Amanda Rose Klenner, CCH

Originally published in Natural Herbal Living Magazine October 2013

In many different traditions, from Ayurveda to folk treatments in the hills, garlic has been used to treat infection and inflammation of the ear. We might call this swimmer’s ear, or a middle ear infection. Let’s talk a bit about the anatomy of the ear before we go much further.

Anatomy

The ear is composed of three general areas.

The external consists of the pinna (ear lobe) and external auditory canal where sound enters the ear.

The middle ear is where you find the eardrum and the tiny bones behind the ear drum which vibrate – these vibrations are conducted to the cochlea, a part of the inner ear that transforms those vibrations into nerve impulses that are sent to your brain and interpreted as sounds.

The inner ear also contains the fluid-filled semicircular canals that are attached to the cochlea and nerves. This inner ear fluid helps your body balance by sending nerve signals to the brain telling it what the head and body position is (standing, sitting, walking, spinning, standing still, etc.). This is why you feel dizzy after spinning in circles – the fluid is still moving even when you have stopped spinning and are standing still.

The eustachian tube is a tube that helps move excess fluid from the inner ears into the throat.

What is an Ear Infection?

An ear infection is usually defined as pain, redness, or pus in the ear (or leaving the ear) while accompanied by fever. An ear infection can be caused by bacteria or a virus and will usually resolve itself between 48 and 72 hours.

A second type of ear infection called otitis media with effusion (OME), also known as middle ear infection, is an infection that is not usually accompanied by the symptoms listed above, but is diagnosed by fluid buildup behind the ear drum, and is most often the cause of ear tubes.

Ear infections are often caused by viral infections like upper respiratory infections, colds, and flu. Sometimes it is even caused by allergies, either environmental or food. What happens with an OME is fluid builds up in the ears but is unable to drain easily due to inflammation of the area. This can last for a month or more and cause hearing and speech issues in young children. Commonly, doctors will recommend ear tubes for this type of ear infection, especially if it is a chronic or recurring issue. In a review of 41 different studies, researchers found ear tubes did show short shot- term improvement in hearing but found no long-term benefits. These ear tubes also come with some risk, including tympanosclerosis, a calcification of the inner ear that, ironically, can cause hearing loss.

Now, let me interject before I continue, that my husband had chronic hearing issues, dizziness, nausea, and general symptoms of inner ear imbalance. Herbs gave temporary relief but the symptoms kept recurring. When the doctors placed his ear tubes as an adult they found some nasty, viscous gunk in his inner ear that took a while to remove. This was obviously a chronic issue for him and he has seen great improvement from his ear tube placement. What I am saying is weigh your risks, consult with your medical practitioners, and make the best decision you can at the time. There are herbal remedies but sometimes these medical procedures are helpful, so consider your options wisely.

Sometimes antibiotics are effective in the treatment of an ear infection, but they are often overprescribed. Ear infections are the most common reason for a child under the age of 10 to be prescribed antibiotics, but both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians have recommended doctors hold off prescribing antibiotics until 48-72 hours after symptoms occur to see if the infection will resolve its self. This is because many ear infections can be caused by viruses, which antibiotics do not treat. They also recommend holding off antibiotic treatment because of the massive outbreak of antibiotic resistant bacteria that we are seeing in our overly sterile world.

What Causes Ear Infections?

Ear infections can happen during or after a viral infection, especially a cold, cough, or any other common disease that affects the upper respiratory system and/or sinuses. They can also happen when water gets trapped in the ears from frequent swimming, food allergies (this is very common for people who have frequent ear infections), seasonal allergies, and spinal misalignment.

How Can I Treat an Ear Infection Naturally?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting 72 hours, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer and hope it resolves on its own.

This is the kind of situation where herbal medicine is really allowed to shine. While your doctor may just wait and advice you take medication for the pain, an herbalist will have another solution. Ear oil is a common, easy, folk treatment to help treat the inflammation, swelling, and infection common to ear infections.

Ear oil can be made with many herbs for many different reasons but let me give you two base recipes as well as the herbs I tend to add depending on the person and the symptoms.

