The Onion Cure: A Natural Ear Infection Remedy Without Using Antibiotics

If you have had children, most of you know the agony of waking up in the middle of the night to a crying baby or toddler tugging at its ear. Some children have repeated bouts of ear infections and graduate from the "pink bubblegum" medicine to even stronger antibiotic varieties as the medicines are no longer effective with repeated use. According to an article from Child Health Monitor, "The overuse of antibiotics such as amoxycillin is unmistakably increasing resistance...meaning that more poserful, second-line antibiotics increasingly have to be used for simple infections." Even as adults we can end up making trips to the emergency room to get treated for a painful - and sometimes dangerous - infection in our ears. Is there another way to adequately treat an infection in our ears without resorting to more antibiotics?

During my years of researching and studying natural remedies, I have found one way that really works, and is completely safe to use even on small children. My younger daughter was prone to ear infections, and had a family history of an aunt who had to have ear canal surgery. When she was still very little, about four years old, I became concerned when the doctor started prescribing more potent antibiotics for her repeated infections. I was just beginning to study natural medicines and remedies, and I was hearing from my own naturopath that antibiotics could weaken our immune systems and make us even more susceptible to strains of bacteria that adapt and survive: the so-called super bugs. My little girl was only four years old, and I was scared that she was already going to become antibiotic resistant and develop a compromised immune system. I began to focus my research on how I could safely help her with her ear infections.

This was not the era of mass internet information, so my research consisted of good old-fashioned book reading. I was also consulting with various herbal, homeopathic and natural healing schools; looking at their curriculum and trying to decide which ones were the best. I came across several that looked interesting, but finally ordered the basic course of Dr. Christopher's Natural School of Healing.(http://www.snh.cc/)Beyond the testimonials and the logic of his natural healing theories, his approach seemed to be very basic and in line with what I had already learned. There was even an eastern slant to his philosophy that I was already in complete agreement with; that there is a balance and a flow to our bodies, that we need to be cleansed to be in optimum health.

My first course had a video that gave a demonstration of several healing techniques for specific maladies, one of them being ear infections. I watched as one of Dr. Christopher's followers did an onion cure on a small child. It seemed like the most bizarre thing I had ever seen, and upon receiving the materials from the school, I realized that a lot of his theories were based in religion. In and of itself there is nothing wrong with that, but I was sensitive that his treatments not be an advertisement for his religion. Keeping an open mind and understanding the theory behind the onion cure, I decided to give it a try.

Soon after learning of the onion cure, as well as a couple other traditional remedies for ear infections; my daughter once again became sick. Initially I tried something that I had heard from many people as being a cure for ears; and that was olive oil as well as garlic oil. I tried the methods of the cotton ball with warm oil, and all I got out of it was the guilt of giving my daughter more pain on top of what she already had. I thought that it might just need a little time to show the effects (as many natural cures do), but there was absolutely nothing that happened from using the oil. The drops were worse - she screamed in pain when I put them in - so I decided that was enough of that! I was ready to try the onion.

On the video it was also recommended to use passion flower and valerian root drops to relax the patient and to help with pain. I did use that the first few times, but have found that if you use children's Tylenol and Bach's Rescue Remedy you can have the same result. It just depends on how strongly you are going after being 100% natural. Sometimes when your child is screaming in pain, you just want to get them relief, and you do need about 10 - 15 minutes to prepare for the onion. But think of how much longer it would be traveling to an emergency room - and then getting the antibiotic prescription. You are better off using this method.

Here is how it works: Use one brown or yellow onion, chopped in half. Bake it face down on the oven rack at 350 degrees until you can just start to smell the onion, and it's just beginning to recede. You want it to be just hot enough that you won't burn the ears - test by touching as you would formula. Have the person lie down on their back with their head supported by a pillow. Place the onions over the ears like ear muffs, and then wrap them completely using a natural cloth such as a 100% cotton towel, or 100% wool scarf. You do NOT want to have the chemical fumes from an acrylic fabric going into the ear canal. What you are doing is wrapping the top of the head, covering the onions, and then keeping it sealed by wrapping it loosely around the neck. This is why a wool scarf (if you or they are not allergic) works really well. Leave on for about 10 - 15 minutes, or until onion cools. Repeat again as needed.

The theory is that the fumes from the onions - a natural cleanser - are going into the ear canal and helping to unblock them. It is also going through the sinus cavities, so I have used this even with a really severe sore throat to help cleanse my system. Since the time I first used this on my daughter - who protested loudly and angrily - she has never had to use antibiotics for an ear infection again. At 18 years old, she called me and said, "Mom, my ears hurt. How do I do that onion thing again?" My adult friends who first mocked me have also called in desperation, because once they tried it, they realized it actually worked. Other than the onion smell - there are no side effects. Obviously, if you have onion allergies this would not be a good option for you, and use common sense: if your ears are not getting better, are getting worse, or you are running a fever that won't go away, seek immediate medical attention.

I have used some of Dr. Christopher's other healing methods as well, and have had good results. I am not interested in his religion, and this has never been an issue in using his healing methods or remedies. For more information on Dr. Christopher, to order his remedies, or for information on the School of Natural Healing, go to: http://www.drchristophers.com/

Article Source: http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/medicine_cabinet/antibiotic_prescribing.html