Ear infection 
#91053
16 y
22,786
† Cross †
Recap
My 17 year old son took two different anti-biotic eardrops over two weeks and they didn't work. The doctor took a swab on the second visit and called him back in. He now knew what the bacteria was and the eardrops would do nothing for it.
So he gave him some strong oral Antibiotics , which he was convinced would get rid of this infection in a week and told him to take pain killers /anti inflammatories for the pain, as he had tenderness around the ear area.
Well he has taken them for a week and has not seen any improvement what so ever.
He still has deafness in one ear and tenderness. I don't like him taking pain killers, but he is old enough to make up his own mind on that, and what can i say, when he is in pain.
He took the Pau d arco for only a few days prior to getting the strong anti biotics. I've started him back on them today.
I'm trying to persuade him not to go back to the doctors, but not sure if i'm doing the right thing.
If strong anti biotics didn't get rid of it, will the Pau d arco?
I really need to know they are going to work if taken long enough. If i persuade him to give them a proper go and not go back to the doctors, and they fail him, he will blame me for discouraging him not to go back (mum always gets the blame) and he will also lose faith in herbal remedies, which i don't want to happen.
So Hv please give me some reassurance about this.
Anything else i can do for the inflammation instead of him taking the painkillers.
Also does the Pau d arco kill the flora the same as normal Antibiotics ?
Sorry for being a doubting thomas, but it is obviously going to be a hard infection to shift.
Thanks for any help
Sally
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- Re: Ear infection spudlydoo
16 y
22,634
This is a reply to # 1,498,124I had an ear infection about 1 year ago, it was also a bacterial infection, I decided to treat it myself as I really hate anti-biotics, I've had terrible problems after taking them before. I used half strength Lugols Iodine and swabbed the ear canal with it on some cotton wool. I left a cotton wool ball soaked with Iodine in my ears overnight. The next day the infection was clearing, in 2 days it was gone. I kept up the Iodine swabbing for another day just to make sure it was completely gone.
If you try this method make sure you dilute the iodine 50/50 with distilled water, or use nascent iodine in alcohol tincture as this will dry on contact.
Iodine kills bacteria on contact usually within 90 seconds.
spud
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- Re: Ear infection #91053
16 y
22,332
This is a reply to # 1,498,153
Thanks Spud.
It's funny, i had Iodine niggling away at the back of my mind, as a possible treatment. Maybe someone was trying to tell me something.lol
If it responds to this treatment overnight, then in my mind it proves it is treatable by other methods other than Antibiotics , that aren't working anyway.
I have some lugols.
I didn't attend the doctors with him, so don't even know if external or inner ear infection.
Reading the symptoms it sounds like external infection.
The doctor did not clean the ear, and i've read they should do this.
Trouble is i don't have any distilled water. We can't buy it that readily here in the uk.
Could i use boiled water? Cooled!
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- Re: Ear infection uchihaMadara
16 y
22,191
This is a reply to # 1,498,159I've only recently started an Iodine protocol, it's definitely worth a try. It's used to disinfect before surgery, makes perfect sense.
Definitely boil the water and use it as soon as possible. - Re: distilled water #91053
16 y
22,254
This is a reply to # 1,498,159
Spud, all
Is the distilled water bought for topping up car batteries okay. My hubbie is going to try and get some on way back from work.
I mean it is not going to be swallowed as such is it?
Thanks
- Re: Ear infection uchihaMadara
16 y
22,191
- Re: Ear infection-iodine #91053
16 y
22,333
This is a reply to # 1,498,153Spud
Is it supposed to sting? He said it hurts and stings.
I did 50/50 as you advised.
Did you soak and then squeeze out excess. He put a plastic bag on his hand to squeeze out and put in ear.
Should i dilute further?
Thanks- Re: Ear infection-iodine spudlydoo
16 y
22,983
This is a reply to # 1,498,334There might be a slight sting when you first swab with the lugols, but it should go within a few seconds. If his ear is sore from the infection it may be a little uncomfortable to start with, but Lugols works quick.
Yes , I soak the cotton ball and then squeeze out the excess so it doesn't drip everywhere.
I wouldn't dilute further, the discomfort should go quickly.
spud- Re: Ear infection-iodine #91053
16 y
22,373
This is a reply to # 1,498,466
Spud,
I did dilute further. He has been swabbing with it, but still found it too painful to keep cotton wool in ear overnight.
It wasn't just a few seconds of initial stinging, it was worse than that, and got so uncomfortable he had to remove it.
He found once i diluted it he could do the swabbing.
I'm assuming there must be an open sore inside the ear for it to do that.
The plan, is to keep swabbing and if the stinging subsides, it may have healed enough to use overnight. I will then make the solution 50/50 again. I really want him to be able to do this, i just hope he perseveres with this, and doesn't get into a strop.
I'll give all this a week, Iodine and pau d' arco, and if there is no improvement, i will have to think again.
Thanks for all your help
Sally- Re: Ear infection-iodine spudlydoo
16 y
24,231
This is a reply to # 1,498,781It does sound as though he might have some broken skin in the ear canal, I've never know it to sting quite that much if there is no open sore. I think its probably easier to treat little kids than teenagers :)
I hope this works for you as well as it has for me and the grandies. It can be so frustrating when things just don't seem to be working the way they should.