Ear Oil made with Fresh Garlic

This is a remedy you can whip up in your home in minutes and use immediately. If you don’t have fresh garlic and oil at your home, you can easily run to the grocery store or your neighbor’s house and get some.

Ingredients:

5-8 garlic cloves, fresh
½ C organic oil (olive oil and coconut oil are two of my favorites for this)
*optional: fresh or dry basil, rosemary, thyme, calendula,
mullein flower, or sage

Directions:

Crush the garlic and remove the stems.
Let the garlic sit and oxidize for 10 minutes.
Once that 10 minutes has passed, add your oil to a non-reactive pan and turn the heat to medium/low.
Chop your garlic and herbs and add them to the oil. Sautee on very low, not burning the herbs but slowly frying them and infusing the herbal constituents into the oil. The garlic shouldn’t brown, but instead should slightly bubble.
Sautee for 20-30 minutes and allow to cool.
NEVER PUT HOT OIL INTO THE EAR.

Once the oil has cooled, place 2-4 drops of the oil into the ear and hold for 5 minutes. Repeat on the other side. Do this 3-4 times a day for 3 days. If symptoms don’t resolve, consider following up with your health care provider. If your ear drum has burst, DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR EAR. Instead, rub the garlic oil along the sides of your neck where the Eustachian tubes drain into the throat and eat garlic internally to help deal with the infection. Keep the oil refrigerated and use within 3 days. Throw out after 3 days as botulism can form when you combine fresh herbs (water) and oil.

Dried Garlic Ear Oil

Ingredients:

1 part dried garlic
1 part dry mullein flower
1 part dry calendula flower, St. John’s Wort flower, basil leaf, rosemary leaf, sage leaf, thyme leaf – whatever you have
organic olive oil

Directions:

Cap tightly and leave out on a sunny windowsill for 6-8 weeks OR use the double boiler method, and heat the oil in the jar surrounded by water on all sides on low for 12-24 hours.
Strain well, put a tight lid on, and store in a cool dry place. This oil should be used within 1-2 years from the date of production.
Use in the same way as you would the fresh garlic oil.

What do Some of These Other Herbs Do?

Here is a very basic overview of why I include some of these other herbs in my ear oil. Although they are not required, they sure do help.

Mullein flowers are traditionally used for ear infection. In fact, it is most herbalists go-to for ear issues. Mullein flower is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and is commonly used in animals to treat ear mites. Its leaves do not work as well as the flower, so be sure you are using the right parts! Thankfully, mullein is an invasive weed and can be found in large patches just about anywhere in open sunny spaces. Sautee for 20-30 minutes and allow to cool. NEVER PUT HOT OIL INTO THE EAR.

Once the oil has cooled, place 2-4 drops of the oil into the ear and hold for 5 minutes. Repeat on the other side. Do this 3-4 times a day for 3 days. If symptoms don’t resolve, consider following up with your health care provider.

If your ear drum has burst, DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR EAR. Instead, rub the garlic oil along the sides of your neck where the eustachian tubes drain into the throat and eat garlic internally to help deal with the infection. Keep the oil refrigerated and use within 3 days. Throw out after 3 days as botulism can form when you combine fresh herbs (water) and oil.

Calendula is one of my favorite anti-inflammatory, soothing, anti-infective herbs. It does well on most inflamed and irritated membranes internally and externally, making it perfect for ear issues.

St. John’s Wort is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-viral and has been traditionally used to treat ear inflammation, redness, soreness, and pain.

Basil is a personal favorite of mine for ear infection and pain, but the other aromatic herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme etc.) have similar benefits. Aromatic herbs contain a relatively large amount of volatile oils and those listed are specifically anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory.

Although use of the whole herb is generally considered safe, don’t put essential oils into your mix. Essential oils are highly concentrated and should not come into contact with your delicate tympanic membrane.

Are Chronic Ear Infections Something You Often Deal With?

First off, look to your diet to see if you have any food sensitivities or allergies that may be causing them. If you have eliminated dietary issues then consider looking to your environment. Are you surrounded by a lot of VOC’s off gassing? Artificial fragrance? Dust mites? Mold? There are thousands of things that can cause chronic inflammation. Figure out what is causing your issues and resolve that problem and your ear infections will more than likely become less frequent.

Garlic for the Ears