20 most worthless pieces of junk: #11 -- Ear candles
Filed under: Buyer Beware
My wife is adventurous and curious, so when she first learned of ear candling she wasted no time in trying it out. We still laugh today about the evening that she and some of her friends spent, heads resting on their sides on our kitchen counter, with lit candles in their ears.
Ear candling is an old-timey process that supposedly cleans out one's ear canal. It works this way: a hollow tapered candle about the diameter of a child's pencil is lit on the wide end. The narrow end is then lowered into the ear canal. In theory, the updraft from the flame creates a partial vacuum within the candle, drawing all of the ear gunk from the ear canal into the candle's hollow center.
Over the course of 15 minutes or so, the victim hears snapping and popping, sounds that resemble the feasting of a hoard of locusts. When the candle is removed at the end of this time and cut open, it usually reveals a pocket of gummy stuff that has formed inside, stuff which looks remarkably like ear wax.
However, a study by the Spokane Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic confirmed what other researchers had found; the candling does not produce a pocket of low air pressure and is ineffective in sucking out ear wax. The gunk found inside is a combination of candle wax and soot.
The dangers of this practice are, I would think, obvious-- open flame combined with the organ through which you hear the world = nothing good. I have to admit, though, that watching my friends try it was a memorable and hilarious experience.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-09-2009 @ 12:16PM
Suzie said...
If this is nothing but junk, why do my ears have less pressure in them after I use them? I have had lots of problems with my ears in the past, and once I started to candle my ears, I have not had so many problems. I always hear better afterwards, and as I said earlier, I have much less pressure in my ears. Candling does work. You just have to place it in your ear far enough. You will be able to actually feel a lessening in pressure if they are correctly placed. As for the leftovers in the last bit of tube, it always fluctuates. I have found that the more pressure in my ears, the more leftovers there are.
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7-22-2009 @ 12:13PM
Cerina said...
You are so right about ear candles relieving pressure in the ear.
They are beneficial to lots of ear problems but people need to know how to use them. You do not just stick them in the ear and light them. You have to place them so that a suction is formed which takes experience and know how. The nay sayers about this form of healing just make it easier for the doctors to prescribe more stuff which many times does not work.
7-09-2009 @ 12:28PM
LB said...
Ear coning has made a major difference in my allergies and sinus problems. I've shared the process with hundreds of others over the last 20 years and all but 3 have had tremendous results. There are studies that have been done with results on both sides of this issue and Doctors range all over the place on their opinions. Part of the problem does seem to be regarding exactly what the writer describes... people who don't know what they're doing sticking lit objects in their heads. If you really want to try it out, find someone who knows what they are doing to help you first. Yes you can do it yourself but best if you learn how first. There is also a difference in the types of cones used and the technique employed.
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7-09-2009 @ 12:43PM
Kristen said...
I too agree with Suzie. They do work, my ears feel so much better after candling. I have even recommended it to my brother and sister in law they tried it and love them as well.
The buildup in the candles afterward is different from ear to ear and from each use. I would recommend trying them to see for yourself. They only cost from $1.99 to $2.69 depending on using paraffin wax or bees wax.
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7-10-2009 @ 2:54AM
JohnH said...
I wouldn't expect that an ear, nose and throat clinic would recommend ear candles. They would prefer that you come to the clinic and have your ears dewaxed professionally for a hefty fee.
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7-13-2009 @ 12:27PM
TSteelman said...
I never heard of such a thing. I would be afraid I would set my hair on fire.
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7-13-2009 @ 1:42PM
Marilyn said...
I never ever heard that ear candles were to take wax out of ones ears. What they are used for is helping ear pain. Its the smoke and the warmth that helps. I dont know how the smoke and warmth will help suck our wax, that takes special instruments (or if you are doing it yourself.... a bobby pin or q-tip) to remove it.
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7-15-2009 @ 9:46AM
Dawn said...
Ear candles are very effective. At times, my husband and daughter have hearing loss and ear aches due to ear wax build up. After using the candles, their hearing is better. We did use an ENT once to have wax buildup removed from my daughter's ears. It was very painful for her. The ear candles are not painful at all. The wax drawn from the ear does vary from ear to ear and from time to time. Oh and the "soot" and "wax" do not look the same as the earwax. This article was not accurate at all.
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7-15-2009 @ 9:51AM
Don said...
They work extremly well. We have a special needs boy who has small ear canals. The doctors have trouble cleaning his ears.
They draw the wax out of the ear by heat and compression.
they have to fit snuggly in the ear to work.
We buy ours in Cancun from the Mayan Indians , who have used them for hundreds of years.
They will draw all the wax out the ear and it wille nd up in the tube.
If you seen it done , you would be a believer.
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7-15-2009 @ 2:44PM
Jennifer said...
Ear Candling is not a junk. Our family supported ear candling and we usually went to the Il school of Ear Candling in Chicago, Il 60618 with tel. 773-588-8776.. They teach classes as well as individual services.
They even do along with space clearing to get rid of negative energies.
Of course, medical clinics, audiologist and doctors does not like ear candling because they will be losing clients as well as the fees. Ear candling is not using or doing nay surgical or taking medicines.
This had been used by muslins in 2000 before christ to her the god.
This is just like naprapathy, feng shui, and chiropactor that was never accepted by society but starting embracing it.
Nothing will hurt you, ear candling is very good and we would not hesitate to recommend.
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7-16-2009 @ 12:02PM
martha thompson said...
I agree with Jennifer also, Ear candling has also been brought up in my family tradition for many years. In the earlier back days, natural things were used such as herbal remedies, known as yerberos, professional herbalists, alternative medical healers alike! Just as the same thing as self healing, not all kinds of medicine is the best choice, I suggest this since I am a school teacher and I have done my research well. I am from Chicago and I have gone to other schools in Illinois, I really recommend The IL SCHOOL OF EAR CANDLING they are the best ! They treated my whole family and kids. The whole process and experience was soothing and relaxing.
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8-15-2009 @ 1:45PM
jesue said...
all I can say is that i had trouble with my ears do to sinus i could not hear anything. i tried this and i did not feel any difference. the next day this chunk of hard goo fell out of my ear and i could hear for the first time in weeks. thank you.
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