Garlic Oil for Ear Infections in Toddlers

hi -
I watched Dr oz a while a ago and he said garlic does work of ear infections because garlic is anti-microbial, which is why it can help cure an ear infection (not to say Dr Oz is a medical guru ;)

Per Dr sears: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t081600.asp
HOW ARE EAR INFECTIONS TREATED?
Ear pain – click here for help on how to treat the pain. Getting through the night:
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are effective pain relievers for ear pain. You can safely use both medications together if one alone is not enough. Click on each medication for dosage.
Warm compress – apply a warm washcloth to the ear.
Warm olive oil, vegetable oil, or garlic oil – put several drops of one of these into the ear. MAKE SURE THE OIL ISN’T TOO HOT.
Anesthetic eardrops – if the above remedies aren’t enough, these are available by prescription and can numb the eardrum to minimize the pain for an hour or two.
WARNING – if you see any liquid or pus draining out of the ear, DO NOT PUT ANY OF THE ABOVE DROPS INTO THE EAR. See below under ear drainage. "

Also as an FYI "New research is suggesting that 80% of uncomplicated ear infections will resolve within 4 to 7 days without antibiotics. Parents who choose not to use antibiotics can treat the pain and fever with Auralgan anesthetic ear drops and ibuprofen or acetominophen" http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t081600.asp

AAP is also discouraging use of antibiotics: ttp://www.aap.org/healthtopics/earinfections.cfm

I hate to say it, but it's surprising the pediatrician is still giving you antibiotics.

Our not-quite 2.5 year-old daughter had tubes twice by her second birthday. She was 10.5 months the first time and had 5 ear infections that winter. She had 6 this winter, and it was obvious we were going to have them placed again. We didn't give it a second thought.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises the following regimen:
infection #1: amoxicillin
infection #2: agumentin
infection #3: omnicef
Infection #4: referral to Ear, Nose, Throat Specialist

I've not heard of Garlic Oil, and I have to admit that I'd be cautious. The problem is likely fluid trapped that is a breeding ground for infections (as in our daughter's case). Your daughter isn't developing a resistance to antibiotics, the likelihood is that the fluid just keeps fostering new bacteria to grow and create the infection again.

Good luck - I'd skip the natural remedy and consult the ENT to prevent any possible damage to her hearing.

Hi there. I researched the garlic ear oil thing a few years ago and found that the most recommended one by most moms I talked to was the Mullein Garlic Compound by Herb Pharm. You can get this at Whole Foods or any natural foods store. Here is a link if you want to see what it looks like:
http://www.amazon.com/Mullein-Garlic-Compound-Drops-Ounce...
It stayed in my cabinet for a while until my son had his first ear infection last year. I got out the ear oil and put 3 drops in the ear and it REALLY helped. I only had to put the drops in maybe 3 more times over the next day or two and the ear infection was gone. It was a pretty bad one too. You have to warm the bottle so it gets to body temperature and then the child won't even feel the drops go in. I just put the closed bottle in a cup of hot water until it got to body temp (test on the back of your hand). If you can feel the drops then it is too cool or too hot. The garlic deals with all types of ear infections (viral, bacterial and fungal). From what I have read about Mullein, it acts as an anti-inflamitory and works also w/ the lymph system. I always opt for natural remedies and I wouldn't hesitate to try the mullein garlic compound. it's totally safe for little ones.
Also, I don't know if you have ever tried homeopathy, but we have found great success in treating our kids w/ homeopathic remedies. These are the little blue tubes by Boiron w/ while pellets that you can get at any health food store/whole foods, etc. Here is a great link that tells you which remedy to try based on the type of ear infection:
http://truestarhealth.com/Notes/2221008.html
Hope you can get resolution on this problem soon and that you don't need to do the tubes.

oh please talk to a dr before trying a home remedy iny your babies ears! I'm not opposed to holistic medicine when practiced by a trained physiciain. Don't believe everything people tell you. In fact, don't believe anything anyone tells you! Do some in depth research. You know my gramma told me to give my newborn a "sugartit" Not all home remedies are good ones. Some are downright harmful.

If you choose to go the natural remedy route I strongly urge you to have her ears checked prior to putting anything into her ears. My daughter perforated her eardrum because of an ear infection and I had no way of knowing until the doc took a look.

I too wanted to go the natural route before my son got tubes. However, there are 2 different kind of ear infections--inner and outer. If your child needs tubes it is because he is having inner ear infections so drops, no matter if they are natural or not, won't make a difference. That's why you get oral medication for your child instead of drops to put in his/her ears. Speak to your doctor about it.

My son had 8 infections since Thanksgiving and then another one in June. I fought the surgery, and fought it, and fought it. But I could not give my baby any more antibiotics. He had the surgery July 1st. No more illness since then. And the surgery went just fine. I so understand your fighting it but I just had to give in and trust my doctor. Good luck! I know exactly what you are going through.

chiropractor is great and we use an oil mix that we get from our natural food store for ear aches. Works awesome. I know from personal use. I was over prescribed Amoxocillin for ear infection years ago and became allergic to it bad. Now for infections I just use the oils. Amazing. Use it on my kids also. About the only time it doesn't work is if you don't catch it in time but I have learned my kids cues and have no issues now. I do it about 4 times a day 3-4 drops. I wouldn't worry about when you child is in school just treat immediately before school and immediatly after, plus another round just before bed.

Best of luck ear infections are no fun.

Sounds like glue ear (google it). You need to see a ped. chiropracter, use garlic/mullien oil (worked like a charm on the few infections my kids had), and look into eliminating offending foods from your child's diet. Start with ALL dairy, the number 1 culprit, if that doesn't help, work your way thru the top 8 allergens. My niece has soy allergy that causes her ear infections and cough. If my sister keeps it out of her diet, she's good to go.

Chiropractor. Took my 19 month in. Something in his upper neck was out of place causing the fluid build up. Insurance covered it. Worth a shot. Google it, read Dr. Sears and Dr. Oz on the topic. Totally worth it. We were at the point of tubes also with 9 inner-ear infections in 6 months. Good luck!

I've never tried garlic oil. I have used probiotics and had his ears adjusted at the chiropractor.

are you sure your not talking about sweet oil? I still prefer tubes I tried the sweet oil with my oldest didn't seem to help

We tried it for the first time and had GREAT success. We had purchased Herb Pharm Garlic Mullein Compound from Amazon. When our toddler was diagnozed with middle ear infection, we applied this garlic oil 2-3 drops, 3 times per day for 2 days. By 2nd application, he stopped giving any indication of pain. After 10 days, we took him to the doctor and his ear is clear and no signs of infection.