Keep us updated on his progress,
regards, spud
- Re: Ear infection-iodine spudlydoo
16 y
24,231
- Re: Ear infection-iodine #91053
16 y
22,373
- Re: Ear infection-iodine spudlydoo
16 y
22,983
- Re: Ear infection #91053
16 y
22,332
- Re: Ear infection uchihaMadara
16 y
22,549
This is a reply to # 1,498,124If possible, try to flush the ear out if temporary deafness occurs due to a clog. I had an ear infection clog with a lot of pain, went to the hospital, a nurse just gently streamed a saline solution into my ear and opened it up. I also used to put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into my ear at 3% strength for a few minutes laying on the side to keep the solution inside. But, I would flush it out with warm water with a squeeze bottle afterwards. It's important to keep the canal free from clogs and allow air to pass through or bacteria will multiply rapidly.
Also, I recently realized the importance of anti-inflammatory nutrients like Vitamin C, Bioflavanoids (work well with Vit. C), B-Complex, Vitamin E, and even Vitamin D. Vitamin D and E require fat, omega 3s are anti-inflammatory and should work to help keep the ear less inflamed. Vitamin D reduces the immune over-response, a highly important vitamin in healing.
Personally, I would start out taking a vitamin C complex with bioflavanoids at least every 2 hours at a tolerable dose. Ascorbic Acid is harder on the stomach, but Sodium Ascorbate is much easier to take in mega doses. If you can't find a source of sodium ascorbate right away with bioflavanoids to make vitamin C work better in the body, then take ascorbic acid at least in 500 mg doses every 2 hours or as tolerated. When I take high ascorbic acid doses, it usually gives me diarrhea. So far, I only have calcium ascorbate that I can tolerate in high doses, but am switching to sodium ascorbate to avoid the extra calcium attached to the vitamin C. This is a start, I'm sure other's may provide more information as my ear infections went away without Antibiotics by flushing it out and keeping the ear open and dry.
What kind of bacteria is it? It will help to understand what we're dealing with.- Re: Ear infection #91053
16 y
22,331
This is a reply to # 1,498,161
I don't know which bacteria, as he didn't ask Doctor and i was not with him at the time. As he took a swab, at least i know it is not the flesh eating kind that i've been reading about, that can affect the ear in rare cases. Arrghh!
He was prescribed Ciprofloxacin. Which kills all types of bacteria. Although it did not work on him.
He does take supplements, Vit D3 and has flaxseeds for omega 3 etc. He is into body building so has plenty of fruit smoothies etc. He ate a small punnet of fresh blackberries the other day We have been on the more natural C recently, like Amla and Rosehips etc.
I have been thinking along the same lines though. Maybe increase the C for awhile. I found some Magnesium Ascorbate vit C powder in my supplement cupboard unused. Someone recommended it once saying it was a good form to take, but don't know that for sure.
Allergies can affect the ear canal through inflammation, but as it happened after swimming in a friend's private pool on holiday, that was kept low in chlorine because of young kiddies using it, i think it more likely that he got bacteria ridden pool water in his ear. He came back with deafness in one ear.
We can't buy hydrogen peroxide here. They think you want it for making bombs.
I think the Iodine solution is definately worth a try. I know Hv is against putting liquids in the ear, but surely it can't make it worse than it is already.
Anyway thanks for you imput, much appreciated.
- Re: Ear infection #91053
16 y
22,331
- Re: Ear infection Hveragerthi
16 y
22,281
This is a reply to # 1,498,124
If strong anti biotics didn't get rid of it, will the Pau d arco?
There are never any 100% guarantees. But the pau d' arco should do a better job than the antibiotics. Antibiotics only work against bacteria, which can quickly build up a tolerance. Pau d' arco works against bacteria and other pathogens. It also has more than one antiseptic compound. Pau d' arco contains 18 antiseptic anthraquinones and napthaquinones. It also contains 5 anti-inflammatories.
I really need to know they are going to work if taken long enough. If i persuade him to give them a proper go and not go back to the doctors, and they fail him, he will blame me for discouraging him not to go back (mum always gets the blame) and he will also lose faith in herbal remedies, which i don't want to happen.Does he still have faith in conventional medicine since the antibiotics failed?
So Hv please give me some reassurance about this.
Anything else i can do for the inflammation instead of him taking the painkillers.The pau d' arco also works on inflammation.
Also does the Pau d arco kill the flora the same as normal antibiotics?No.
Sorry for being a doubting thomas, but it is obviously going to be a hard infection to shift.Again there are no 100% guarantees whether it be conventional or alternative, but this should work a lot better. Ozone would have been my first choice, but I am confident that the pau d' arco will knock it out.
- Re: Ear infection #91053
16 y
22,194
This is a reply to # 1,498,218Does he still have faith in conventional medicine since the Antibiotics failed?
Very good point.
What do you think of Spud's Iodine idea. Although the trouble with that is he will get a stained yellow ear, and he has to go to college, so he might not go for that idea after all.
