CAUTION

Since an ear infection can be quite serious, it is necessary that any individual with symptoms of an acute ear infection be seen by a physician. The recommendations given below are meant to be used only after any individual with symptoms of acute or chronic ear infections has seen a physician.

RECOMMENDED FOODS

· Carrots (one of the riches sources of beta-carotene, which aids in controlling ear infections) and parsley.

· Mother’s milk is rich in the fatty acids gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acids (DGLA), which elevate the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Prolonged breastfeeding also prevents food allergies, particularly if the mother avoids sensitive foods (i.e., those to which she is allergic) during pregnancy and lactation.

FOODS TO AVOID

· Avoid foods to which children are most commonly allergic, such as wheat, egg, fowl, corn, oranges, peanut butter and dairy produce, particularly during the first nine months.

· Avoid foods containing simple carbohydrates, which inhibit the immune system, such as sugar, honey, dried fruit, concentrated fruit juice, etc.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

· Natural beta-carotene – For adults. Aids in controlling the infection.

· Cod liver oil – For children. A good source of vitamin A. Take 1 tsp daily.

· Manganese – Deficiency has been linked to ear disorders. Take separately from calcium.

· Vitamin C & bioflavonoids – Boost immunity and fight infections.

· Zinc – Quickens immune response. Aids in reducing infection.

· Vitamin B complex – Essential for healing and immune function. Take a sublingual form.

· Vitamin B₆ – Important for immune function.

· Primrose oil – Reduces infection and inflammation.

· Vitamin E – Enhances immune function.

LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

· Recurrent ear infections are strongly associated with early bottle-feeding, whereas prolonged breastfeeding (for a minimum of six months) has a protective effect.

· Bottle-feeding while a child is lying on his or her back leads to regurgitation of the contents of the bottle into the middle ear and should be avoided.

· A child’s digestive tract is quite permeable to food antigens, especially during the first three months; therefore, avoid frequent repetitions of any food, avoid the common allergenic foods, and introduce one food at a time, carefully watching for a reaction to reduce and prevent the development of food allergies.

· Note: Allergic reactions cause blockage of the Eustachian tube in two ways: 1) by causing inflammatory swelling of the tube, and 2) by causing inflammatory swelling of the nose resulting in the Toynbee phenomenon, i.e., swallowing when both the mouth and the nose are closed, thereby forcing air and secretions into the middle ear.

· If a bottle-fed baby has an ear infection, eliminate milk and dairy products from the child’s diet for thirty days to see if any benefits result. Try feeding your baby soymilk, rice milk or nut milk, instead.

REFERENCES

Balch, James R, M.D., and Balch, Phyllis A, C.N.C., Prescription for Nutritional Healing Garden City Park: Avery Publishing Group, 1997

Kirschmann, Gayla J., and Kirschmann, John D., Nutrition Almanac, New York; McGraw-Hill 1996

Pitchford, Paul, Healing with Whole Foods, Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1993

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