Hi everyone,

My personal experience with ear infections began when my daughter was about
14 mos. old. At this time she weaned and  I of course thought that she should
have milk in a bottle (I guess I know better now).  Much to my dismay she
began to vomit violently and have diarrhea so badly that it burned holes in
her sheets. She also began what would be an up hill battle with chornic ear
infections. We spent many midnights in the emergency room with yet another
round of antibiotics. After about her twelth ear infection the doctor
informed me that he wanted to put tubes in her ears. I told him I wanted to
think about it. I had a friend at the time who was seeing a local naturopath
and recommended I take my daughter to see him. We went for one visit in which
he performed a cranial sacral massage ( I have never seen so much discharge
come out of a kids nose), he then told me to take her off wheat, soy & dairy.
The dairy still causes her diarrhea to this day, the soy she can tolerate
finally and the wheat he said contains gluten which creates mucus, which then
traps bacteria and thus an infection. She is 7 now and has been on a wheat
free diet for almost 6 years now.  Some of you might wonder what would happen
if I put her back on wheat. I've tried it! We usually see the signs of a
runny nose and can stop it by eliminating further wheat, but if we don't it
usually ends up being bronchitis. I believe wheat is a big culprit.

We haven't seen an allopathic physician in years, (I'm not knocking
allopathic physicians), we treat almost exclusively with acupuncture, but
more importantly she just isn't sick because I monitor her diet. My children
see a PNP, who is also a Lactation Consultant, for well baby checkups and
immunizations. We love her!

It would be amazing if we could look toward allergies and eliminate instead
of prescribe. When I think of all the antibiotics I put into my daughter I
feel sick myself. Isn't this just masking the symptoms and not really looking
at the whole picture?  When one of my sons gets an upper respiratory anything
I usually try to wait it out and treat with acupuncture,(we have the first
pediatric acupunture clinic in the USA here), and herbs. I know it's my
personal choice and not for everyone, but coming from a very allopathic world
I find it refreshing and a heck of a lot cheaper!

I now make it a point to breastfeed my children exclusively as long as
possible, as allergies appear to be a strong trait. My 15mos old still eats
very little and his HCT is just fine. He nurses frequently and with much
affection for it! I generally cook wheat & dairy free meals as I have found
eliminating these things in my diet helps with my arthritis. (my father has
had success with this also).

I believe this experience with my daughter really empowered me to promote
breastfeeding. It's amazing how our children give us direction.

Blessings,
Nina J. Lanphear CLE, LSP
Sorry to take so long! :(