A report by Joette Calabrese, Buffalo, USA
Nothing says summer quite like a dip in the pool, at the beach or under the sprinkler. But “swimmer’s ear” can ruin it all. This painful condition, often called otitis externa or inflammation and swelling of the outer ear canal, occurs when water becomes trapped in the ear canal and doesn’t drain away. Certain bacteria and fungi take the opportunity to spread in this moist environment. Often earwax plugs swell from the water and further irritate the ear canal.
In this condition homeopathy often works naturally, very quickly and effectively to reduce pain and inflammation so children can get back into the water without having to take any conventional medicines. A thorough examination should of course always be carried out.
Here are the most commonly used homeopathic remedies for swimmer’s ear:
Aconitum napellus C 30
This remedy is particularly helpful for a sudden onset of ear pain with fever and pains that wake the child from sleep. They often wake in an anxious and frightened state. The condition is aggravated by dry, cold drafts; the children may be thirsty, crave cold drinks and feel better in fresh air.
Belladonna C 30
This is often the first remedy of choice when a body part is red and inflamed and throbbing painfully, especially with movement or touch. The ear pain begins suddenly and intensely and may radiate down into the neck. This can be accompanied by ringing in the ear and the pain is often worse on the right side. The fever can be so high that warmth radiates from the body.
Hepar sulphuris C 30
The ear is often sensitive to touch and to cold and improves with warmth. The pains are stabbing and may be accompanied by a foul-smelling discharge from the ear. The ear pain is worse at night.
Pulsatilla C 30
In contrast to Hepar sulphuris, Pulsatilla is indicated when warmth makes things worse. The ear may feel hot and be painful to the touch while the cheeks are pale. The ears feel blocked. A foul-smelling, thick yellow discharge can occur with this ear infection, which is also worse at night.
Prevention is important, so here are some tips to protect against swimmer’s ear:
No water should remain in the ears. After swimming it’s best to tilt the head to the side and gently shake the water out. Do not swim in dirty or contaminated waters. For completeness I have listed the main remedies above, but I must admit that my personal favourite for such infections, as well as for boils and tooth infections, is clearly Hepar sulphuris D6 or C30.
Here is a case report from my part-time assistant, whose son developed a swimmer’s ear last night:
"Hi Joette, I wanted to keep you updated on how Jack’s ear infection progressed and how you once again saved us with what you taught me. Jack was really unwell yesterday and complained of ear pain. I gave him Hepar sulphuris D12 around midday and then hourly, plus Pulsatilla C30, one dose every four hours. By the evening the condition had worsened; Jack was irritable, screamed and complained of pain whenever we came near his right ear. I put him to bed at 8 pm and around 11 pm I administered a little Hepar sulphuris into his mouth while he was asleep. My husband became increasingly anxious and wanted to take him to A&E straight away. I persuaded him to wait out the night and see how he was in the morning. (I said about 100 Hail Marys for support.) This morning Jack woke at quarter to seven with a smile on his face and announced that his ear didn’t hurt at all anymore. We could even touch his ear without him flying off the handle and he was back to being cheerful. Isn’t that wonderful? Better again without antibiotics — I couldn’t even say who had the bigger grin, Jack or me! Thanks again for your wise advice."
Elizabeth Blouin, Amherst, New York, USA, bank clerk and homeopathic mother
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