homeopathic treatments for ear infections

Poor little Jack has another ear infection. He is so sad its breaking my heart. But even worse is having to give him 7cc's of Augmentin twice a day for 10 days. He hates taking it. Most of the time I am home alone when he is due and I become a contortionist in order to get it into him. Plus the alternating tylenol and motrin for the fever and pain. You all know. There has got to be a better way. I was talking to a couple ER residents at work yesterday and we were discussing the whole treat don't treat theories of ear infections. The research isn't overwhelmingly strong to support torturing oops I mean treating them with antibiotics-so why am I doing this. I want to do what is right but am not convinced that the antibiotic route IS right.
I am looking for experiences of alternative treatments without the antibiotics. Good and bad-I really want to think about going another route here but if people have had negative consequences from doing so I would like to know about those as well as the good outcomes.
Also-if anyone can recommend a good book on the topic. TIA.
Barbara-mom to Jack 3/27/03

:hugs for Jack. I think docs overprescribe antibiotics for ear infections but that's me.

As for homopathy, it's good to know some of it but it's best to deal with a doctor that knows something about homopathy since each treatment is tailored to the patient from what I have read. I'm trying to learn a bit of it myself now. I don't know if you ever go over to MDC but alot of the members overthere practice/treat with homopathy. Go to the health and healing board :).

Here is a site you can enter his symptoms on and it might be helpful
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/go.php

This site claims it's product cures ear infections, but I have NOT used it, nor purchased from them. I just did a google search for you.
http://www.mesosilver.com/infection.htm

general info on homopathy
http://www.e-homoeopathy.com/

[lisams]

I do agree that homeopathic treatments have their place but a good friend of mine has a son who went deaf in one ear because they did not treat an ear infection with antibiotics. That's enough for me to trust my ped. with an antiobiotic (he's very selective with when he prescribes them). I have heard of people using both - antibiotic and homeopathic. As far as the strugle with giving him the medicine - either route you go you will have that struggle so I wouldn't let that be your main factor for going one way or the other. Just my thoughts! I hope your little one starts feeling better soon.

Lisa

It's so hard when they aren't feeling well! Kiki went through a series of ear infections, and I have had the same feelings as you. The torture/treatment is tough. Kiki has had both viral (antibiotics don't work) and bacterial (if we didn't treat with the antibiotics, it'd just get worse). So, I think I have an idea of how you feel.

The things that we have changed:

1.Kiki drinks all her liquids sitting up. No lying down, which has kept her from holding her own bottle, but I'd rather the feeding experience be shared, so it wasn't a big deal for me.

2.We started going to the chiropractor. If you do a search you should find the thread that helped us. We've found it very helpful. I think it's really helped Kiki.


Things suggested to us:

A friend of mine used to use some herbal ear drops when her daughter was a baby, but I haven't tried it.

The day care center director recommended this to me and I haven't done it, but someone suggested filling a sock with regular salt. Then, you microwave it so it's warm and put it up to the sore ear. Supposedly, the salt helps to draw the fluid out. Sounds kind of weird to me, but at least the warmth would feel good, I think.

We've only had one ear infection since making those two changes (we started these changes back in October), and that was because the day care wasn't clear on the feeding instructions. That one was also viral. We started Biacyn on Friday, and it made her so sickly looking (pale), I stopped it after 2 doses (figured I'd call the dr on Monday to get a different prescription), and she got better over the weekend all on her own. The ped agreed on Monday that it was probably viral, and didn't give any more antibiotics.

We also took Kiki to a reflexologist. This wasn't for an ear infection, but I'm sure if I asked him to work on clearing her ears, he could. It was pretty amazing. The first time, it was for coughing, and it worked almost instantaneously. He's also helped with her digestive troubles since the antibiotics don't sit well with her and then she got hit with a stomach bug.

One thing I do suggest is, whatever additional methods you choose, let your ped know. My ped doesn't recommend these treatments, but I feel it's necessary for him to get the total picture, just in case, something comes up.

Good Luck!

Jeannie
mommy to Kiki 4/18/03

When we lived in Germany, our ped gave us these teeny tiny little homeopathic pills for Alex (she had frequent ear infections). This was a long time ago and I can't remember what they were called. But as soon as she would feel an ache coming on (she was five, old enough to tell us) she would start taking three at a time once a day. And we also used a hot water bottle covered w/ a soft towel and had her lay her sore ear on that (the heat opens the tube). I had an otoscope that I could keep an eye on her ears and if they ever became beating red I was to take her in for antibiotics. She never needed the antibiotics using this 'treatment'. Of course, she was older and getting to the age where the eustachian tubes are in the 'correct' position so I really imagine that has more to do w/ it than anything. Caden didn't have ear infections as a baby, but he did have a few as a toddler and this is the route we used, minus the pills, and he never needed the antibiotics either. Ryden has had one infection and we did go the route of antibiotics b/c even if I did still have the pills I wouldn't feel comfortable giving them to a baby and b/c he doesn't lay still long enough for the water bottle to help much.

[Tondi G]

well you could always look up Colloidal Silver on the web! It is a natural antibiotic.... hey they used to put silver nitrate in baby's eyes when they were born right! Check it out... couldn't hurt to try it while you are still giving him the augmentin... maybe it'll help it clear up faster??? I think there is a place for homeopathic treatments adn a place for antibiotics..... we have them for a reason and I wouldn't take chances with ears and hearing! I had ear infections all my young life and my mom didn't push for tubes cause my ped never really suggested them.... when i had finally had so many EI my mom got a referral and I had my tubes put in. tonsils nad adenoids removed and turned out a bone in my ear disintegrated due to the EI's... I have hearing loss to boot!!!!!

Since Ear infections are often associated with yeast giving your child some acidolpholus powder in juice or water is a GOOD idea.... if you haven't already!!!!

I totally hear you on giving DS meds.... my son will only willingly take Grape flavored Tylenol... everything else is a battle and with an almost 40lbs 2 and a half year old it is a REAL battle for me..... more often than not DS and I both end up wearing the meds!!!!! Good luck... HTH's!

~Tondi and Mason 7/8/01

Tondi---What is it about the Grape Flavored Tylenol??? I swear Kiki is addicted to this stuff. When she sees the bottle, she opens her mouth up like a little bird! Anything else, FORGET IT!

Jeannie
mommy to Kiki 4/18/03

I guess I'll have to go out and buy the grape flavor. I have cherry. I was actually laughing as I'm looking at the infant drops and thnking what a bunch of suckers we are agonizing over which flavor to buy for an infant. Kind of the way I would agonize over the flavor of cat food when my cat would have eaten just about anything.
I will try and nurse him in a more upright position and see if that helps-and am off to check out the chiro threads. Thanks all.
Barbara-mom to Jack 3/27/03

Barbara,

I believe that as long as you are nursing, you don't have to worry about Jack being in an upright position. Something about the different muscles babies use to nurse as opposed to bottle feeding. I'd hate for you and Jack to be contorting yourselves, trying to get into "position"! :) Oh, and to deal with the aftermath of the antibiotics, we've been adding Baby-dophilus. You add it once a day to juice, water or formula. It really helps the stomach recover from the ravages of the antibiotics. We found it at Whole Foods Market in the refrigerated section.

Jeannie
mommy to Kiki 4/18/03

[zen_bliss]

the homeopathic hyland's earache tablets are clearanced at my local drugstore for 99¢ (from $9.99). if anybody wants some, let me know and i'll pick up a package (assuming there are some left... gay neighborhood, i'm thinking they'll be there for awhile). i've never used them but i got some to keep on hand since the hyland's teething gel has been so helpful.