Swimmer’s ear , which is also known as otitis externa is a health concern in which the external ear or the ear canal becomes infected and inflamed.  The moisture contained in the water (when swimming, bathing, etc.) collects in the ear, making the skin soft and wrinkled.  Water containing bacteria and fungi is absorbed into the skin of the ear itself. Symptoms Among various symptoms of the disease the most common are:

• the ear becomes itchy and/or painful
• muffled hearing
• yellowish discharge from ear
• swelling of the ear and the neck
• scabbing, tenderness, flaking skin, etc.

Causes The general causes of the swimmer’s are- contaminated water, cleaning the ear with fingers, cotton buds etc which causes harm to the tissues inside the ear. Some chemicals such as hair dyes, shampoos, gels etc may get inside the ear and cause infection. Diabetes can also cause swimmer’s ear. If the ear canal is narrow then it retains the water causing the disease. Living in a very damp and unhygienic environment may also cause the disease. Simple home remedies If water clogs in the ear, then apple cider vinegar diluted in equal parts with filtered water can be used to prevent harmful bacteria from forming  inside the ear. A few drops of hemp or extra virgin olive oil can be put in the ear using a dropper and then use a cotton ball to prevent the oil from draining back. (The above information was adapted from Ear Doc Info that I received as a Twitter feed-- please see your health care provider if you have a concerning ear condition.  Diagram of the ear is from Anatomy Atlases.org) Other Resources for Building a Great Immunity & Avoiding Ear Infections: Get your Vitamin C supports at regular intervals with a sustained-release supplement. Less gas, better absorption with digestive enzymes. Feed the friendly bacteria to support colon health with a prebiotic. If you are really stressed about having an ear infection that just doesn't get better (you can read about this all over the internet-- people are pretty desperate) regardless of prescription medications, you may consider trying herbal and/or homeopathic and/or essential oil formula alternatives such as the following: Native Remedies' Ear-Heal ™ is a formulation of herbal drops that promotes outer, middle and inner ear health and balance for children age 10 to adults. Ear-Heal™ contains the following herbs:

• Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla) is a naturally gentle and soothing tonic to support ear health. Modern research has investigated this herb for its specific ability to support ear health. (Mossinger P. “Treatment of otitis media with pulsatilla.” Kinderartzl Prax. 1985;16:581–582). (Friese, K. H., Kruse, S., and Moeller, H. [Acute otitis media in children. Comparison between conventional and homeopathic therapy]. HNO 1996;44(8):462-466.)
• Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is the best known and researched herb for supporting the immune system. Over 500 scientific studies have been documented on this herb. Specific studies have investigated the immune-supportive action of this Echinacea ( Barrett BP, Brown RL, Locken K, et al. “Treatment of the common cold with unrefined Echinacea: a randomized,double-blind, placebo-controlled trial”. Ann Intern Med 2002;Dec 17, 137(12):939-946). (Cohen HA, Varsano I, Kahan E, et al. Effectiveness of an herbal preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in preventing respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004;158(3):217-221.)
• Hepar sulph (6C) is derived from Calcium sulphide. This remedy tends to suit those who often feel chilly and are sensitive to the cold. They tend to feel better on wrapping the ears and head warmly and dislike the wind or a draft.
• Belladonna (30C) is a remedy thats suits those that have a sensitivity to loud noise, often accompanied by throbbing.
• Pulsatilla (12C) is made from the Windflower and used to support the immune system following exposure to cold temperatures or dampness.
• Levisticum radix (30C) is used to support normal moisture levels and balance in the ear canal.

Learn more and purchase Ear-Heal by clicking here.... Here are some more excellent "natural" "alternative" suggestions that have worked for others with otitis externa. **I am not a medically-trained health care provider and am merely passing on information that I believe might be helpful . _______________________________________________________________________ If you want to set up as a successful affiliate marketer on-line (get paid to sell other people's stuff) then you must read this handbook written by the Queen of Affiliate Marketing-- she makes in excess of a Half Million US Dollars a year as the Super Affiliate. Get the book----------------------------------------->