What supplements can help my child heal from ear infections?

If you are reading this, you are likely desperate for some answers as to why your child seems to always be dealing with ear infections, colds, and congestion. We get it. It can be so hard to watch your child be in so much pain and you feel powerless to help them. You take them to the walk-in clinic and they give you the same antibiotics over and over again, but the ear infection just comes back. I am writing this to encourage you that you are not powerless and that you can take back control of your child’s health.

What supplements can my child take to help heal from ear infections?

When we see kids struggling with chronic ear infections in our office, we often find that it’s not always just an "infection" problem—it’s a drainage problem. The fluid is trapped, stagnant, and creating pressure. First and foremost, we recommend that you make an appointment here at Maximized Chiropractic where we will deliver gentle adjustments to the joints in their spine that are not moving properly and restore proper nervous system communication. If your child’s nervous system isn’t working perfectly, they will have decreased immune system function, and they won’t be able to heal as easily. While we have the adjustment part of the natural healing process covered here at the clinic, there is something you can do at home to further speed up your child’s healing. Read this article to learn more about how chiropractic can be your secret weapon against these constant colds and bugs. 

To help your child’s body heal the way it was designed to, we need to address that stuck fluid from two angles: we need to stop the flood (dry it up/thin it out) and we need to pull the plug (open the drain).

Here are the two supplements we recommend to help your child’s body “drain the pipes" naturally.

1. Acerola Powder: The "Dryer"

You have probably heard of Vitamin C, but not all Vitamin C is created equal. Acerola cherry powder is a whole-food, bioavailable form of Vitamin C. This means your child’s body recognizes it as food, absorbing it instantly rather than flushing it out like synthetic versions.

How does it work? Think of Acerola as nature’s antihistamine. When your child is sick, their immune system triggers inflammation, which causes tissues to swell and create mucus to flush out invaders. While this is a healthy response, sometimes it goes into overdrive.

Research shows that the high-potency Vitamin C in Acerola helps stabilize mast cells—the cells responsible for releasing histamine. By lowering histamine levels, Acerola effectively "turns down the tap," drying up excess mucus production at the source before it has a chance to clog the eustachian tube (which drains fluid from behind the ear to the back of the throat) and sinuses.

Dosage Instructions:

• Infants (Less than 1 year): Dip the tip of your clean finger into the powder and let your infant suck it off. Repeat this every 3-4 hours.

• Kids (Over 1 year) & Adults:

• If they are not yet drinking: Use the finger-dip method described above every 3-4 hours.

• If they are drinking fluids: Add a scoop to water or orange juice and have them drink it every 3-4 hours.

2. NAC (N-Acetylcysteine): The "Thinner"

Sometimes, the problem isn’t just the amount of fluid, but the consistency of the fluid. When mucus becomes thick and sticky, it physically cannot drain down the eustachian tube. This is where NAC comes in.

How does it work? NAC is mucolytic, meaning that it has the ability to break down mucus. On a microscopic level, thick mucus is held together by sticky structures called "disulfide bonds" (think of them as sulfur bridges). NAC works by chemically snapping these bridges.

It acts like a pair of scissors, cutting those bonds and transforming thick, rubbery mucus into a thin, runny liquid. Once the fluid is thin, gravity and your child’s natural drainage pathways can finally do their job, allowing the fluid to drain out of their ear and down the back of their throat.

This one you can really feel!  Within 30 minutes of taking NAC when I am congested, I can really feel the fluid draining down the back of my throat.  Your child will feel the same.  This supplement is a staple in our house when us or the kids are feeling plugged up!

Dosage Instructions:

• Infants (Less than 1 year): It’s not recommended to give kids under one NAC yet, not because of safety concerns but because it hasn’t been researched on this age group enough yet.

• Kids (Ages 1-12): Pop open a capsule, pour half the contents of a 600mg capsule into water or orange juice, and have them drink it once daily.

• Teens (Ages 13-17): Take 1 600mg capsule daily.

• Adults (18+): Take 2 600mg capsules daily.

*Disclaimer: Do not take NAC if you are on thyroid medication or you have Down’s Syndrome

Take back control

If you want to take back control of your child’s health and get answers as to why your child is not recovering from their ear infection, I highly encourage you to call today and schedule an appointment with us. We do not just treat the symptoms, we find the underlying cause of the ear infection so your child can fully heal and not regress back into another ear infection. Discover the amazing benefits of chiropractic care and how we can help your child and your whole family thrive!