Ear Oil
Our TOPICAL Herbal Ear Oil contains a Mullein, Garlic, St.John’s Wort & Calendula infused oil blend.
EAR INFECTIONS – OTITIS MEDIA
Some facts about antibiotics and ear infections: 78-81% of cases resolve themselves without antibiotics. Only 6% less children had reduced ear pain after antibiotics compared to placebo (this means for every 16 children only 1 will be helped by antibiotics). Antibiotics have been shown to help children under 2 with ear infections in both ears. Increasingly we are finding bacteria resistant to antibiotics so a watch and wait approach is favoured. Giving analgesics for the pain can be a good idea if necessary.
A HERBAL EAR OIL containing Calendula, St. John’s Wort, Mullein and Garlic was shown in a clinical trial to have the following results.
4 TREATMENT REGIMES WERE COMPARED
Herbal ear oil alone, 5 drops in the affected ears 3 x a day (group A)
Herbal ear oil + oral amoxicillin (antibiotic) 80mg/kg dose (group B)
Topical anaesthetic alone (group C)
Topical anaesthetic + topical amoxicillin 5 drops 3 x a day (group D)
RESULTS
Herbal Ear oil group A had less ear pain by day 2 & 3 than group C
Substantial reduction in pain within 30 minutes of treatment in all 4 groups
All patients symptoms resolved in 3 days
Antibiotic treatment alongside herbal ear oil did not improve outcome compared to herbal oil alone
Study by Sarrell, Cohen & Kahan 2003
So we can see that herbal ear oil on its own worked and it made no difference if antibiotics were used. Taking a concurrent herbal tonic can help to support immunity and reduce mucus and inflammation.
A couple of things to consider:
if there have been more than 3 ear infections in 6 months then you need to consider environmental (smoke, dust, mould) and dietary allergens or irritants as well as immune function.
When fluid remains trapped in the inner ear after an infections has resolved it can lead to reinfection and hearing loss which can impact social and language development and learning.
Chronic ear infections can have long term implications including permanent hearing loss and need to be treated seriously.
More rarely a suppurative ear infection is when the ear drum has burst and puss-filled fluid fills the middle ear. This can lead to serious complications including facial paralysis, brain abscess and permanent hearing loss. Antibiotics may not protect against this and needs to be managed with the help of an ENT specialist.
If you are not happy with your doctor’s treatment of your child’s chronic ear infections then get a second opinion or see an ENT specialist.
We will send you a short form to fill in prior to shipment as per TGA guidelines.
Please allow 24 hours for free local pick-up and 5 - 7 days for delivery.
Please be aware: All herbal mixtures are mixed after a short phone consultation.
Instructions for use:
Gently warm the ear oil bottle in a mug of very hot water (water only coming halfway up the bottle) until the oil is as warm as you want it – it is important to check this by putting a drop on your inner wrist so the oil is not too hot. Slightly warm is fine.
Place a towel down in a comfortable flat area (you can use a pillow) and have the patient lie down with the affected ear facing up and then drop a few drops of the ear oil into the ear canal. Then let them stay on that side with their ear facing up for 10-15 minutes if possible then plug the canal with cotton wool. Optional – you can apply a warmed-up heat pack to the side of the head while they are lying down to ease the pain further.
Drops can be added this way every few hours as needed until the pain has gone. There is no need to warm first but it does ease the pain quickly if you do.
These drops are for non-serious ear infections/otitis media in one ear NOT glue ear which means the ears are full of mucus and cannot drain or bilateral ear infections- these are more complex conditions that may need medical attention.
Ear oil should not be used if there are grommets.
Water in the ear – For water in the ear we recommend you use a swimmer’s ear drops first to clear any water in the ear canal prior to using the drops.
Please see a doctor if your ears are not improving and the pain is worsening.
TGA Exemption Code 15978
Registered Herbalist & Naturopath
Fin Mackenzie, BHSc(CompMed), ADNat, DNut, DRM, MATMS
Please allow 24 hours for pick up and 5-7 days for delivery.
