics and myringotomy (ear tubes inserted surgically) as the only treatments for otitis media. Both of these treatments have been challenged in various studies and appear to be no more effective, long-term, in preventing recurrences of otitis than placebos. Why subject your child to this stress and trauma when homeopathy is extremely likely to heal your child of the ear infections as well as other constitutional problems?
How We Choose a Homeopathic Medicine for Your Child
In the first homeopathic interview, we spend an hour with parents and child gathering detailed information, not only about the ear symptoms, but about the child in general. This includes prenatal and birth history, the mom’s state during pregnancy, growth and developmental milestones, mental and emotional characteristics, food desires and aversions, behavior with adults, other children, and animals, family history, diet, and more. We are not talking about a ten-minute, hands on the doorknob, doctor’s appointment. Homeopaths spend a long time with each patient, listen carefully, and consider patiently which is the best remedy to prescribe. There are many possible remedies to treat otitis media in children, so it is essential to rely on our observation of the child and on information offered by the parents.
In a great majority of otitis cases, we find that the symptoms began after lactation was discontinued and cow’s milk or soy formula introduced. If the infant is still on these products, we recommend their switching to goat’s milk, which is generally very well-tolerated, In some cases, however, the otitis occurs even though no dairy products have been introduced or lasts long after all dairy products have been discontinued. We also use a pediatric vitamin/mineral and chewable calcium for nutritional support and often offer herbal ear drops with garlic oil as the main ingredient as a backup, mostly to give the parents a feeling that they are doing something for the child while the homeopathic remedy takes time to act.
What to Expect from Homeopathic Care
Your child should respond to the homeopathic treatment within days, maximum a week to ten days. In any case, the child should be significantly better within several weeks to a month after the correct remedy. Generally a single dose of the correct homeopathic remedy takes care of the otitis and few visits are needed. The following three cases are classic examples of successful homeopathic treatment of otitis media.
River
River’s Case
We treated this little fellow, age 22 months, in Winthrop, Washington. He was a cute, active, blond-hair, blue-eyed child with a history of otitis media since one year of age. From that time the mom complained that every cold went to his ears. He had suffered five episodes of otitis, all of which were treated unsuccessfully with Amoxicillin. He would develop a runny nose with his colds with a thick green discharge. He pulled at both ears, his face would turn red, he developed a fever, and he would wake at night with severe ear pain. River became cranky with the ear symptoms, but remained active.
The pregnancy had gone well. The mother had introduced some yogurt into his diet at nine months and was still nursing him two to three times a day. She drank milk the whole time she nursed him. His height and weight were at the 25th percentile, and he was slow to teethe. He could skip a stool one day, but would make up for it the next. River’s mother described him as extremely stubborn and said he knew exactly what he wanted. He would scream and cry if he didn’t get what he wanted. He was not yet talking, but was very inquisitive. He didn’t like to be held by strangers. The mother noticed no improvement when she had recently removed cow’s milk from his diet. Another naturopathic physician had treated River with homeopathic Pulsatilla repeatedly without noticeable effect.
River’s Remedy
We first prescribed a dose of Calcarea carbonica (calcium carbonate) lM because of his recurrent ear infections, fair appearance, delayed dentition, stubborness, and independent nature. There was no response. A month later we gave him one dose of Silica 200C because of his green nasal discharge, recurrent ear infections, somewhat delicate build, and slight tendency to constipation. Three months later the mother wrote to report he had no ear problems again after the Silica, even after reintroducing dairy products into his diet.
A month later we treated River for an acute cold with Pulsatilla 30c for three days, but he still had no ear problems. We called the mother again just before writing this article. She said she was “thrilled with his success”. Seven months after receiving the Silica, River was doing great. His mom treated him once more for two days with Pulsatilla 30c for a cold, again with no ear symptoms. He didn’t need any more remedies for his ears.
Carson
Carson’s Case
Carson was l5 months old when his mother brought him to see us. He was a somewhat shy, but very curious, child with brown hair, blue eyes, and a rather slight build. He had experienced otitis four or five times since six months of age when he first started teething and had been treated each time with antibiotics without significant improvement. His otitis would begin with a stuffy nose, then he would become fussy and develop a low-grade fever (l00F). He would develop a clear nasal discharge. Carson had been breastfed since birth and was never given much milk or cheese. He drooled during teething, and became quite cranky. Holding or carrying him were the only things that would stop his fussiness. Carson always got a very hot, sweaty head while teething. He was also at the 25th percentile in height and weight.
Carson had suffered no severe reactions to his immunizations. He did have severe colic as a baby, at which time he would draw his knees up to his chest. He had been treated with antibiotics for roseola (a common childhood skin rash) the week before we saw him, from which he developed abdominal pain. The child was treated with antibiotics for an infected umbilicus at five days. He was generally a restless sleeper and was quite stubborn. Carson exhibited strong desires for salty, starchy, cheese, and eggs. His parents were having serious marital problems at time of the first visit. On examination, both ear canals were quite red, but without bulging or pus.
Carson’s Remedy
The occurrence of the ear infections during teething, the child’s fussiness, and behavioral improvement from being carried, seemed to clearly need homeopathic chamomile (Chamomilla). We first gave him one dose of Chamomilla 200c, and, later, several more and doses. We later prescribed Chamomilla lM, when Carson’s ear symptoms returned following a MMR immunization. He has had no more problems with otitis over the past seven and a half months, and is ” a much happier guy”, despite his parents having separated.
Chris
Chris’ Case
Chris’ mom brought him to see us when he was one year old. The toddler had blonde hair, blue eyes, and was rather petite. For the previous five months, he had suffered from constant infections of the right ear. Three months after the otitis began, he developed a violent gagging cough and was treated with a bronchodilator. Chris had received antibiotics repeatedly since that time. He was still nursing and had been given no solid food other than breast milk until six months of age.
Chris pulled on his ears constantly, stuck his fingers in his ears, bored his finger into his nose, screamed and arched his body back three to four times weekly. His mother lamented that he would become as stiff as a board. The child suffered from a thick, sticky, green nasal discharge with the otitis, a loose, rattling cough, and he would whine with the pain. Nothing would comfort the poor child. He would thrash even in his mother’s arms. He teethed for the first time three months after the first episode of otitis. Slightly below 50% in height and weight, he had received no immunizations. Chris woke frequently two to three times a night crying, and slept on his abdomen. The child got along well with other children, but he could become clingy, and was initially standoffish with strangers. Generally Chris was generally easy going and happy. He was very thirsty.
Chris’ Remedy
Based on his ear infections, shrieking with the pain, and rattling cough, we gave Chris Chamomilla 200C. He developed a sticky, green discharge from the eye the day after the remedy was given, which went away quickly without treatment. At his first follow-up visit seven weeks after the initial visit, Chris’ mom reported that he was spending a lot more time playing and a lot less time crying. He had experienced no more screaming or arching, no thick, green nasal discharge, no loose, rattling cough, and no thrashing. The child was no longer waking at night, was sleeping on his abdomen, and wasn’t clingy anymore. The child’s face had much more color, and his mother described him as much more alert. His mother was ecstatic at the improvement. He suffered no more ear problems.
Try Homeopathy First for Childhood Ear Infections!
These are only three of the many children we have treated with homeopathy for ear infections. The results have been consistently excellent. Why resort to antibiotics and ear tubes when you homeopathy is at your fingertips?
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