Ear candling, also known as ear coning or thermo-auricular therapy, is an alternative medicine practice that involves placing a lit, hollow candle into the ear canal. Proponents claim it can remove earwax, improve hearing, and treat a variety of conditions. However, the safety and effectiveness of ear candling are highly debated within the medical community. This article explores the purported benefits of ear candling, examines the scientific evidence (or lack thereof), and discusses the potential risks associated with this practice.
Ear candling is a practice that has been around for centuries. During the process of ear candling, the pointed end of a hollow candle is placed in the ear, while the other end is lit on fire. Ear candles are typically about 10 inches long, hollow, and tapered and are usually made of fabric soaked in wax or a mixture of substances, often paraffin and beeswax. The entire process can take between 30 and 45 minutes. The patient lies on one side with the affected ear facing upward. A hollow candle is then placed inside the external auditory canal. Usually, a square or circle made of paper, tin foil, or plastic acts as a cover to prevent hot wax from dripping onto the face, neck, or hair. Once the candle and covering are secure, a person will light the candle for 10-20 minutes. Wax is not dripped into the ear during this process.
Ear candling, also known as Thermo-Auricular Therapy, is a traditional therapy that dates back to ancient times. This therapy has been used by many cultures around the world. The practice is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, but was popularized by the Hopi Native American tribe of the American Southwest. The Hopi, who are known for their healing knowledge, spirituality, and extensive healing skills, used ear candles made from cotton tubes filled with beeswax, honey, and therapeutic oils. The candles were gently inserted into the ear while the other end burned, and the heat from the flame was to create a vacuum effect that drew out impurities and relieved pressure.
The original use of ear candles was for aura and spiritual cleaning for purifying. They were used to cleanse and harmonize the different energy fields of the body and they were used in initiation rituals and healing ceremonies. It gained popularity in the 20th century as an alternative therapy and has been used by practitioners to help other ailments.
Proponents of ear candling claim that this procedure can remove earwax buildups, clear up sinus congestion, improve hearing problems, or even reduce migraines or other headaches. Some producers even make unfounded claims that they help cure types of cancer.
Some of the other proposed benefits of ear candling include:
It has been said to provide many benefits, including reducing pain from headaches, improving hearing, helping with vertigo and nausea, and more!
Ear candle makers and supporters claim that the lit candle creates enough warmth to generate suction. This suction pulls impurities and wax out of the ear canal. The warm heat transfers down the cone into the ear softening the built-up earwax. Later a gentle vacuum is created by the cone and the built-up earwax is gently pulled into the cone. The rising air through the column of the candle and gentle natural movement of the flame serve to gently massage the ear drum. This has an immediate subjective effect of regulating the ear pressure.
Although many people dislike earwax, it is actually a self-cleansing, lubricating, and antibacterial substance for the ear canal. People without enough earwax often have dry, itchy ears. Medically known as “cerumen,” ear wax is a naturally occurring substance that serves to clean, protect and lubricate the ear canal.
Our ears naturally do a fair amount of cleaning. Cerumen naturally gets extruded out from the ear canal overtime, so putting anything in your ear interferes with this natural process. Earwax naturally works its way out of the ear canal during motions such as chewing or swallowing. Once on the outside of the ear canal, earwax dries up and flakes away.
Earwax can build up in the ear canal. This most often occurs when a person has been digging their finger into their ear and pushing wax deeper into the canal. Anything a person puts in their ear, from cotton swabs to paper clips, can contribute to earwax buildup.
Symptoms of an earwax blockage include:
Despite their popularity, the efficacy of ear candles remains a topic of controversy. There is a significant lack of scientific evidence that would support the effectiveness of ear candling in terms of removing wax or improving hearing health. There are no scientifically proven benefits of ear candling. However, ear candle manufacturers and practitioners still tout many benefits of ear candling.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they haven’t found reliable scientific evidence on the effectiveness of ear candling. The FDA warn people to avoid using ear candles and coning practitioners.
A study tested the theory that ear candling creates negative pressure by creating an artificial ear canal and measuring the pressure within the ear canal using a tympanometer during candling. This experiment showed that no negative pressure was created during candling. It also found that a powder was deposited on the artificial tympanic membrane as ear candling was carried out.
An experiment conducted for Health Canada to examine the theory that ear candling warms the air to create a vacuum measured the air temperature 10 mm from the base of the candle while it was burning. A small clinical trial proved the implication of these experiments. Ear candling was carried out on ears, half with wax in them, half without. Otoendoscopic photographs were taken before and after ear candling.
The use of ear candles carries inherent risks. The open flame poses a significant risk of burns to the face, hair, or even the ear canal itself. The hot wax can cause burn injuries to the ear and face and damage the ear canal. The FDA reports that ear candles are associated with dangerous side effects.
Some of the potential risks and side effects include:
Such risks increase greatly when children are involved, as they tend to move around during the procedure, which can allow hot wax or ash to fall outside the protection of the covering. Children also have much smaller ear canals than adults. This makes them more prone to blockages.
By practicing ear candling instead of seeking medical attention, people might also allow underlying infections and other conditions requiring proper treatment to worsen. Furthermore, there have also been reports of burns, punctured eardrums, and other injuries associated with this procedure. Any of the injuries associated with ear candling can have deleterious effects and potentially cause conductive hearing loss.
According to Dr. Zhao, the safest way to manage excess wax buildup is to have the blockage cleared by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. If you want to try to remove the wax at home, you can gently clean the outer ear with a damp washcloth and then pat dry with a towel, but never try to clean your ears by sticking anything in the ear canal.
The safest way to remove earwax is to see your doctor for a professional cleaning. Your doctor can clean your ears with:
You can also try home remedies for earwax removal. These options are safer than ear candling:
Don’t try these remedies if your eardrum is already damaged. The moisture might cause an infection. Instead, visit your doctor.
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