Ben Carter
Ear candling is an alternative medicine practice that involves placing a lit, hollow candle in the ear canal. The heat from the flame is said to create a vacuum that draws out earwax and other impurities. While some people advocate for ear candling as a safe and effective way to remove earwax, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. In fact, medical experts advise against ear candling due to safety risks, including burns, blockages, ear infections, and eardrum perforations. If you are concerned about earwax buildup, it is recommended to consult your doctor or try home remedies such as ear drops or irrigation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is ear candling? | An ancient Egyptian method for pulling wax out of the ear |
| Ear candle composition | Cotton or linen tightly wound into a cone shape, soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or soy wax |
| Length of ear candle | About 10 inches |
| Safety | Not recommended by medical experts due to risk of burns, blockages in the ear canal, ear infections, and eardrum perforations |
| Homemade ear candling process |
|
| Homemade ear candling risks |
|
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What You'll Learn
- Prepare your materials: a glass of water, matches, a paper plate, and an ear candle
- Cut a cross in the paper plate and insert the candle
- Lie on your side, pull hair away from your ear, and insert the candle
- Light the candle and slant it slightly
- Remove the candle after 15 minutes, extinguish, and wipe your ear
Prepare your materials: a glass of water, matches, a paper plate, and an ear candle
Ear candling is a popular practice for removing ear wax. However, it is not recommended by medical professionals due to safety concerns and its questionable effectiveness. If you choose to proceed with ear candling at home, it is important to prepare the necessary materials: a glass of water, matches, a paper plate, and an ear candle.
The ear candle is a crucial component of the process. It is a hollow candle, typically made of cotton or linen soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or soy wax, and shaped into a cone. The candle should be approximately 10 inches long. When purchasing an ear candle, ensure that it includes a safety filter in the lower part to prevent hot wax from dripping into your ear canal.
A glass of water is also necessary for the ear candling process. The water serves a dual purpose: it can be used to trim the burnt material from the candle as it burns, and it can also help to extinguish the flame at the end of the session.
Matches are required to light the ear candle. It is important to use matches or a similar lighting mechanism to ensure a controlled flame.
A paper plate is an essential protective measure. Cut a small hole in the centre of the paper plate and place it over your ear. This will help catch any dripping wax and protect your face and surrounding areas from the flame and falling ashes.
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Cut a cross in the paper plate and insert the candle
While there is no evidence that ear candling works or is safe, and medical experts advise against it, here is a detailed description of how to cut a cross in a paper plate and insert the candle for homemade ear candling.
To begin the ear candling process, you will need a glass of water, a paper plate, matches, and a friend to help. Cutting a cross in the paper plate serves as a safety precaution to catch any dripping wax and protect your skin and hair from the flame and falling ashes. It is important to cut a hole that is big enough for the ear candle to fit snugly. The small end of the candle should be on the bottom side of the plate, protruding far enough to reach the beginning of your ear.
Before you begin, make sure to pull all your hair away from your ear. Place the small end of the ear candle in your ear, ensuring that it is pointing up towards the ceiling. Hold the candle gently between your fingers without squeezing it, and confirm that the small end is securely seated in your ear. It is crucial to have a second person with you during this process, not only for assistance but also for supervision of the burning candle.
Once the candle is securely in place, the second person can light it with a match. Make sure that the candle is slanted slightly without breaking the seal in your ear. If the seal between your ear and the candle is broken at any time, you may notice smoke escaping. In such cases, stop the process immediately, blow out the candle, and start over with a new candle.
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Lie on your side, pull hair away from your ear, and insert the candle
To perform ear candling, you must first lie on your side, with the ear to be treated facing up. Pull your hair away from your ear to prevent it from catching fire. Cover your head, hair, shoulders, and upper torso with a damp towel to protect against flames, hot wax, or ash. Place the candle through a hole in a paper or foil plate to catch any wax drippings. Insert the small end of the ear candle into your ear, pointing it up towards the ceiling. Ensure that the candle is well-seated in your ear canal and hold it gently between your fingers without squeezing it.
