Otitis

Strategy

Consider ear cytology to identify disease processes and type of disease organisms present. Diagnosis of underlying etiology is important; the herbal strategy usually requires attention to the immune system (allergies, infections) and overall health. Consider products that flush exudates and disinfect the ear canal prior to instilling herbal products. Consider the primary causes of ear disease, such as foreign bodies, hypothyroidism, seborrheic diseases, and underlying pruritic disease (atopy, food hypersensitivity, parasites), as well as other dermatological conditions that affect the ear canal, such as autoimmune diseases, keratinization disorders, and drug reactions. Consider predisposing causes of ear disease such as breed predilection for more cerumen glands that result in yeast, as well as excess moisture from bathing or swimming and trauma from overzealous cleaning or plucking. Consider perpetuating factors that keep the process going, such as contact allergies to otic preparations and overtreatment with cleaners or inappropriate therapy.

In a randomized study, an herbal formula (Allium sativum, Verbascum thapsus, Calendula flores, and Hypericum perforatum in olive oil) was compared with a commercial ear preparation (ametocaine and phenazone in glycerin) for the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media in 103 children. The formula was shown to be as effective as the commercial preparation and was proven appropriate for the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media.

In humans, fungal ear infections represent a small percentage of clinical external otitis. One in vitro study examined the efficacy of garlic extracts against aspergillus, which is the most common cause of this infection. Aqueous Garlic extract (AGE) and concentrated Garlic oil (CGO) were found to have antifungal activity with similar or better inhibitory effects than the pharmaceutical preparations and with similar minimum inhibitory concentrations.

Borneol walnut oil was investigated against neomycin in a controlled study for the treatment of purulent otitis media. One hundred seventy patients were treated with Borneol walnut oil of various concentrations, and controls (108 patients) were treated with neomycin compound. The total effective rates were 98.06% and 84.26%, respectively.

Andrographis paniculata extract is traditionally used as a medicine to treat otitis media (WHO 1999). Other herbs used topically include Bloodroot, Goldenseal, Mullein, Neem, and Thuja.