Herbs For Kids - Aviva Romm

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Earache/Ear Infections Middle ear infections — also called acute otitis media — can be very painful and can make your child fussy and irritable. They are generally caused by viruses (more rarely by bacteria) and can occur in babies, young children, and teens. There may be fever, swollen neck glands, and your child’s hearing may be muffled from the fluid in the ears. Younger children may pull on their ears or may scream or cry suddenly and unexpectedly; older children will generally tell you that they have ear pain. Occasionally a child can have fluid congestion and mild inflammation that causes hearing difficulties without the other symptoms of ear infection; this is called otitis media with effusion. Ear infections are the most prevalent complaint that land children in the doctor’s office, and overtreatment with antibiotics is a big problem. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving parents the option of waiting 48-72 hours to see if symptoms resolve on their own before using an antibiotic. Approximately 80% of kids with acute otitis media get better without antibiotics! Antibiotics treatment is considered appropriate for babies under 6 months old with known or suspected ear infections, and sometimes for children ages 6 months to 2 years with severe infection. What Can You Do? Natural treatment of ear infections can provide symptomatic relief without contributing to problems of antibiotic overuse. Here are a few practical tips: • A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel (to avoid burning your child) can bring a lot of comfort to a painful ear. Let your child sleep on a slightly filled hot water bottle — if it is overly full it will be too firm to rest on comfortably (do NOT use a heating pad). • Give firm but gentle massage all around the jaw and head in the area adjacent to the ear. Massage in a downward direction behind the ear on the neck and apply gentle inward pressure in front of the ear toward the cheek (about where sideburns would be). This will facilitate drainage of ear fluids and stimulate pressure points in the area. It may be uncomfortable to your child so do it a few times a day for short periods. • <strong>Kids</strong> who drink a lot of juice and dairy products may get more earaches. They encourage the production of a lot of mucus in the upper respiratory system. This can lead to congestion in the chest and ears, a ripe situation for an ear infection. Cut back on juice and milk for at least three days after the earache symptoms are gone. • <strong>For</strong> very bad ear pain, you can give children’s doses of Tylenol ® Ear infections are the most prevalent complaint that land children in the doctor’s office, and overtreatment with antibiotics is a big problem. or ibuprofen. 24
25 Herbal Treatments Herbal treatment can work quite well to relieve earache symptoms and reduce ear infection. • Give echinacea tincture to boost the immune system. • Chamomile makes an excellent tea to help your child relax during an ear infection. • The classic herbal remedy for ear infections is garlicmullein oil. Garlic is a natural antimicrobial, addressing infections of both a bacterial and viral nature. Mullein is an analgesic, relieving the pain associated with earaches. This can be prepared easily at home; I make a large bottle annually to have on-hand for patients as needed; you can make your own and store in the fridge for up to a year. If you do not have it ready when needed, good quality Garlic Mullein oil is available from the company HerbPharm, sold at Whole Foods and other large natural foods stores. When to See Your Doctor Call your child’s doctor if there is: • Pain that won’t resolve • High fever and persistent ear pain • Drainage from the ear • Neck pain or stiffness Garlic Mullein Oil To prepare: Place 1 whole bulb of finely chopped fresh garlic and 1 oz. of mullein flowers in a pint-sized jar. Add olive oil until the jar is full. Stir with a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon to release air bubbles. Cover the jar and place in the sunlight for 3 weeks (2 weeks in warm weather). Strain into a clean jar (discard plant material) and store in the refrigerator. This will keep for up to two years. To use, place 3-7 drops of the oil into the affected ear while the child lays on his side with the affected ear upward. The oil should be at room temperature or slightly warm. To warm it, put the drops in a spoon or a glass eyedropper and briefly hold a lit match close to it. Test the oil against the underside of your wrist to make sure it is not too hot. Have the child rest with the affected ear up for 5-10 minutes, keeping a warm hot water bottle on the ear. After this time let the child roll over and rest on the hot water bottle for as long as this brings comfort. Repeat on the other ear if necessary. This treatment can be repeated 2-3 times a day but may only be necessary once or twice as it is very effective. NOTE: NEVER PUT ANYTHING INTO THE EAR IF YOU SUSPECT THE EARDRUM HAS RUPTURED OR IF THERE IS ANY DRAINAGE FROM THE EAR. Herbal Oils Herbal oils are vegetable oils in which herbs have been infused. They are different from essential oils. They should be stored out of direct light and heat.
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Page 3 and 4: 3 Meet Aviva Dear Friends, When I w
Page 5 and 6: 5 Antibiotic overuse When my kids w
Page 7 and 8: 7 Common Early Signs of Illness Whe
Page 9 and 10: 9 Diaper Rash What is diaper rash?
Page 11 and 12: 11 Colic At about three weeks old m
Page 13 and 14: 13 Alternatively, a product such as
Page 15 and 16: 15 • To freshen the air, put some
Page 17 and 18: 17 Colds and Flu Most parents will
Page 19 and 20: 19 • Ginger (Zingiber officinalis
Page 21 and 22: 21 Cough It’s a common story. You
Page 23: 23 When to See Your Doctor • If y
Page 27 and 28: 27 Herbal Treatments A very simply

Herbs For Kids - Aviva Romm

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