Suspected ear infections or otitis media account for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States – that’s approximately 30 million doctor visits a year. But is a visit to the pediatrician the best way to handle them? Now we have well-done studies on which to base our decision.
Many people are now turning to Chiropractic instead of traditional allopathic medicine to deal with ear infections for children. Chiropractors attempt to get to the root cause of a health problem rather than just treat the symptoms.
Ear Infections and Chiropractic
Ear pain is the number one reason for child visits to chiropractors.
Misalignments of the spine (also called subluxations) can occur during childbirth or from a fall or tumble. Misalignments undiscovered or left untreated can irritate or inflame the nerves and can affect the Eustachian tube, leading to fluid buildup in the middle ear. The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to help to restore the normal functioning of the nervous system so the body can heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.
Antibiotics, the usual allopathic treatment, are not consistently effective and often lead to a recurrence of ear infections. Studies show, the higher recurrence rate among children who took amoxicillin could be due to a depression of their body’s natural immune response. Antibiotic use in such cases may cause an “unfavorable shift” toward the growth of resistant bacteria, setting up a continuing cycle of repeat ear infections, which lands them back at the pediatrician for more antibiotics. (source)
We now know that antibiotic Cipro is poison, even in ear drops! Avoid them and say NO!
Even the CDC says “Antibiotics are often not needed for middle ear infections because the body’s immune system can fight off the infection on its own.”
The Study of Ear Infections
A promising study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics indicates that there is a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections. 332 children with chronic ear infections participated in the study. Each child, ranging in age from 27 days to 5 years, was given a series of chiropractic adjustments. The results show that close to 80% of the children did not experience another ear infection within the six-month period following their initial visits.
The Role of the Chiropractic Adjustment in the Care and Treatment of 332 Children with Otitis Media Fallon, JM. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol 2, No. 2 1997 p.167-183.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that there is a strong correlation between the chiropractic adjustment and the resolution of otitis media for the children. Note: 311 of the 332 had a history of prior antibiotic use. 53.7% of the children had their first bout of otitis media between the ages of 6 months and 1 year and a total of 69.9% of the subjects in the study had their first bout of OM under a year of age. This is consistent with the findings of other studies.
Even though this study is not definitive and more scientific research needs to be done in this area, chiropractic treatment is a conservative, drug-less approach to consider trying if your child has a history of chronic ear infections.
In another study by PubMed it concludes that Chiropractic care is MORE effective and reduces symptoms faster than allopathic care. The results showed that 93% of all episodes improved, 75% in 10 days or fewer and 43% with only one or two treatments. In another recent study conducted by the American Chiropractic Association, 80% of children who were treated with chiropractic care were ear infection free for at least 6 months after care.
Another Natural Remedy that Works!!
- 1 clove of fresh garlic (organic if possible), minced
- 2 tablespoons of high quality olive oil or sesame oil
The fastest way is to heat the olive oil in a small pan or double boiler (preferred) and add the minced garlic. Then, keep on very low heat for about 20 minutes to let the beneficial properties of the garlic infuse into the oil. At this point, strain the garlic and remove. Let the garlic cool to just skin temperature and place two drops in the ear. The warmth and the oil often offer fast relief. Since fresh garlic is used, I make a new batch of this mixture every 24 hours if needed rather than keeping the remaining oil, since bacteria can potentially grow from the garlic.
2. For stubborn cases parents can drop a little vinegar in the ear (and then drain it) to help cleanse the area.
3. and often removing dairy from the diet helps so the mucous membranes do not feel overly taxed and this allows the child to get ahead of the infections.
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