Ear Infection: Alleviating the Unbearable Pain with Salt Therapy
It’s funny how easily we take our bodies for granted when we’re healthy. When you’re lying in bed with a stuffy nose and trying to sleep, you reminisce on the easy life you had when you were able to breathe properly with both your nostrils. Or when you lose your voice, all you want to do is talk again. We only realize how much we need our bodies to function properly when we’re in a great deal of pain. It’s important to be taking care of our bodies all the time, and when we do get sick to do whatever we can do make sure our condition doesn’t worsen. Let’s see what we can do in an ear infection.
What is an Ear Infection?
An ear infection is a bacterial or viral infection that affects the middle ear. The middle ear is known as the air-filled area that transmits sound from the outer ear to inner ear. Ear infections often go hand in hand with a cold or other respiratory illness. The reason being is because there is a channel called the Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear to the upper respiratory area. Germs that have infected the nose or sinuses can make their way up the tube and enter the middle area, beginning to infect it and eventually leading to an ear infection. Most adults are familiar with ear infections. Not because they have it themselves, but infants and children are very prone to ear infections. Children don’t fight off bacteria and viruses as well as adults do, and their ears aren’t as good at draining fluids. Ear infections as an adult are still possible, but not as likely.
Symptoms of an Ear Infection
Symptoms of an ear infection for adults include: a dull or continuous pain in the ear, muffled hearing, ear drainage, and even nausea. For children, some symptoms consist of: tugging at the ear, lack of sleep and appetite, irritability, and even a ever. As you can see, ear infections are much more serious when it comes to children. The pain in the ear can be very intense for the children, making them inconsolable. It’s an unpleasant experience for both parent and child.
Treating an Ear Infection
Unfortunately, there aren’t any medications that treat ear infections. The infection itself may take a few days to clear up, but the best you can do is try making the process of healing as comfortable as possible. Pain medication or ear drops both help relieve the pain. Even applying a warm cloth to the affected area is soothing. If there is no change in symptoms or you feel like the pain is worse than before, it’s time to visit a doctor. They can prescribe a more intense antibiotic.
Salt Therapy and Ear Infections
A wonderful and natural option for treating an ear infection is salt therapy. Salt therapy is a treatment that involves inhaling minuscule salt particles. Breathing in these salt particles reduces swelling in the respiratory tracts. Since the middle ear is connected with the Eustachian tube, the salt will also make its way from the respiratory tracts to the ear. The bacteria in the area will start diminishing and heal the ear much more quickly. Salt therapy is a marvellous option for children because they don’t know they’re even getting the treatment. This is a huge bonus for parents with fussy children. You don’t need to force your child to take anymore medications they don’t want to or have a wrestling match with them whenever it’s time to put more ear drops in. All that your child needs to do when undergoing this treatment is to be in the same room with a salt machine. They can colour, read, play, and even sleep when undergoing salt therapy. As long as they stay in the designated room, the treatment is working. Being a natural treatment, salt therapy is completely safe and there are no harmful side effects associated with it.
Salt therapy doesn’t have to be just used when you’re ill. Used constantly in your daily life, you get many additional benefits. One example would be a strengthened immune system. By killing the bacteria and inhibiting it from growing, it’s harder for infections to spread throughout the body. The body is able to build its immune system and grow stronger, leading to less colds, respiratory infections or allergies. It also promotes a better blood oxygenation by clearing all the airways and alveoli in the lungs – this means increased overall well being.
Salt therapy can be the key you need to maintain a healthier lifestyle. It takes care of your body in both sickness and in health. The best part is that your only job in this process is to sit and relax. Let the salt do its job and see for yourself the wonders salt therapy can bring to you.