I don’t want to jinx anything on this one so I’m not going to tell you about Caidin’s experiences with earaches. I’m just going to let you know what we do on the rare occasion that congestion actually turns into an earache.

Here’s what I do:

I use the liquid version of Newton Homeopathics for Kids (www.newtonlabs.net) Ear Care. We use 6 drops (based on age) but I dose for an acute situation so we do 6 drops every 15 minutes for and hour to 90 minutes and then I tapper off to the recommended dosage but as soon as the pain I gone, I stop the homeopathy. If the pain comes back, I start again.

At the same time I use essential oils to help open up the Eustachian tube (it connects the middle ear to the back of the throat). Grapefruit oil which is antimicrobial and antiviral as well as uplifting emotionally is excellent as is Helichrysum oil and in a pinch Tea Tree oil can be used too.  As far as Helichrysum oil goes a 1 oz bottle should cost around $45. It’s expensive but well worth it. Helichrysum increases circulation which is why it’s helpful with earaches but it’s also great on cuts and wounds acting as a cell regenerator and speeding healing. If it seems cheap than it’s been adulterated (thinned with something else) so don’t buy it. I use a small dab of whichever oil I have on hand and massage along the opening of the ear (I don’t drop it into the ear canal), I rub it behind the ear and then down the line of the jaw. I also mix a drop or two in a small amount of almond oil, soak a cotton ball in it and then place the cotton in the ear. I treat both ears with the essential oil even if the other one isn’t hurting.

Depending on what Caidin feels like I either use dry heat by placing a towel over a heating pad or I use a wet warm towel and let him rest his head on it.

I do reflexology on the souls of his feet, concentrating on the bowel area. From a holistic naturopathic point of view congestion in the bowel is often the root of congestion elsewhere. I use the same oil I used on the ear, and I gently use my thumbs to work through the souls of the feet. I’ve been doing reflexology with Caidin since shortly after he was born so I know his feet pretty well and I know what is normal and what isn’t. Congestion can feel like one of a few things: crunchy crystals, hard spots or unusually soft spots. When I find these, I spend a little extra time massaging the area with my thumbs. Now that he is older it’s a little easier because he can tell me when I hit spots that are sore.

If Caidin feels up to it, I’ll have him drink some warm water with a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s or Edens) and a bit of honey for taste. He has no problem drinking this and it is a great natural healing support. It supports the digestion and the bowel; it balances the body’s pH and reduces inflammation. All good things when there is an earache.

If the pain doesn’t subside I give him some children’s Motrin as Tylenol has never worked for him, if he wants it.

In the morning the earache is typically gone.

I share this information with you as an example of the way in which natural healing can support your child. Please remember to check with your own care provider about treatment for any condition.

As a Naturopath I do believe in and honor the body’s natural ability to heal and I believe in and respect all the many healing tools that are available to us.

I tell my clients though that natural healing requires that you use your own knowingness and understanding, that you explore and figure out what works, why it works and how it works.

Everything I’ve ever used with Caidin I’ve done myself first. I know what things taste like, what they feel like, what to expect.

Just as Western Medicine requires a degree of trust, so does holistic medicine. We are not taught to have that trust though, we are taught to fear the natural.

If working with your child holistically is something that you are interested in, consider starting with yourself so that you understand different remedies.

There are many benefits of working holistically with your child. They will have a stronger immune system, they will not loss their inner connection to their own innate ability to heal, they will not give their power away to Western Medicine and they will come to understand the interconnectedness of their own body.

If you are interested in a parents’ course in natural healing, let me know. I’m always interested in teaching, supporting and sharing.

© 2012 Christine Agro

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Christine Agro is a Clairvoyant, Naturopath, Master Herbalist, Conscious Mom and Author of 50 Ways to Live Life Consciously as well as of The Conscious Living Wisdom Cards (Special Moms’ Edition). Christine is founder of The Conscious Mom’s Guide , a membership site where she helps support you on your own journey of living life consciously and on your journey of being a Conscious parent. You can also join Christine on Facebook. To contact Christine, invite her to speak or to schedule an appointment with her please email her.