Earaches and Garlic Oil?

Updated on July 09, 2008
L.S. asks from Bedford, TX
16 answers

Hi Mamas!

My friend lives in a different part of the country and asked this question on her mamasource forum. She did receive responses, but her area isn't as large as ours, so she asked if I'd post this here to get some DFW mamas' responses. (Of course, I gave her my input, but several ideas are better than one! :) ) TIA!

Hello!
My 7 month old has been pulling (sorta) at her left ear. 2x yesterday
and today. This Tuesday she had a round of immunizations and her ears
were fine. She has no symptom other than the ear pulling (i.e. no
fever/fussiness/lack of sleep/eating) I decided to brave it and give her a
couple of drops of garlic oil in (both) her ears. I also elevated her
mattress tonight. Any thoughts? I'm probably overly paranoid, but it just
seems everyone is always having ear issues and I don't want long term
effects from it. What do ya'll think?

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J.R.

answers from Columbus on

If she has not already done so, I would advise her to stop using Johnson's baby bath or any other wash with preservatives and toxins in it. Many pediatricians are telling parents to stop using those products because studies are showing a direct correlation between them and ear infections. A great replacement is the Koala Pals line.

J. Rogers
www.ToxinFreeHome.biz

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C.H.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know about garlic oil, but I think she should take the baby in to get her ears checked just in case. If she catches it early, the antibiotics can kick in and help quickly. If she's against antibiotics, then I guess another mom will be more helpful!! Wish her luck - I hear they can go away on their own, but that would be excruciating for the baby. I did just read in Parenting magazine that you can gently blow dry the ears (on the coolest setting)after contact with water to dry out the ear canal.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.H.

answers from Abilene on

Garlic oil is very beneficial for soothing earaches and even curing an ear infection. I've successfully treated both our daughters (ages 4 1/2 and 2) for ear infections with garlic oil at home. Garlic is a natural antiobiotic and effectively kills infections without stripping the body of natural bacteria (as prescribed antiobiotics do).

Both our girls have allergies and this definitely seems to contribute to ear infections/aches! Limiting their dairy intake has helped us a BUNCH. In fact, our 2 year old still doesn't drink cow's milk; we give her fresh goat's milk or soy milk.

Blessings!

K.
http://www.homemakerscottage.com
http://www.workathomeunited.com/homemaker

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C.A.

answers from Dallas on

She may be going through allergies/drainage. Since she's so young try saline drops in the nose. This would help with dry up. I would definately take her to her peditrician and get it checked out.

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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

if she's looking for something natural (like me!) tell her to try "wallys ear oil" from the health food store. Its a combo of almond,garlic, tea tree,eucalyptus,mullein and echinacea root oils. :) it works great. i put some on a tiny cotten ball and put it in my sons ear at night and occastionally through the day!
S.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

Hi L.,
My baby boy started doing the same thing several months ago (he's now 14 mos old). Since he wasn't exhibiting any signs of pain or sickness (crying, fever, loss of appetite or sleep, etc.), and since he also rubs his nose and his eyes, we think that he just has allergies and that his eyes, nose, and ears (ear canal/throat/sinus passages) are merely itching.

If I were your friend, I don't think I would give any medicine to my baby---in his ears, or orally---unless there was actually some type of illness, like an ear infection.

Just my thoughts. Good luck to your friend!
D.

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C.G.

answers from Jacksonville on

I'd still go to the Dr. and or get a cleaning drops.

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S.A.

answers from Dallas on

It could be her teeth, if they have an earache you should know pretty soon after they start pulling on there ears. The screams of pain would be a hint. lol I say relax your child is fine.

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K.K.

answers from Dallas on

The pulling the ears could be an ear issue or a teething issue. My youngest pulled on her so much I don't know how many times I went to the pedi (she would run a fever at times) and she just had a virus and was teething.

Now she did get ear infections when we started MDO, but that is an immune response so we did food allergy/intolerance testing and since we took out the foods, no more infections and she has not gotten but one virus since January---record for this child. We have been told to do the ear drops (garlic is main ingredient with some other flower stuff in it) 2 drops in the ear twice a day. We also do peppermint oil massaged on the outside of the ear along the gland. This gets warm so I am not sure I would do it to an infant, but maybe in the future.

There is a device "Ear Check" at walmart..about $50 that will tell you the likelihood of fluid on the ear...it has saved us many trips to the doctor since we got it. When it registers a 2 (on scale to five) we do the drops.

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R.S.

answers from Dallas on

Both my kids would pull their ears when they were teething. No ear issues, although it took me a while to figure that out. I took both to our pediatrician thinking they had an ear infection, but he never found anything. It could be the baby is teething.

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L.C.

answers from Dallas on

Mine tugged on ears when teething his back teeth. I gave him baby orajel and put a humidifier in his room. It seemed to help comfort him. I would also avoid getting her head and ears wet for a couple of days instead of a bath maybe just get a damp wash cloth and wipe her down just until you can put your finger on what the ear pulling is about. I would also keep an eye on her reactions to the vaccines. Good luck!

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E.M.

answers from Dallas on

Ear pulling is often a sign of teething, unless there are other symptoms like congestion, fever, runny nose, etc. Then it could be an ear infection. Try checking for incoming teeth.

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N.W.

answers from Dallas on

I use garlic in olive oil for my daughter. But she should seek medical help. She needs to watch carefully for signs of illness (diarrhea, constipation, general fussiness,e tc) after the round of vaccines. My son is autistic and the children who end up with autism often see symptoms after vaccinations. Dr. Stephanie Cave has a book called What Your Doctor Won't Tell You about Vaccinations. Dr. Sears has a new book out about vaccinations also. N.

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P.M.

answers from Dallas on

I have used oil to relieve earaches for myself. A little drop of warm oil and a cotton ball work great.

But, I would not treat a child the way, especially a baby. It's never good to mask a problem unless you really know what's going on (for chilren at least).

If she's not fussy and no temp then leave her alone. If she is fussy, then do only what the doctor says and that would probably be give Tylenol unless antibiotics are required.

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M.S.

answers from Dallas on

Hi,
It is most likely teething, especially if sleep has not been disrupted. However, I have used garlic oil to treat ear infections in my 4 year old daughter and 2 yo son. I just crush a garlic clove and put a tablespoon or 2 of olive oil on top of that. Garlic has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. I have had several friends use it with reat success.

Good luck!
M.
http://onenaturalmother.blogspot.com/

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M.A.

answers from Dallas on

Go to the doctor, definitely!! Ear infections are not something to mess around with. There was a child at our church this last year who had an ear infection go untreated... mom was trying some "natural remedies". It ended up turning into a strain of Meningitis, when the infection went from the ear to the brain. This is a totally freak thing, I will definitely tell you! However, it is apparently possible. We just had surgery to put tubes into my 2 year old son's ears. Because the pediatrician monitored his ears through infections, we were able to know that he had a constant fluid on his ear, causing him to not hear correctly.

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