Your ear has three main parts: outer, middle and inner. You use all of them in hearing. Sound waves come in through your outer ear. The sound waves reach your middle ear, where they make your eardrum vibrate. The vibrations are transmitted through three tiny bones, called ossicles, in your middle ear. The vibrations travel to your inner ear, a snail-shaped organ. The inner ear makes the nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. Your brain recognizes them as sounds. The inner ear also controls balance.
Ear infections usually start as a buildup of fluids in the inner or outer ear canal (commonly in the eustachian tube) that prevents drainage of fluids. Commonly occuring with or following a cold, an untreated ear infection can put pressure on the eardrum, which can lead to hearing loss, a ruptured eardrum and other problems.
Typical symptoms of primary otalgia (earache) can include fever, dizziness, headaches, drainage from the ear, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, a feeling of pressure, pain and / or tightness on the affected side of the head and difficulty hearing.
Otitis Media, also known as a middle ear infection or swimmer’s ear, is an infection of the middle ear that is often a complication of upper respiratory infections. Accompanying inflammation and / or discharge in the ear can cause an obstruction of the eustachian tubes, which causes pain. Allergies, cigarette smoke and enlarged tonsils can also clog eustachian tubes. If the eustachian tube is blocked and cannot absorb air, a negative pressure is generated. The negative pressure draws the interstitial fluid into the eustachian tube, which creates a leakage of serous fluids. This effusion can be fertile ground for microbial growth, which causes an infection.
The common cold or an infection are not the only causes of earaches though. There are many scientific studies that show chronic ear infections are due to food or airborne allergies or hypersensitivity reactions. Allergies can cause significant pressure changes within the middle ear, as well as obstruction of the eustachian tube. The most common allergens implicated in ear infection are cow’s milk and dairy products, wheat, eggs, chocolate, citrus, corn, soy, peanuts or other nuts, shellfish, sugar, and yeast. Dairy is the number one contributor to childhood ear problems. Proper allergy elimination and allergy management, such as elimination and rotation diets, can produce dramatic recovery in people with chronic ear infections.
Another cause of earaches is the over usage of antibiotics. Research has shown that antibiotics actually make very little difference in the recovery from an ear infection and people who use antibiotics have a higher incidence of a repeat infection within six weeks than those who don’t use antibiotics. A study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that people who took amoxicillin for chronic ear infections, were two to six times more likely to have a recurrence of their ear problem than those who received a placebo.
Giving medications to block and suppress an illness can push the illness further into the body. One reason for recurrent ear infections may actually be the medications the patient was given to suppress the first infection, including decongestants, Tylenol, aspirin and other drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs not only block chemicals that promote inflammation, but they also block chemicals that naturally prevent inflammation, as well as trigger the release of substances that make inflammation worse.
East Asian Medicine (EAM) approaches ear pain as a sign of imbalance within the body’s energetic system. Contrary to Western medicine, which often focuses on the symptom itself, EAM seeks to understand the underlying disharmony causing the pain.
This holistic perspective considers factors such as the invasion of external pathogenic influences like wind or heat, or internal imbalances like liver yang rising or obstruction of the flow of energy in then channels. The identification of a disharmony pattern is critical as it determines the treatment strategy, which may include acupuncture, herbal medicine and dietary adjustments.
Acupuncture can help reduce inflammation and mucus, relieve pain and circulate the lymph to increase drainage, while also boosting the immune system to recover from and prevent further ear infections. Acupuncture doesn’t always require needles but can include non-insertive acupuncture techniques like shonishin, which is a type of acupressure, and special massage techniques to stimulate acupressure points.
Moxibustion can also be utilized to stimulate drainage and soothe pain. Moxa is an herb, mugwort or artemisia vulgaris, that is burned like an incense stick near the ear (not directly on the child), that promotes more circulation in the area.
There are also other things that can be done to help with earaches. Using a warm compress can be very beneficial. You can use a rice bag or towel, warm it in the microwave for 30 seconds and then apply it to the affected ear. This will help soothe pain and increase circulation and drainage.
Massaging the areas around the ear can also be helpful. Massage in front of the ear canal and then stroke downwards from behind ear lobe, along the neck towards the collarbone to help with drainage of excess fluids. Sometimes gentle tugging of the ear lobe can also be beneficial.
Herbs can be very helpful for fighting earaches and ear infections. EAM uses herbal formulas frequently to help combat all types of ear issues. There is no one particular herbal formula for every type of earache, so an herbal consult must be done first.
And there are also home remedies like crushed garlic in warm olive oil, both of which, have anti microbial properties. You just strain the bits and pieces out and then apply the warmed combination oil into the ear canal, let it sit for a couple of minutes and then drain the excess with a cotton swab.
Lastly, diet plays a significant role in the severity and occurrence of earaches. An organic, unprocessed, whole foods diet, rich in a variety of cooked vegetables and low in sugar, is essential for creating good health with high immune function.
Dietary fats can either enhance or impair immune function, depending on the type of fat. The wrong types of fats (hydrogenated oils found in deep fried foods, fast foods, margarine, baked and processed foods) can predispose you to recurrent infections and inflammatory conditions. Essential fatty acids (the good fats) are essential to normal immune and nervous system function. Essential fatty acids are found in flax oil, borage seed oil and fish oil. Supplement your diet with fish, avocados, olive oil and other foods rich in healthy fats.
Deficiencies of certain vitamins or minerals can weaken your immunity. Be sure to ingest warm cooked meals full of a variety of vegetables three times a day. Instead of sugary treats, grab a piece of fruit as a snack or your after meal dessert. You can also take a good whole food multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Regarding diet and earaches, there are certain vitamins and minerals that are imperative:
1. Vitamin C – Vitamin C is essential to the immune system function. 250 to 500 mg of vitamin C per day can be helpful.
2. Vitamin D – Studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency can increase the occurrence of acute otitis media.
3. Vitamin A – Deficiency in this nutrient has been shown in animal studies to lead to ear infections.
4. Zinc – Zinc is necessary for proper immune function and the conversion of fatty acids.
5. Probiotics – Probiotics are important to healthy immunity, especially if you have been on antibiotics. Products containing L. and B. bifidus are recommended for repopulating the good bacteria in the gut.
If earaches and ear infections are a chronic problem for you or your loved ones, consider sharing this information with them. And don’t forget to keep those ears warm during the colder winter months.