Much of the inner ear is fluid filled. Ear infection is often the result of poor drainage or fluid stagnation in the ear. Thus, ear infections are generally due to aggravated Kapha. Sinus congestion & inflammation may also travel up the Eustachian tube, preventing drainage, eventually leading to an ear infection. Doctors will often perforate the ear drum to drain the infection. If the ear drum is perforated you have to be careful what you put in the ear.

Diet & Ear Infections

You might notice additional pressure in your ear after eating sugar or rich fatty meal, as the fluid of the inner ear becomes congested. Dairy, wheat and empty carbs create water pressure in the ear. Red meat causes ear wax buildup. Avoid these foods whenever congestion, ear infection, or excess ear wax is noted.

Children are especially vulnerable to ear infection because their eustacian tube is nearly horizontal, preventing drainage.

Here are some Ayurvedic and western formulas and tips that are traditionally used for ear infections. Experiment with caution - not all these formulas have been verified.

Other Remedies for Ear Infection

• The ears love warmth. Keep your head warm. Wear a hat and scarf. Keep clothing with a hood nearby.
• Gargling - The act of chewing and swallowing assists with the disposal of earwax and clearing the middle ear, and is beneficial for ear infections.
• Massage around ear. Place hands on your cheeks where jaw joint is. Open and close mouth while massaging area. Stick fingers into your neck behind ear lobe. Open and close your jaw. Massage joint. Massage cheek near tragus while opening and closing the mouth. Pull ear up, down and sideways. Experiment.
• See a chiropractor to realign neck, shoulders. Masseuse to move lymphatic system of upper body.
• See a yoga therapist for good posture. Great posture opens up lymphatic system of upper body.
• Sour and salty foods / poultices increase water in the ear.
• Spicy, warm poutlices and foods can help dry up the ear. Heat poultices.
• Neti pot to clear sinus congestion and Eustachian tube
• Flush ear with ear Syringe using mixture of 1 pint water + 1/2 tsp baking soda or Hydrogen peroxide
• Ear candle to clean wax.
• Place half a raw onion outside the ear. The intensity of the onion may be lessened by roasting for thirty seconds.
• Sautee 1 clove garlic in 1 oz olive or sesame oil. Strain and cool until it is lukewarm. Pour this oil into the ear.
• Pound two slices of fresh ginger with a mortar and pestle. Place in 4oz water for thirty minutes. Strain and fill ear.
• Pound 1 clove or garlic or slice of onion. Mix into 4oz water. Use to flush ear canal.
• 1 tsp fresh onion juice + 1/2 tsp honey in ear
• Honey alone
• Few drops of licorice tincture in ear canal.
• 10-20 drops tea tree oil + 10-20 drops neem extra + 1oz sesame oil. Fill ear with oil.
• Fill ear with mustard oil
• Nasya oil in the nose to clear the Eustachian tube
• Wedge of lemon in 4oz water. Fill ear canal.
• Fill ear canal with urine or breast-milk.
• Mullein infused oil couple drops each ear.
• Drink tea with goldenseal, pokeroot (pokeroot preferred for upper lymphatic problems, cleavers for lower lymphatic), chamomile for taste
• Anti-catarrhal like goldenrod
• Garlic infused sesame oil with lavender essential oil
• Perforated ear drum have to be careful what you put in it
• Licorice root paste around ear.
• Vidanga infused oil
• Extracts of Lavender, calendula, St. Johns wort and mullein in olive oil and vitamin E showed better results than antibiotic group and control group (2003 study)
• Extracts of Garlic, mullein, calendula and St Johns in olive oil was as effective as an anesthetic at reducing ear pain (2001 study)

Note: Sometimes pain that radiates out to the ears is from a problem in the neck specifically the C1 joint.

Disclaimer: Conditions such as 'Ear pain/infection' that cause tissue changes could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.

Answer some questions about how foods make you feel. Then you'll receive a full food report customized for you.
COMPUTE MY DIET FOR EAR PAIN/INFECTION
OR, GET A GENERAL DIET FOR BALANCING EAR PAIN/INFECTION

Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Ear pain/infection'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

Tempering the Respiratory health - Tips & Remedies

DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Flushes Sinuses

FLUSHES-SINUSES

An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.

SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS

,

Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

,

Antibacterial

ANTIBACTERIAL

Herbs that kill bacteria or slow their growth.

SEE ALL 'ANTIBACTERIAL' FOODS / HERBS

,

Antimicrobial

ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

SEE ALL 'ANTIMICROBIAL' FOODS / HERBS

,

Antiseptic

ANTISEPTIC

Capable of preventing infection by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Helpful in infections and for those with weak immune systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTISEPTIC' FOODS / HERBS

,

Immune Stimulant

IMMUNE-STIMULANT

Stimulates and strengthens the immune system. Helpful when fighting off a cold or flu.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #3

EAR PAIN/INFECTION IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #3 - ATTACKING TISSUE

If you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are becoming stronger and weakening your body's resistance. Most people have a weakness in one or more organs. These areas of weakness are the 'weak link in the chain.' They are first to succumb when an imbalance reaches a tipping point. Repairing imbalances in this category often represent your last opportunity to prevent disease. At any moment, these imbalances could overwhelm weakened tissue and develop into a disease. You may feel pain or discomfort in the weakened area. At this stage you will need to support the weakened tissue with specialized foods and herbs for the weakened tissue. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Personalized Medicine Systems (Ayurveda, Greek, Chinese medicine), aggravation of any of these body types and biocharacteristics may lead to 'Ear pain/infection'. Reduce the foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate these qualities (when dystempered). Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Ear pain/infection'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Respiratory System by taking the free respiratory health quiz:

TAKE THE RESPIRATORY HEALTH QUIZ

The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Ear pain/infection'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Ear pain/infection were more aggravated than 78% of other symptoms. From the 5,405 people who reported Ear pain/infection average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Ear pain/infection

Complications of Those Reporting Ear pain/infection

WHAT'S NEXT?

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