Avoid
and Resolve Children's Ear Infections Naturally
Doing
these things can help not only ear infections, but sinus
infections, bronchial ailments and digestive issues too.
1.
Eliminate Possible Allergens
- Ear infections may be avoided if children are reared on
a lactose-free milk source, like vitamin-fortified rice
milk or a straight colostrum formula. Colostrum closely
resembles mother's breast milk and replaces dairy
nutrients like calcium. Some doctors may suggest soy milk,
but soy can also thicken mucus and cause allergic reaction.
- Breast-feed infants if possible. This avoids lactose,
provides colostrums and studies have shown it can reduce
the chance of ear infections by 50%.
- If infections come after dairy is eliminated, try eliminating
wheat and oats. Children may be allergic to “gluten”,
the sticky substance that holds wheat and oats together
in breads, pastas, cereals and baked goods. An alternative
is breads, pastas and cereal made from rice (preferably
brown), quinoa, or millet grains instead. These are pretty
much gluten free.
- Avoid glutens and yeasts altogether by carefully reading
food labels. Both can inhibit digestion, which must be working
well to keep mucus thin and get rid of toxins and tummy
bugs. Sometimes glutens and yeasts aren't on labels,
but it can be assumed that most store-bought breads, pastas,
white rice, hot cereals, canned soups and canned pasta meals
contain either or both.
- Eliminate sugar and everything with sugar - baked goods,
cereals, and even molasses, honey and most sugar substitutes.
Sugar can produce yeast which thickens mucus, slows digestion
and creates intestinal fungus. Eliminating sugar also calms
hyperactivity in children. Stevia is a natural sugar substitute
which can be used.
- Of course, eliminate one of the above substances at a
time, or you won't know what's working.
- Most health food stores carry all kinds of dessert goodies
– even rice-based ice cream –made with no wheat,
dairy or sugar and are very delicious.
2. Reinforce Immune System in Children
- Echinacea, an herb with proven immune boosting capability,
can be added in powdered form or drops to non-carbonated
beverages for babies and toddlers, and given in capsule
form to children.
- Give children “probiotics” like Växa's
Re-Flora+. – Probiotics will replace the “good”
stomach bacteria lost to poor digestion, allergies, antibiotic
treatment or otherwise weakened immune system. You have
probably heard of Acidophilus – this is one type of
probiotic found with many others in Re-Flora+. Children
under 50 pounds can take one capsule a day. Most probiotic
capsules can be opened and sprinkled in food or non-carbonated
beverages for very small children.
- Cook with garlic, or dissolve garlic capsule in food.
Garlic is a natural antibiotic and wards off infections.
- Serve sugar-free yogurt with “live cultures”
( “good” yeast).
- Children need great daily vitamins, minerals and other
nutrients that our bodies don't make enough of. See
“Daily Nutrition and Supplements for Children”.
3. Soothing the Symptoms and Clearing Infections
- Echinacea and garlic are not only preventive, but can
treat and calm the symptoms of ear infection. For specific
soothing targeted at ear area, Echinacea or garlic can be
found in eardrops, sometimes combined with mullein (an herbal
oil) to coat the inside of the ear and stop pain.
- Give Växa's Candid-Free to cleanse and kill
possible yeast fungus build-up from intestines, mucus membranes
and genital area (Children may exhibit oral “thrush”
- white pasty tongue – or severe diaper rash or genital
yeast infections. These are signs of candida yeast overgrowth,
a fungus that inhibits the immune system).
- Give extra Vitamin C a couple of times a day while sick
with any infections, cold or flu, up to 200 or 300 mg. Don't
be alarmed at mild diarrhea - Vitamin C cleans out the system.
Follow diarrhea by giving children a sugar-free electrolyte
juice.
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