Get someone to help you light the opposite end of the candle with a match. The candle will burn for about 10 to 15 minutes. Burnt material should be trimmed away as the candle burns. When the candle stub is a few inches from your head, the session is done. Blow out the flame, remove the candle, and wipe your outer ear clean with a cotton ball or pad. You can then cut the candle open to inspect the waxy contents.
Please note that the FDA has not approved ear candles for any medical use and warns that ear candling carries a high risk of burns, middle ear damage, and hearing loss. There is also a risk of fire and no scientific evidence of its effectiveness.
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Light the candle and slant it slightly
While there is no evidence that ear candling works or is safe, here is a detailed description of how to light the candle and slant it slightly for homemade ear candling.
To begin, cut a small hole in a paper plate and place it over your ear to catch any dripping wax. Lie on your side with the ear to be treated facing up. Ensure that your hair is pulled away from your ear. Place the small end of the ear candle in your ear, pointing it up towards the ceiling. Hold the candle gently between your fingers, being careful not to squeeze it. Make sure the candle is well-seated in your ear to avoid any smoke escaping.
Now, you can light the candle with a match. It is recommended to have a second person assist you with this process. The candle should be lit at the end opposite to the end placed in your ear. As the candle burns, be sure to slant it slightly without breaking the seal in your ear. This slight slant helps direct the smoke into your ear canal, creating a vacuum that is believed to dislodge and draw out earwax.
It is important to keep a close eye on the candle as it burns. The session is typically complete when the candle stub reaches a few inches from your head, which usually takes around 15 minutes. At this point, the candle should be removed, and the flame extinguished by dipping it into a glass of water.
Please note that medical experts advise against attempting ear candling at home due to safety concerns. There are alternative methods for earwax removal, such as over-the-counter ear drops or seeking professional cleaning from a healthcare provider.
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Remove the candle after 15 minutes, extinguish, and wipe your ear
It is important to be cautious when removing the candle after 15 minutes. Have your assistant extinguish the flame by dipping the candle into the glass of water. Do not extinguish the flame by blowing it out, as this could cause hot wax to spatter and burn your skin.
Once the flame has been extinguished, carefully remove the candle from your ear. It is important to do this slowly and gently to avoid any wax or ash falling into your ear canal. If the seal between your ear and the candle was broken at any point during the process, there may be ash or wax residue in your ear. Use a cotton ball or pad to wipe your outer ear clean, being careful not to insert it too far into the ear canal.
If you notice any discomfort, pain, or irritation in your ear after the candling process, it is important to consult a medical professional. While ear candling is a popular at-home remedy, it is not recommended by medical experts due to safety concerns and potential side effects.
Additionally, it is important to note that there is no scientific evidence that ear candling effectively removes earwax. Alternative methods, such as over-the-counter ear drops or professional ear cleaning by a healthcare provider, are generally safer and more effective options for addressing earwax buildup.
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Frequently asked questions
Ear candling is an ancient method of removing earwax using a lit, hollow cone-shaped candle. The candle is placed in the ear, and the heat creates a vacuum that draws out the wax.
Before starting, cut a small hole in a paper plate or pie tin, and place it over your ear to catch any wax drippings and protect from the flame. Pull your hair back and tie it, so it doesn't get in the way. Massage the area around your ear to relax the muscles and improve circulation.
Lie on your side with the ear to be treated facing up. Insert the small end of the ear candle into your ear, ensuring it is pointing upwards and fits snugly. Get your assistant to light the candle with a match, and hold it gently. The candle should burn for approximately 15 minutes, and you can trim the burnt material into a bowl of water every couple of inches.
When the candle has burned down to about three inches from the plate, your assistant should dip it into the water to extinguish the flame. If the seal between your ear and the candle is broken at any time, stop immediately, as this may cause smoke to enter your ear.
Yes, ear candling is not recommended by medical professionals due to safety concerns and a lack of evidence that it works. It can cause burns, blockages in the ear canal, ear infections, and eardrum perforations. It may also worsen earwax buildup.
