Herbal Remedies for Ear Infections
Randy Kidd Dvm Phd
Otitis externa, external ear infection, is one of the most common problems
veterinarians see in their practices today.
Otitis is caused by a wide variety of microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, and
yeasts. It is often the result of other primary causes such as hypersensitivity
diseases, foreign bodies, hypothyroidism, autoimmune diseases, parasites,
and the use of inappropriate treatments and/or irritating cleansers in the ear.
The recommendations listed below are for otitis externa only. Otitis media
and otitis interna—infections of the middle and inner ear—are problems for
your veterinarian only. Be sure to get an accurate diagnosis before you begin
home treatment.
Herbal remedies work nearly as fast as veterinary drugs.
Symptoms and Traditional Treatment of
Ear Infections In Dogs
Symptoms of external ear infections include head shaking, crying, and
scratching the affected ears. The ears may feel hot and show evidence of
scratching and irritation. Gently swabbing the ear canal with a large chunk
of cotton may reveal a gooey brown to black discharge.
In Western medicine, after flushing and cleaning the ear canal (often under
general anesthesia), various antibiotic or combined antibiotic/steroid
preparations are used. Surgery to open up the ear canal for better circulation
may ultimately be indicated for cases of otitis externa that do not respond to
normal treatments.
Unfortunately, many of the proprietary preparations contain corticosteroids
(cortisone), the theory being that they counteract inflammation and thus
diminish the pain and irritation. Although there are some rare occasions
when I feel I need to resort to steroids, I almost never use them. Steroids
retard the long-term healing process, and their list of potential adverse side
effects is enough to make anyone who can read hesitant to ever use them.
Finally, it’s been my experience that many of the antibiotic preparations
commonly used for otitis do a fair job on bacterial infections, but the
reduction of bacteria is often followed by severe fungal or yeast overgrowth.
It’s almost as if the yeasts and fungi feast on the drugs used in Western
medicine preparations.
Holistic Care
It’s important to first see your veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis. He or
she should visually examine your pet’s ear canal and take a swab to identify
the primary bugs involved and the severity of the disease.
Herbs are a primary line of defense and my first choice for external ear
infections.
For obviously infected cases, I recommend several herbs, discussed below.
If the pet’s ears are relatively clean, a mild mix of vinegar and water (in
equal proportions) and/or an occasional herbal preparation, applied into the
ear canal, may be sufficient for prevention of otitis externa. How often you
use the vinegar/water or herbal solution depends on the individual case.
Chiropractic Can Help
Many of the chronic ear infections I see also have cervical subluxation (the
chiropractic term that refers to partial dislocation of the neck vertebrae).
Cause or effect? I don’t know, but adjusting the upper cervical vertebrae
(and the way it “hooks onto the head”) just makes sense to me. I’ve seen
some dramatic cures using chiropractic and mild herbs alone.
The Best Otitis Herbs
Following is a list of my favorite herbs for otitis. Topically, I use herbal
drops inside the ear canal to bring the ear’s flora back into balance.
Internally, I use herbs to enhance the immune system, thwart microorganism
overgrowth, and to relieve pain and inflammation. Many of these herbs are
available commercially, usually as a mixture of several herbs in tincture or
herbal oil form. Look for them in health-food stores or the better pet stores
as over-the-counter preparations.
Making a Mullein Mix
For an easy-to-make-at-home preparation for mild infections, you can make
a mullein mix as follows:
Pack mullein leaves and flowers in a glass jar and cover with olive oil. For
increased antibiotic effectiveness, you can add a clove or two of garlic per
pint of oil. Let the mixture sit for two to three weeks. Strain and apply
several drops of the warmed oil into the ear canal.
Please note that the key to curing external ear infections is getting the herbal
mixture into contact with the offending bugs. Have your veterinarian show
you how to properly apply vinegar or herbal solutions so that they reach
deep into the ear canal. And remember, as always, it’s much easier to
prevent infection than to cure it. For prevention, I recommend using a mild
herbal ear remedy once a month or so throughout your pet’s lifetime, both
internally and topically into the ear canal. For infections, the duration of use
can vary on a case-by-case basis from once or twice daily for a few weeks to
once a week for several months.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) has relaxing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic,
sedative, and antiseptic qualities and is perfect for soothing sore ears. Taken
internally, it has a powerful ability to calm your pet and help her sleep
through the pain.
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has antibiotic properties and is
wonderful, both internally and externally, for calming your pet during an
infection.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has an amazing healing ability and is one
of the best herbs for treating local skin and external ear problems. Used
either internally or externally, it is a potent antifungal herb.
Mullein (Verbascum spp.), extracted in olive oil as directed above, is
perhaps the best single remedy I’ve found for soothing and healing inflamed
surfaces. For otitis, use the solution externally in the ear canal.
Garlic (Allium sativum) is often added to otitic herbal mixtures for its
antibiotic properties.
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is an excellent astringent that decreases
swelling in the ear canal and eases pain.
To balance the immune system and help counterattack the microbes from
the inside out, I typically recommend a combination of echinacea
(Echinacea spp.) and Oregon grape root (Mahonia aquifolium), given as a
tea, tincture, or capsules/tablets. Read the label and adjust the dosage for the
weight of the animal based on a human weight of 150 pounds.
The good news is that herbal remedies are effective against fungal, yeast,
and bacterial infections. So herbal ear-infection remedies won’t allow the
yeast overgrowth common with antibiotic use. What’s more, several of the
above herbs (chamomile, mullein flowers, and witch hazel) relieve the pain,
inflammation, and irritation common with ear problems. This means that
when you’re using herbs, you almost never need to resort to ear medicines
that contain steroids.
However, herbal remedies are not the magic bullet for all external ear
infections. Remember that herbs tend to act slowly. While your pet’s ears
are healing, you may want to give them soothing herbs such as valerian
(Valeriana officinalis) or chamomile internally to keep them calm. It’s been
my experience that the herbal remedies work nearly as fast as other
veterinary drugs, and whatever we lose in quickness of response we get back
with a more completely healed ear at the end of the therapy.