Ear Infection

E spent a few hours with my mom on Saturday and when she came home she was complaining of an earache. I had kind of been waiting for it, as she'd been fighting a cold for the last week, and her sinus's were extremely clogged. The kid never had an ear infection for the first 2 years of life and now it's like clockwork; cold = ear infection or croup or both!

Being that it was Saturday and after hours our pediatrician's office was closed. I flirted with the idea of taking her to the after hours clinic at Children's just to get the ball rolling on the 10-day antibiotic treatment, before the fever flared up and she was in dire pain. Then the thought crossed my mind to head down to our local herb and vitamin shop to see if they had any suggestions. After they showed me around the shelves I was weighing their suggestions when one of the clerks casually asked, "You've already tried hydrogen peroxide, right?" No, my eyes widened. I remember hearing about this, and it had totally slipped my mind. You lie down, pour a few drops into the afflicted ear let it fizzle, and pop for about 5 minutes, then tip you head back upright and repeat in about 4 hours. Continue until the pain is totally gone. Well I was off. You can't beat the price of the stuff ($1 per bottle), and practically every household has it (or should) in the medicine cabinet already (I personally love the stuff so much and use it so often I buy the 2 giant bottle pack at Costco for under $4).

When E awoke from her nap, she didn't want me anywhere near her ear (it had quickly gotten worse). I assured her that if this didn't work, we were going to have to make a trip to the hospital, and on top of that would be slated to take the medicine that she hates so much for 10 days. She conceeded, and lay her head on my knee. I won't lie she hated me dropping that cool liquid in her ear. Her face flushed red as she screamed, and tears dotted my jeans. After 5 minutes or so of pinning her down, I let her up and let her hold a dry washcloth to her ear. While she watched a video I went into the kitchen to try it myself, it really was cold and slightly uncomfortable (Note to self, somehow heat it up). We played a board game or two, and she seemed fine. I was unsure how long and how many times I would be administering the drops, and was curious if it had done any good. I asked her how it was feeling, and she said much better. Hmmmm. Later that night during bath time as I scrubbed her head, I reached down and purposefully gently brushed her ear with my finger, she didn't even notice. The ear that she was earlier protecting by swatting away my hand really wasn't bothering her as much. After she was in her pj's I told her that we'd have to do more drops, she really didn't want to, but gave in. I heated about a Tablespoon in the microwave, even so she still screamed, but she got over it quickly and went to bed. The next morning D said that he'd do it right along with her, and I gave the two their drops. This was the last dose, because a few hours later I sat down next to her, and gently took a Q-tip and "cleaned" her ear, she didn't even flinch.

This stuff works, and beats antibiotics any day.

Here are some other ways to use the magical stuff that I got in an e-mail from a friend:

• Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small print says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle)
• Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of "Peroxide" to keep them free of germs. Do this especially after you've had an illness outbreak at your house!
• Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.
• After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.
• Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day.
• Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.
• Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue
• If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.
• If you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. It lightens gradually.
• Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.
• You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.
• Use peroxide to clean mirrors, and there is no smearing!