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Wednesday 7 March 2012

Ear Infections and Homeopathy

Sadly, ear infections are commonplace with children, and can also cause severe problems in adults too. Since there appears to be no prospect of prevention, the debate as to whether homeopathic treatment, antibiotics or placebos are the best form of cure, is important. 

The recent meta-analysis of studies, published in the Journal of American Medical Asso- ciation, showed that the use of antibiotics only slightly improved the sufferer’s symptoms compared with a group not given any treatment. The improvement in health was, unfortunately, offset by adverse-reactions to the drugs, such as rashes and diarrhoea.

There have been scientific studies which confirm that homeopathic treatment is superior to both antibiotic treatment and/or no treatment at all. 

In 1997, a study, published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, examined the recovery period of 131 children suffering from ear infections. The children were divided into two groups – those using antibiotics and those using homeopathy. The conclusion was that the group treated with homeopathy recovered, on average, a day faster than the group treated conventionally. 

In order to determine homeopathy’s effectiveness in treating ear-infections, side-by-side with placebo, another study, published in 2001 in the British Homeopathic Journal, compared the two treatment options in 230 children with acute ear infections. After 12 hours of treatment, 72% of the children, who had been given homeopathy recovered 2.4 times faster than those who received the placebo.

In addition to the positive conclusions of these studies, homeopathic treatment has the advantage of being natural, with no adverse reactions, and therefore safe to use. The treatment is easily accessible - basic, readily-available homeopathic remedies that can be purchased from most health stores, and at all homeopathic pharmacies. So if you, or your children, suffer from ear infections, the following remedies may be of help; although it is always advisable to contact your homeopathic practitioner for a more individualised prescription.

Belladonna 30c - earaches which come on suddenly with intense pain, ear is bright red and there is a high fever

Hepar Sulphuris 30c - use when a sharp, severe earache which may be accompanied by a thick coloured discharge from the nose or ears; the sufferer is usually very irritable

Pulsatilla 30c - excellent children's remedy for ear infections; sufferer is clingy, weepy, and craves affection; there is a yellow or green, bland discharge from the nose or ears.

Please note, in addition to the above remedies, ear drops or tablets containing a combination of different homeopathic remedies are easy to use and are an effective way to relieve the pain.

The dosage and repetition for any of these remedies can be given as needed, for example every 15-30 minutes for up to six doses during an acute crisis, and then three times daily as symptoms subside.
(Homeopathic treatment for ear infections is superior to antibiotics).