Chinese Medicines for Chronic Outer Ear Infections

Chronic outer ear infections can be problematic to treat, particularly in children. Often, traditional medical practitioners will prescribe antibiotics repeatedly to address this problem. However, repeatedly taking antibiotics can present its own set of problems that can affect the person later in life. Traditional Chinese medicine, on the other hand, uses an individual's natural inborn immune system to fight off infection without compromising health or well being. This type of treatment for ear infections includes the use of tinctures, herbals and acupuncture.

Antibiotics

• Jake Paul Fratkin, OMD, of Boulder, Colorado, indicates that traditional Western medicine uses antibiotics to address infections, particularly those that are chronic and occur frequently. One of the substantial problems with this approach, however, is that antibiotics can create a host of other problems. These problems include the killing off of helpful bacteria in the intestinal and auditory systems. In the intestines, helpful bacteria keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy and assist in the digestion of food. In the auditory (hearing) tract, helpful bacteria assist with fighting off unhealthy bacteria and actually prevent ear infections. Another problem with repeatedly taking antibiotics is that it creates drug-resistant harmful bacteria that become harder and harder to treat.

Diagnosing ear infections

• Dr. Fratkin indicates that one of the frequent problems with chronic outer ear infections is that they are over-diagnosed by traditional Western medical practitioners. In children and adults, simply having a red ear canal may result in being diagnosed with an ear infection and being prescribed antibiotics. However, a red ear canal can be an indication that a child is excited or is sensitive to cold, for example. Chinese medical practitioners often take a "wait and see" approach to red ear canals and prescribe herbal remedies that have antiviral components in them.

Chinese medicine philosophy

• Often it is difficult for individuals who live in Western cultures to understand the basic philosophy of Chinese medicine and how it affects the body. According to Dr. Fratkin, one primary concept directs Chinese medicine: balancing chi (energy). According to Chinese medicine philosophy, chi is what determines whether a person is healthy or unhealthy. When chi becomes unbalanced, then the body (emotionally, physically, spiritually) experiences distress. Interventions such as herbs and acupuncture attempt to restore balance to chi and encourage health.

Acupuncture

• Another approach to chronic outer ear infections by Chinese medical practitioners is acupuncture. According to Ban Wong, L.Ac, PhD, acupuncture helps drain fluids that may be accumulating in the ear canal. Additionally, acupuncture can calm a fussy child who may be uncomfortable because his ear hurts. Acupuncture utilizes very thin needles that are placed along energy points in the body to enhance the body's own self-healing abilities.

Chinese herbs

• Each practitioner has her own unique approach to combining Chinese herbs for treatment of outer ear infections. According to Dr. Wong, there are two approaches to developing herbal tinctures: purchasing prepared herbs that are available in dropper packaging or purchasing combined herbs to be steeped and made into tea. For most parents, the prepared tinctures are the easiest to use; they can be purchased from Chinese medicine practitioners or at herbal remedy stores. Many practitioners can also recommend herbalists who can provide raw herbs to be prepared into a tincture or tea at home.