Anyway, today he is taking the Pau d' arco at least 20 mins before meals and we should get 4 doses in.
He was a bit hit and miss before, and sometimes only doing three.
He said he was hurting earlier but is now crashed out on the sofa, so maybe that is the Pau d'arco's doing.
So i could start the probiotics now, seeing these don't destroy the flora.
I've been sneaking tablespoons of oatbran into his cereal bowl for the prebiotic.
One thing else, should he be unclogging his ear? He can't hear out of it and the doctor did not flush or clean it. Or will it do this on its own.
He did get some pus out and this will gross you out, he says it smells like pop corn. He was trying to get us all to smell it.
I will never eat popcorn again.- Re: Ear infection spudlydoo
16 y
22,564
This is a reply to # 1,498,222Boiled water would be fine, Lugols sterilizes the water anyway. He won't get a yellow stained ear if you just swabbing the ear canal, and any Iodine stain will be absorbed by the skin anyway, overnight is plenty of time.
I've also used this method to treat ear infections in both my grandkids , 3 year old and 18 months old, with good results. Both had middle ear infections, but the Lugols still worked.
The ear blockage is probably due to the build up of pus, once the infection is under control it will clear.
Just one other thing, make sure that when the infection is gone, wash any pillowcases, towels etc , that he's been using in really hot water, you don't want him reinfecting through contact with any pus or gunk coming out of the ear.
Its also a good idea to have him wash his hair, particularly if its longer or around his ears.
hope this helps,
spud- Re: Ear infection #91053
16 y
22,201
This is a reply to # 1,498,230
Thanks Spudlydoo.
It also occured to me the other day, that his earphones will need disinfecting. I have some of that anti bac colourless spray. He uses them daily to listen to music, i think he is using the ones that go right over the ear at the moment. But i think they will still need doing. So i must do that. He can only hear the music in one ear at the moment anyway.lol
I do use 30 degrees for washing everything now. Trying to do my bit to be green.
I will do the sheets on 60 degrees until infection has passed. We have our own colours in towels that we use, which i think is a good idea in general.
Yes you are right about the iodine. I did a patch test once and it was gone in four hours. That wasn't with Lugols though but the bog standard Iodine for cuts and grazes.
Anyway, i'm feeling quietly confident now. With the Pau'd Arco and the iodine, i think we may have a winning combination.
It just annoys me that if such a simple thing works, why o why are people being described such c...p.
I know the answer to that really, but if it wasn't for them getting in the way of these sort of cures, and causing people more grief, with problems from the Antibiotics etc we could all be a lot happier.
Oh well. We will be so thrilled if this works. I'll keep you posted.- Re: Ear infection spudlydoo
16 y
22,275
This is a reply to # 1,498,245The ear phones that you put in your ears are one of the worst things for ear infections. If they aren't terribly expensive ones, its probably better to throw them out and get new ones. I know this might sound wastefull, but the earphones have so many little spaces where bacteria can quite happily live and breed. You can also get covers for the ear pieces that can be replaced regularly. Phones and mobile phones are another sure way to spread an ear infection, so I'd give these a going over as well.
I watched some backpackers sharing earphones the other day, yyuuucckkk.
It amazes me too that doctors are always so quick to prescribe anti-biotics, without even a mention of cheaper, quicker and easier methods of treating bacterial infection. I had a small cut that became infected and I ended up with cellulitis and blood poisoning from it, (this was before I knew about good old iodine). I was put on very large doses of anti-biotics, and they were worse than the infection. My chinese herbalist gave me Paul de'arco capsules, told me to stop taking the anti-biotics, the paul de'arco (chinese have a different name), worked within a couple of days.
spud
- Re: Ear infection spudlydoo
16 y
22,275
- Re: Ear infection #91053
16 y
22,201
- Re: Ear infection Hveragerthi
16 y
22,229
This is a reply to # 1,498,222
What do you think of Spud's iodine idea. Although the trouble with that is he will get a stained yellow ear, and he has to go to college, so he might not go for that idea after all.
With alcohol that is fine as there will not be any water in it. It is the water that allows the breeding of bacteria and fungus.
Anyway, today he is taking the Pau d' arco at least 20 mins before meals and we should get 4 doses in.
He was a bit hit and miss before, and sometimes only doing three.
He said he was hurting earlier but is now crashed out on the sofa, so maybe that is the Pau d'arco's doing.
So i could start the probiotics now, seeing these don't destroy the flora.Just take them at different times.
I've been sneaking tablespoons of oatbran into his cereal bowl for the prebiotic.
One thing else, should he be unclogging his ear? He can't hear out of it and the doctor did not flush or clean it. Or will it do this on its own.It will do it on its own, though it takes time. You can warm some olive oil to use as ear drops to soften up the wax then use a bulb syringe to carefully remove some of the wax. Just make sure not to insert the bulb syringe too deeply and do not suction it too hard or fast.
- Re: Ear infection spudlydoo
16 y
22,564
- Re: Ear infection #91053
16 y
22,194
- Re: Ear infection spudlydoo
16 y
22,634
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