Certain herbs may be helpful in treating your inner ear problems. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, inner ear problems can cause many symptoms, including balance problems, dizziness and discomfort. One of the most common causes of inner ear complaints is viral or bacterial infections in your ear. Before taking herbs to help treat your inner ear problem, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal, also known as Hydrastis canadensis, is an herb that may be helpful in treating your inner ear condition. According to the University of Michigan Health System, goldenseal, a member of the buttercup family, has been used by Native Americans for centuries for its antimicrobial activity, its ability to combat infection, and its ability to soothe irritation and inflammation of mucous membranes. Goldenseal is a perennial herb native to southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Goldenseal has a bitter and astringent taste, possesses cooling and drying tendencies, and is now cultivated on farms due to overharvesting in the wild. The root of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that goldenseal is an alterative, antibacterial, anti-fungal and stimulating astringent that helps treat chronic inflammation of mucous membranes throughout your body.
Echinacea
Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that echinacea, also known as Echinacea purpurea, is an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal that helps stimulate your leukocytes, or white blood cells. Echinacea, notes Tilgner, improves your immune system's resistance to infections and stimulates wound healing. In addition to treating inner ear infections, echinacea has been used to help treat colds, flu, wounds, allergies, bacterial and viral disease, swollen glands, and gum disease. Echinacea is an herbaceous perennial plant native to the midwestern part of North America that belongs to the aster family and has pink or purple flowers. Echinacea has a sweet, pungent, tongue-tingling taste and possesses cooling, drying and stimulating tendencies. Practitioners of herbal medicine use the root, seeds and flower of the plant medicinally.
Garlic
Garlic, a member of the lily family, is a perennial plant native to Central Asia, although it is now grown throughout the world for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Garlic, or Allium sativa, has a warm and pungent taste; possesses drying, stimulating and heating tendencies; and can grow to a maximum height of 2 feet. The bulb of the plant contains anywhere from four to 20 cloves, which are used medicinally to help treat numerous health problems, including inner ear infections. According to Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," garlic is an effective agent against viral or bacterial ear infections. Tilgner states that garlic is an antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic that supports your immune function. Smith notes that garlic is used to treat infections of your eyes, ears, throat and respiratory tract. Garlic may cause gastrointestinal upset in sensitive individuals, states Tilgner.
References
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Balance Disorders
- University of Michigan Health System: Goldenseal
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Plant Medicine in Practice: Using the Teachings of John Bastyr"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
