The Colic Care^® Blog

Ear Infections

One of the most frequent causes for visits to the pediatrician is the dreaded ear infection.  Unfortunately, antibiotics are still frequently prescribed, even though the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has made the recommendation for a “wait and see” approach. This is due to research that shows that antibiotics do not speed recovery time. In addition, antibiotics kill off the “good” bacteria that reside in our GI and respiratory tract, making us even more susceptible to illness. Not to mention the current problems with antibiotic resistant bacteria because of unnecessary antibiotic use.

Luckily, there are things that you can do to both treat and prevent ear infections.

• Upright feeding as much as possible. The eustachian tubes of infants are much shorter than adults, allowing fluid to accumulate and cause inflammation.  Feeding at a slight angle allows for more drainage and less accumulation.


• Use immune support as soon as baby starts to get the sniffles. Again, because of the shorter eustachian tubes, extra fluid due to a cold can increase the chances of eardrum inflammation. Great things to try include vitamin C, probiotics, larch tree, vitamin A, and Zinc. Of course you should work with a practitioner to determine the correct dosage for your infant.


• Ear drops. The same research that found that antibiotics were ineffective, also found that ear drops containing things such as garlic, mullein, and hypericum, were more effective than doing nothing and helped to relieve pain. However, you should be sure that the ear drum is intact before putting anything into the ear.


• Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is protective both because of the immune components of the breast milk, as well as the larger motion of the jaw that an infant has to use (promoting movement in the eustachian tube area), as compared to using a bottle.


• Avoiding allergens. This can be food and/or environmental. Using a hepa filter, removing stuffed animals from the crib, and using a hypoallergenic laundry detergent may be helpful for sensitive infants. Food considerations - if breastfeeding, consider eliminating dairy and wheat, or other known food sensitivities.


• Homeopathy. Finding a qualified homeopathic practitioner can help with chronic ear infection conditions. During an acute phase, remedies like chamomile (extreme fussiness, better with fast rocking), pulsatilla (whimpering/whining, better being carried) or belladonna (extreme pain, red face, screaming) can be tried and are very safe and effective for infants.

It is unlikely that you will be able to avoid the occasional ear infection, but using the above tips will keep the frequency and duration to a minimum. Ear tubes should be a last resort if other avenues have been tried with no relief.

We would love to hear your thoughts or comments.  Just enter them below.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to Ask Dr. Tara. Good Luck!!

Integrative Medicine: The best of “mother nature” and modern medicine.

“Holistic”, “Alternative”, “Natural”, “Green”, “Organic”….all of these terms have come to describe everything from cleaning products to fruits and vegetables. How do you navigate this new “all natural” world, especially when it comes to your children? A great option is to consult a naturopathic physician. Naturopathic physicians are well-educated medical professionals who undergo conventional medical training with a different perspective—that is, that nature can sometimes fill in the gaps where conventional medicine is lacking. This is the true definition of integrative medicine—using a more natural approach in combination with conventional medical treatment, and deciding which approach is the most appropriate for the patient.

There is no better age group to use integrative medicine than with the pediatric community. Children are lacking the lifetime of poor lifestyle and ignored medical conditions that adults often contend with, which makes them perfect candidates for a more natural approach. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending to conventional pediatricians that they become informed about alternative therapies and even use them if they are a “safe and effective” alternative to conditions not responding to conventional medical therapies. The latest research shows that up to 50% of parents of children with chronic medical conditions are using some form of alternative therapy, with or without the knowledge of their primary pediatrician. Unfortunately, many parents are navigating the world of alternative medicine on their own, or with the help of the all-knowing “Google”, which makes for a less than desirable situation.

Luckily, you don’t have to navigate these options on your own. Naturopathic Doctors, like me, can work with you to make sure that you are receiving the “best of both worlds”. Our goal is not to replace your pediatrician, but to offer other avenues when conventional therapies are not working. Most of us have attended one of four medical schools in the country that offer this integrative medical approach, and we have extensive training in using this knowledge within the pediatric community. Here are some of the more common questions I see in my office.

My child is currently taking his/her (5th, 6th, etc.) round of antibiotics for ear infections. I am considering ear tubes, but am wondering if there are any other alternatives to this procedure?

Children are more susceptible to ear infections due to their shorter, more horizontal, eustachian tubes. Fluid easily builds up, and can cause inflammation in the inner ear. This can be a nightmare for parents, who feel like their life is one continual visit to the doctor for antibiotics. From a naturopathic perspective, we attempt to look at the underlying cause of the problem, and use specific changes to the child’s diet to decrease reactivity to the environment and build up the child’s immune system. Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria, but some bacteria in our bodies are beneficial, and frequent antibiotic usage can disrupt the normal, “good” bacteria in our bodies, which can in turn, lead to more immune dysfunction. Frequent antibiotic usage also creates antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, making judicious use of antibiotics very important.

Will my child develop Autism from immunizations?

The short answer is no. There does appear to be a correlation with onset of autism in some children with immunizations, but this is only for a subset of children with a particular metabolic disorder. Some vaccines are “live” vaccines, which can sometimes cause problems for certain children, however there are simple steps that you can do to lessen this reaction. The controversial preservative thimeresol has been removed from most vaccines, making this less of a concern. It is important that you make informed decisions about immunizations, including the benefits and/or risks associated with you decision.

I saw Jenny McCarthy on Oprah talking about how she cured her son’s autism by changing his diet. Do you know anything about this?

Autism is a multi-factorial condition with many unknown causes. Researchers and clinicians are working tirelessly to uncover the causes and treatments for this epidemic. Currently, the best approach for children affected with autism is a combined approach using behavior modification (such as Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA) and biomedical approaches (nutrient/dietary modifications). Awareness of these biomedical approaches have become mainstream from organizations such as DAN (Defeat Autism Now/Autism Research Institute) and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy. A Naturopathic Doctor can help you determine if these approaches could be beneficial for your child.

Why doesn’t my pediatrician know about alternative medicine?

Pediatricians are faced with the monumental task of identifying, preventing, and intervening with life-threatening diseases in children. While children have an uncanny ability to “bounce back” from illness, they also have the ability to become extremely ill in a short amount of time. Conventional pediatricians have education and experience that revolves around this paradigm, and is extremely important for the health of your child. There are numerous alternative therapies and attempting to find the therapies that are safe and effective can become too time-consuming for a busy practice. A true integrative approach to health care involves delegating areas of expertise to other practitioners, and naturopathic physicians can easily fill this role.

If you have questions or comments about Integrative Medicine, I would love to hear them!!  Feel free to comment below, or visit our Ask Dr. Tara section.