Earache & congested cough

[SoulJourney]

We are in NC right now (live in Indiana) & I can't get a hold of our doctor. DS has been complaining of an earache and it was clogging on and off and now he says he can't hear out of it. He has a really congested cough as well. I know his poor little head is probably congested which is why his ears are plugging up. We are doing garlic/willow oil in his ears (started yesterday), giving him Emergen-C and oregano oil and trying to get him to drink an herbal tea that has cherry bark, fenugreek, sage, peppermint and some other stuff in it. I am really concerned and don't want him to have any hearing issues but do not have the money to take him to an out of state doctor as we only have state insurance/HHW. Any other suggestions for me would really, really help!

TIA!

[tanyalynn]

I'd massage around his ears to try to help the fluid drain better.

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho....php?t=1184306

This thread talks about massaging around ears.

We also like Aviva Romm's garlic lemonade when we're sick, google for the recipe, but it's tasty (despite the name, the kids really love it) and so it's another way to encourage plenty of fluids to help thin the congestion and make it easier to drain.

[JessicaS]

Have you tried using a neti pot? It sounds like there is a lot of mucous.

How long has he been sick?

[SoulJourney]

I have not ever tried the neti pot with him...can you really get a four year old to use one?? I love it but never thought of having him do it...I think he'd freak out. He's been congested on and off for a couple of weeks but not like this. the cough is a few days old and the earache started Thursday pm/yesterday am. I started doing oregano oil, emergen-c and upping the herbal teas yesterday as well as using garlic/willow oil in his ears yesterday. He hasn't complained about his ears hurting at all today and he says the left one is fine but the right one is still clogged. I read on another thread to give them a decongestant as a last resort but this seems counter-intuitive to me? I just want the ear to unclog and I'll be really happy.

[KatWrangler]

It's clogged with fluid. The decongestant will dry up the fluid, therefore unclogging the ear.

[SoulJourney]

I see...then perhaps I'll try that, as well?

[Chicky2]

I'm going thru the same w/one of my kids. We've had the flu, and now ears are aching at night. I'm doing decongestant, garlic oil several times a day, echinacea tincture and vit. c throughout the day.

[SoulJourney]

Chicky...that's basically what I'm doing now. I just started the decongestant and it seems to be helping as well. His ears have completely stopped hurting but the right one is still clogged. I wonder how long it will take for it to clear b/c he's flying to Colorado right after Valentine's Day. I'd hate to have issues then.