I am no expert on holistic medicine, but I try to use natural alternatives whenever I can. This is one that I found a few years ago and it is very effective. I have used it many times on my children, even as infants, whenever I suspected an ear ache or oncoming ear infection. I have them lay their head on the pillow on their Aero Twin Bed or on my lap to place the drops in their ears.
Garlic Olive Oil
- Slice a clove of garlic.
- Saute it in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil.
- Strain the garlic out of the oil and let it cool to room temperature, but make sure that the oil is not cold or too cool.
- Put a few drops in the ear that you think is having pain or both ears just to be safe.
- Pull on the ear lobe a little and rub along the jaw bone to encourage the drops to come down the ear canal.
My children have NOT gotten ear infections accompanied with a temperature since I have been using this method. The garlic works as an anti-inflammatory and it also has antibiotic properties. You can do this a couple of times a day until you feel like the ache or infection is gone. I have also heard of cutting a clove of garlic to size and wrapping it in tissue and placing it directly in the ear, but I have tried this and it is nearly impossible to keep little ones from pulling it out!
Hope you find this one helpful, especially during cold and flu season.
