Ear Infections - Natural Homemade Remedies

Recipe One:

Homemade Mullein Oil

Ingredients: Fresh mullein flowers and olive oil

Mullein flowers can be found at any herbal health store or even possibly in your back yard. This plant is tall with yellow flowers.

Instructions:

1. Place (but do not pack) flowers in a clean glass jar.
2. Cover with just enough olive oil to submerge all the flowers.
3. Stir the flowers to release any air bubbles.
4. Place in a warm location, such as the top of a refrigerator or in the sun, for 3 days.
5. Pour the contents through a fine strainer

The drops can be used directly by putting 2 in each ear 3 times per day. Stored in a cool place, this oil can last for up to two years!

Recipe Two:

Homemade Garlic Vinegar

Ingredients: 4 Garlic heads, divided into individual cloves and one pint of cider vinegar.

Intructions:

1. Using a blender, blend the unpeeled garlic cloves and vinegar thoroughly.
2. Transfer the mixture to a covered container and let sit at room temperature for at least 2 weeks.
3. Strain and discard the garlic.

There are more effective ways to treat ear infections, using only natural ingredients. For more information and my recommended resource on treating an ear infection.

By Alex King

Common Causes of Deafness and How You May Be Able to Prevent It

Can you have any control on whether you will lose your sense of hearing? There are many causes of deafness and certainly some are preventable.
Deafness can vary from mild to severe. Deafness at birth is called congenital deafness and that which occurs after birth is called adventitious deafness. The causes of adventitious deafness are many. Lifestyle has a vital responsibility for cause of hearing loss and one of the main causes of adventitious deafness is noise. Some common causes of deafness are:
o Hereditary Disorders: Hereditary deafness happens when the parents pass the defect on to their children. It means that people are born deaf and this is generally caused by the malformations of the inner ear.
o Genetic Disorders: Genetic deafness occurs when the baby is in the mother's womb.
o Prenatal Exposure to Disease: When pregnant mothers suffer from rubella, influenza or mumps, the baby born will either be deaf or will have some hearing problem.
o Noise: Loud noise like gunshots, firecrackers, explosions and rock concerts tends to damage the ear mechanisms. A single exposure to loud noise does not damage the eardrum. Repeated exposure to sound over a long period of time will affect the ear with moderate to severe hearing loss.
o Disease: There are certain diseases that cause loss of hearing such as meningitis, mumps, chicken pox and cytomegalovirus. In the case of meningitis, the inner ear tends to become inflamed which leads to deafness.
o Trauma: A hole in the eardrum, a fractured skull or changes in air pressure lead to deafness.
o Wax: The ear canal produces a waxy substance, which is useful in lubricating and protecting the tissues. This has to be cleaned out once in a while. If not done, the wax will build leading to short term deafness. Even foreign substances such as the tip of a cotton bud or a hairpin can cause hearing loss if they puncture the eardrum. This is not too serious as the eardrum heals on its own, although it can take a few weeks.
o Excess Mucus: Excess mucus is caused either due to the common cold, hay fever or other allergies. This blocks the Eustachian tube, which leads to loss of hearing.
o Ear Infections: During an ear infection, the fluid and pus fills in the middle ear. This does not allow full transmission of sound and leads to partial hearing.
o Drugs: There are certain drugs like chloroquine, which lead to temporary deafness.
o Age-related Hearing Loss: This type of hearing loss is commonly found in old people. This is normal and rarely leads to deafness. Age-related hearing loss also known as 'presbycusis' begins with loss of certain speech sounds like 'S', 'F' and 'T'.
o Tinnitus: Tinnitus is the ringing sound in the ears. Middle ear infection and damage caused by loud noises can cause tinnitus. This disease can cause psychiatric symptoms.
o Occupational Hearing Loss: Men working in bars, pubs, and nightclubs are liable to have their sense of hearing impaired. Such people are exposed to loud noise most of the time. The deafness is caused by the damage to the hair cells of the organ of Corti in the cochlea.
In addition to the above causes of deafness, there are many unknown causes. Loss of hearing is a serious problem. Some say it is worse than losing one's sight. People lose their quality of life due to the isolating nature of the condition.

Michael Jennings

Hearing Aids Review: The 4 Leading Brands

Are you looking for a hearing aid but don't know where to start? Here is the definitive guide to the leading brands of hearing aids. I will review some of the top names in hearing aids including Siemens hearing aids, Beltone hearing aids, Starkey hearing aids and Phonak hearing aids.
Hearing aids are available in analog or digital models. Analog hearing aids have been on the market for years. These are less expensive than digital hearing aids but do not provide the sound quality and features that digital hearing aids do. Digital hearing aids offer a cleaner sound quality than analog models and can be programmed by computer to achieve a high level of adjustment. Digital hearing prices have fallen, hence, more people can afford them.
There are several types of hearing aids on the market. A hearing aid specialist can help you choose the type that suits you best. The closer the hearing aid sits to the eardrum the better the sound will be.
Here are 4 types of hearing aids:
BTE: Behind the Ear
This type fits over the ear and rests behind it. It is typically the least expensive.
ITE: In the Ear
This is the most common type that sits in the ear
ITC: In the Ear Canal
This type fits slightly lower into the ear and is not very noticeable.
CIC: Completely In the Ear Canal
This fits down into the ear canal, requires the most fitting and is the least visible to others.
There are 4 leading manufacturers of hearing aids that have proven to provide superior products. They provide the ultimate in customer service to ensure improved hearing and customer satisfaction.
Siemens hearing aids
Siemens is a name you can trust for hearing aids. Siemens has been in business for over 125 years and is the largest manufacturer of hearing aids in the United States. Siemens has hearing aids to meet every budget yet all are made with the same expertise and precision. There are basic styles, value and ultimate. All Siemens hearing aids come with a two-year warranty. The higher priced Siemens hearing aids have more channels and offer more features than the lower priced versions. If cost is a concern try the Phoenix or Cielo models. The top of the line Artis e2e has wireless ear-to-ear technology.
Beltone hearing aids
Beltone is a leading brand of hearing aids. It has an outstanding reputation and boasts over 1300 locations in the United States. They offer an aftercare program called Belcare to help with your ongoing needs. The professionals at Beltone will help you complete a lifestyle assessment called the Personalized Hearing Health Assessment (PHHA) to determine which type of Beltone hearing aid is best for you. Beltone offers a wide variety of hearing aids including basic, quality, advantage and premier styles. Each group has products to suit your needs. The Edge model is affordable and has 3 channels. The Mira model is a mid-range model with 6 channels. The top of the line Oria has 12 channels and offers many additional features.
Starkey hearing aids
Starkey Laboratories is the world's largest manufacturer of hearing instruments. They offer many hearing aids to provide you with the best solution for your hearing loss and lifestyle. They were the first to provide a warranty as well as a free trial period. They have many hearing aid models available starting with the 3-channel Aspect. The mid-level Destiny comes in several models to accommodate your needs. The top of the line Eli provides a wireless solution that is compatible with Bluetooth enabled phones.
Phonak hearing aids
Phonak is a worldwide company with headquarters in Switzerland. They offer specialized hearing instruments, which are available in a wide array of products to suit your hearing loss and budget. The 6 channel eXtra model provides a basic entry-level hearing aid. The mid-range Valeo and Elva models have 16 channels. The top of the line Savia has 20 channels and numerous features to provide the best hearing assistance available. Phonak also has wireless hearing aid solutions.

Only one out of five people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one. There are many types of hearing aids to suit almost every type and degree of hearing loss, and budget.

Alvin Toh