Ear Infections & Chiropractic

 

Ear Infections & Chiropractic

written by Dr. Marilyn Campbell, D.C.

Ear infections can be a very common issue among children. Did you know that ear infections have actually become the number one reason kids visit the pediatrician?

Ear infections are primarily known as a "drainage" problem, which can be associated with dysfunction or stress of the upper cervical spine. This stress on the upper neck can at times be traced all the way back to a stressful birth! 👶🏻

Pediatric chiropractic care can be a great alternative approach to help your kiddo manage + relieve ear infection discomfort in a gentle, non - invasive way.

Gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments increase mobility and improve overall nervous system communication and function. This aids in mobilizing the drainage in the ear. helping them build up their own antibodies and recover more quickly!

Before we run to grab antibiotics, let's get down to the root cause of the issue so that not only are we getting rid of the ear infection quickly but we are also preventing them for the future.

Holistic Treatment Methods for Ear Infections:

1. Chiropractic adjustments!

Chiropractic adjustments may help relieve tight muscles around the ear, which will allow trapped fluid to drain. One study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that chiropractic care may decrease ear infection symptoms in kids!

2. Neck exercises

Neck exercises that rotate the neck can help relieve pressure in the ear canal that’s caused by ear infections.

Here’s how to do neck-rotation exercises:

1. Sit or stand up straight.
2. Rotate your neck to the right, so it’s parallel with your right shoulder. Hold for five to 10 seconds.
3. Repeat this exercise on the left side.
4. Raise your shoulders high like you’re trying to reach your earlobes with them. Hold for five to 10 seconds
5. Repeat these exercises throughout the day.

3. Mullein Oil

Oil made from the flowers of the mullein plant has shown to be an effective pain reliever for ear infections. Mullein is available at most health food stores as a stand-alone tincture or as an ingredient in herbal ear drops. Click here to shop our doctor's favorite Mullein Oil.

4. Vitamin D 

Vitamin D may seem unrelated to ear infections, but it’s known to boost the immune system. A healthier immune system is less likely to be susceptible to ear infections. A 2017 study published in Acta Paediatrica showed that the risk of ear infections might be reduced by increasing serum levels of vitamin D through food consumption, supplementation, and direct sunlight.

5. Garlic oil

With antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties, garlic oil ear drops can be applied to the ear canal to help kill bacteria or viruses that might be causing an ear infection. You can also soak crushed garlic cloves in warm olive oil to make your own garlic oil ear drops.  

6. Ginger

Well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger in the form of juice or infused oil can be applied to the outer ear canal, but it should never be put directly into the ear.  

7. Naturopathic ear drops

Naturopathic ear drops contain a variety of different herbs or essential oils that can help treat ear infections. They may have garlic, ginger, tea tree oil, mullein, or other herbs in them. The best place to find natural ear drops would be at a health food store or supplement shop, or click this link to shop.

8. Cold or warm compresses

Both warm and cold compresses can relieve pain from an ear infection. Hold either a hot pad or cold washcloth against the ear for 10 to 15 minutes or alternate between hot and cold for an easy ear infection remedy, especially for children.  

If your child suffers from chronic ear infections & you're looking for a new route of treatment, give Milestone Chiropractic a call our practice at 615-396-8482 today. We can't wait to assist your family in your health journey!

Interested in learning more about ear infections? Check out this blog by Dr. Marilyn on our community connection, Serenity Sleepers's blog!