by Lawrence Wilson, MD

CHRONIC EAR SYNDROME

Ó December 2010, The Center For Development

Many adults, perhaps up to half the population, has what may be called chronic ear syndrome. This is a carryover from childhood in which old ear infections or other dysfunctions of the ears that never healed properly persist into adulthood.

Later in life, often in the 40s, 50s or older, as a person’s vitality declines with age and more nutritional depletion and metal toxicity occur with aging, the infection(s) becomes active again. They cause a variety of ear-related and perhaps even sinus-related symptoms. Often they are quite intractable or refractory to treatment by most methods.

CAUSES

Antibiotic treatment of childhood ear infections. Most of these childhood ear infections were treated with antibiotic therapy. This killed off most of the bacteria or other microorganisms, but not all of them. It also left behind antibiotic-resistant germs that are now very hard to kill off.

Tonsillectomy and chronic ear syndrome. Another factor that may contribute to chronic ear syndrome is the widespread surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids in children. This is a stupid operation, in most cases, in my experience. If the causes of ear, tonsil and throat infections are eliminated, the infections cease without a need for an operation. The removal of these lymph glands just drives the infection deeper into the body and makes them much harder to take care of later. The causes are usually improper diet, dehydration, and perhaps unbalanced body chemistry in many cases, as well. They usually are easy to take care of with nutritional balancing science. In some cases, food allergy testing may be helpful along with nutritional balancing science.

Chronic sinus congestion or infection, chronic tooth infections, cavitations or infected root canal-filled teeth. These are not necessarily present, but often sinus and dental-related problems contribute to chronic ear syndrome.

Toxic metal deposits in the ears. This is possible, especially deposits of manganese, it appears. I do not know why this mineral, in particular, may deposit in a biounavailable form in the ear area. Other metals may be involved as well. These can cause nerve damage or other types of irritation to the delicate structures of the inner ear, in particular.

Arteriosclerosis of the bones and perhaps other structures of the inner ear. This is another possible cause.

Narrowed dental arches. Another possible cause of some cases of chronic ear syndrome is the narrowing of the dental arch that occurs with nutritional degeneration. This is now so common that narrow faces are the norm. The idea of narrowed dental arches and all their implications was explored deeply by Weston Price, DDS and discussed in his book, Nutrition And Physical Degeneration. The narrowing changes the architecture of the ear canals, sinus cavities, nose and other structures that may give rise or at least aggravate chronic ear syndrome.

Possible kidney involvement. In Chinese medicine, there is a correspondence between the ears and the kidney/adrenal meridian. Dr. Wright found that giving aldosterone could assist with some forms of deafness. Aldosterone is an adrenal hormone. Nutritional balancing assists the kidneys and adrenals, and may also increase aldosterone levels in some cases. Kidney yin deficiency is a common syndrome in older people, who also often develop hearing problems.

SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC EAR SYNDROME

The most common symptoms are tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, balance problems, and dizziness. Less common ones are some hearing loss, usually minor, or ear pain, which is also usually minor. Other possible symptoms are sinus congestion, chronic sinus drainage, or other chronic sinus problems. headache may also be a symptom in some of these cases. Of these symptoms, the most annoying, irritating and most common symptom appears to be ringing in the ears.

DETECTION AND RESOLUTION OF THE CHRONIC EAR SYNDROME

Figuring out the cause of the tinnitus, dizziness or other symptoms is often difficult or impossible. Few x-rays of the area are helpful because the pathology is very subtle in many cases. It does not take much to upset the delicate structures of the inner ear, in particular.

A red heat lamp used on the ears can occasionally be very helpful. One should not focus a red heat lamp on the ears for more than 5-10 minutes at one session. The treatment can be repeated several times, daily, however. Drugs are sometimes used by doctors to reduce dizziness, and perhaps to reduce ringing in the ears, but they may not be effective.

Nutritional balancing programs can, however, resolve chronic ear syndrome. It may be a slow process, however, because the only way to resolve the chronic infections that cause it in many cases is to slowly increase the vitality of the body to the point where the body itself will resolve and eliminate the infection.

Nutritional balancing may also help with subtle arteriosclerosis of the inner ear or the bones of the ear, and with subtle toxic metal buildup in the ears. This, also, may take months or several years on a program to accomplish.

I would strongly recommend the detoxification procedures of nutritional balancing science, along with the diet, a healthful lifestyle and the nutritional supplements.

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