Ear Candling

While wandering around a metaphysical bookstore, one weekend day during my massage therapy training lunch break, I happened to see a woman sitting on a stool with a cape draped around her torso, her head tilted to the side, a small towel type covering over the side of her head, and a burning candle sticking out of her ear. The candle was being held in place by a store employee. The two were chatting away. The woman looked totally ridiculous, by the way. I would have been embarrassed to be sitting there, behind the front counter, on display like that. Amid my puzzled looks and investigative glancing, I saw on a table close by, a package labeled something like ear candles. Aaaaah, I realized, that is what ear candling looks like.

I had seen ear candles before, but had no idea what people did with them. I never felt the compulsion to find out, either. But, now that I saw it being done, I wanted to know what it was about. So, I read about it from a proponents' point of view. Hmmm, the candle creates suction in the ear and draws out the ear wax? At the end of the session, they cut open the candle and show you the black junk inside and declare - see, that's the yucky ear wax and junk from your ear. My first thought was that it was the burned leftovers from the candle itself. You know, fire creates a chemical reaction, it transforms, and then there is leftover by products.

By the way, did you happen to see the episode of MythBusters when they took wax from people's ears so they could make a candle from it, to see if it would burn? Watch the YouTube video on it. They had a doctor come in to extract ear wax from people. Not everyone had ear wax to contribute. Some had a tiny bit, and 1 or 2 had a bunch. The doctor used a special tool to remove it. It was totally disgusting seeing a bowl of human ear wax. I had to look away. If I was there in person, I probably would have vomited.

Anyway, back to ear candling. Well, it makes no sense to me how a candle, wedged in your ear, could create any suction at all. And, what, it has to be hot enough to melt the wax in your ear so it drips out? I mean so it drips up? Is that how the wax supposedly comes out? Or does it turn to vapor? Or stay solid, but because of sheer force of that suction, it uproots itself from your ear canal, and flies into the candle? And, about that candle, if it's burning, won't it melt and potentially drip its own wax into your ear? Well take a look at an excerpt from the FDA website about reports they've received about ear candling ...

"FDA has received reports of burns, perforated eardrums and blockage of the ear canal which required outpatient surgery from the use of ear candles. And a survey of ear, nose and throat physicians published in 1996 in the medical journal Laryngoscope reported 13 cases of burns of the ear, seven cases of wax occlusion of the ear canal, and one case of a perforated eardrum. The authors of this study also reported that the burning ear candles dripped candle wax on the eardrum of the test subjects and in a model of the ear."

You can read the FDA page on ear candling here.

You can read a report on the Health Canada website about the dangers of ear candling.

Apparently, there are claims that ear candling not only removes junkies from your ear, but it can help with ear and sinus infections, headaches, ear aches, and improved hearing. I won't even mention the blood purification and curing cancer claims. Oops, too late. And, once again from the FDA website ...

"In the Laryngoscope study noted above, it was found that burning ear candles produced no measurable vacuum pressure, or suction on a model of the ear. Ear candles were also found to be ineffective in removing ear wax in 4 test subjects. In fact, using ear candle on these subjects appeared to have pushed ear wax further into the ear canal.

In addition, Health Canada, the Canadian health regulatory agency, performed their own tests and found that ear candles produce no measurable effect in the ear and have no therapeutic value."

And, so there goes another one of those alternative, get well quick, holistic health type remedies. If you have a problem with your ears or sinuses, please make sure you see a physician about it. Yes, a doctor. Someone with a medical degree who gave years of their life to study and practice medicine. Do not put your health in the hands of ear candles and unqualified ear candle people doers. Not sure what to call the person who does the ear candling, except maybe quack? Be smart. Investigate. Your health is up to you.

Did you notice how I didn't bother referencing any sites which claim successes in treating people with ear candles? That is because I have already made up my mind that I don't believe it to work. Therefore, I'm trying to convince you of this, too. And, I'm doing it by bringing up evidence that supports my case. I am biased on the matter.

Stay tuned for other things I've seen or overheard in that metaphysical bookshop :)