An ancient medical wonder or a piece of modern-day quackery? The practice of ear candling, said to improve overall health and of course remove ear wax, has gained popularity as well as dissenters recently. Learn more about the alternative medicine practice of ear candling, its safety and efficacy.
What Is It?
Ear candling, sometimes also called ear coning, is a procedure performed by alternative medicine practitioners who claim it creates a negative pressure in the ear canal, clearing it of wax and toxins and thus improving overall health. The subject lies on her side while a cone of waxed cloth is placed in the ear canal. A candle is lit and burned until the flame is about 2 to 4 inches from the subject's head, then it is extinguished. The flame is said to create a pressure that pulls wax from the ear, leaving a dark residue in the cone.
Does It Work?
The claim that ear candling can draw ear wax and other toxins out of the ear canal has been proved false by numerous studies that burned ear candles and their wax cones without them being inserted into the ear and found that the dark residue was simply soot from the candle itself.
Is It Safe?
In a word, no. The heat and melting wax from the burning candle can cause damage to the inner ear, not to mention the potential hazards of an open flame so close to the face and hair. In addition, wax from the candle can fall into the ear canal of an otherwise clear and healthy ear and must then be removed by a doctor. In October 2007, the FDA issued a warning against ear candling, and the Canadian government has made the sale of ear candles illegal.
Bottom Line
Ear candling has been proven ineffective and unsafe, and it is not recommended for use by anybody. That said, ear candling sessions often also include a massage, which can boost aspects of overall health. When it comes to alternative therapies, skip the fire and stick to massage and other proven practices.
Tags: overall health, alternative medicine, dark residue, from candle, practice candling