Treat ear infections in children with all-natural tea tree oil
What causes ear infections in children?
One of the most common ailments in children is the dreaded ear infection. Usually an ear infection happens when bacteria or viruses get into the middle ear, causing pain and suffering in little ones.
Ear infections aren’t transferred from person to person, it’s far more likely that your child will have a cold that will then lead to an ear infection. Usually it will cause congestion and swelling of the nasal passages, throat and eustachian tubes.
The eustachian tube is a pair of narrow tubes running from each middle ear to high up in the back of the throat behind the nasal passages. When your child has a cold or upper respiratory infection swelling, inflammation and mucus in the eustachian tubes can block these passages and cause a buildup of fluids in the middle ear. When this fluid is infected – either by bacteria or a virus – that’s what produces the symptoms of an ear infection.
Common symptoms of ear infections
Here’s a list of the most common symptoms of ear infections (your child may not suffer all of them):-
- earache
- fever
- headache
- ear discharge
- mild deafness or feeling of ‘muffled sound’
- loss of appetite
- vertigo (loss of balance)
- blisters on the outer ear or along ear canal
- itchiness of outer ear
Natural remedy for ear infection in children
Ear infections are quite painful, so the most common way to treat the problem is with antibiotics. There is some concern about the ‘overuse’ of antibiotics as with continued use comes the potential for super infections to occur, possibly causing greater damage to the ear.
If you’re looking for an alternative remedy then try tea tree oil as it provides a great result for ear infections due to its antibacterial properties.
How to use tea tree oil to treat ear infection
Tea tree oil needs to be diluted before using in your child’s ear:-
- Add about 5 drops of tea tree oil to a quarter cup of water.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Using a dropper, place a few drops of this mixture in each ear.
- Gently place a cotton ball in each ear to allow the mixture to penetrate the ear.
You can repeat this treatment several times per day if required, especially just before bedtime.
When dealing with children it’s sometimes difficult to monitor how effective a treatment is – particularly in young ones – but if their condition isn’t being helped by the tea tree oil then you should consult your healthcare professional.
Does tea tree oil really work for ear infections?
Tea tree oil is often referred to as ‘nature’s wonder in a bottle’ due to its wide and varied applications and everyday uses.
When it comes to ear infections, the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of the oil work to kill off any bacteria in the build of liquid in the ear canal.
Tea tree oil provides a wonderful all-natural alternative treatment – along with helping fight ear infections it’s great to use on the following:-
Fungal conditions: ringworm, thrush, Athlete’s foot
Skin: skin tags, eczema, warts
Insects: head lice, scabies
The native Aboriginal people have been using tea tree oil for tens of thousands of years. Find out more about the history of tea tree oil here.
How to use tea tree oil safely on your child
Some children may be sensitive to tea tree oil – if your child has a history of sensitive skin you should perhaps consult with a naturopath or aromatherapist first.
Alternatively you could try halving the amount of oil used in the above treatment and only use a couple of drops.
Tea tree oil should never be ingested as it can be quite toxic, potentially resulting in drowsiness, vomiting or diarrhea. If your child suffers a reaction from using tea tree oil, discontinue use immediately and consult with your doctor.
