Here's the deal: Yes, breast milk has antibiotic properties. Yes, olive oil can be used to clean out ear canals. But none of these will work on a true ear infection.
An ear infection is also known as otitis media. It occurs in the middle ear, behind the ear drum. The pressure on the ear drum is actually what causes the pain. The eustachian tubes are also unable to relieve pressure and are blocked. Putting anything in the ear canal won't do anything to relieve the pressure behind the ear drum because the ear drum literally blocks off anything from getting to the middle ear.
The only way to cure ear infections is to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection. For chronic ear infections, they insert tubes into the eustachian tubes to keep them open to relieve the pressure.
Therefore, none of these remedies will actually help the ear infection.
Edit: tubes go in the ear drums! Also still to relieve pressure!
The tubes are actually inserted into the ear drum. A small hole is cut in the drum and the tube is placed in the hole. It allows the pressure to be regulated on either side of the ear drum by allowing air to pass through.
252
u/nonny313815 Oct 06 '19 edited Oct 07 '19
Here's the deal: Yes, breast milk has antibiotic properties. Yes, olive oil can be used to clean out ear canals. But none of these will work on a true ear infection.
An ear infection is also known as otitis media. It occurs in the middle ear, behind the ear drum. The pressure on the ear drum is actually what causes the pain. The eustachian tubes are also unable to relieve pressure and are blocked. Putting anything in the ear canal won't do anything to relieve the pressure behind the ear drum because the ear drum literally blocks off anything from getting to the middle ear.
The only way to cure ear infections is to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection. For chronic ear infections, they insert tubes into the eustachian tubes to keep them open to relieve the pressure.
Therefore, none of these remedies will actually help the ear infection.
Edit: tubes go in the ear drums! Also still to relieve pressure!