Most of the time I get this phone call, “My toddler has had five ear infections in the past four months. They want to put tubes in. I don’t want him/her to go under anesthesia. HELP!”
Can I help? Yes, most of the time I can. Let me explain how:
1) I utilize the Chiropractic and CranioSacral Therapies I have studied to remove tension from the nervous system and cranial bones respectively, thus letting the body have a better change at healing naturally and the ears a better chance at draining out.
2) I teach the parent some lymphatic drainage techniques, which are done- with very light pressure- on the following areas:
a) Behind the ears
b) Down the neck towards the collarbones
c) Over/under both collarbones and outward in a horizontal plane
3) I recommend some dietary changes (often to eliminate dairy, sometimes to eliminate gluten and rarely to eliminate both). This needs to be done for at least two weeks to see if it will make a significant difference in the child’s health. If this is too much for a parent to take on themselves, I refer them to a nutritionist.
4) I encourage the daily use of a probiotic supplement to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. My favorite ones are put out by Nature’s Way.
5) I advise on the administration of 1-2 drops of warmed olive oil, mullein oil and/or garlic oil into the ear canal, preferably before bed. I use a product by Gaia Herbs called, appropriately, Ear Oil.