Ear candling is a very common practice of placing a cone-shaped piece of cotton into the ear, which is soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or a mixture of them both. The candle is about 10 inches long and is lit on the other end which create a warm suction. It’s thought to be an alternative to medicine and has been in practise for thousands of years. The heat from the candle is thought to pull up the earwax by creating a vacuum like suction into the candle. This is supposed to clear out the ear canal from any wax, dirt or debris.
May people who use ear candles generally use it to remove earwax, improve hearing, and cure ear infections. It’s also thought to treat other health issues like sinus infections, headaches and cold and flu symptoms. Some people also claim it can help to control blood pressure and even stress.
However, there is not any scientific proof on the benefits of ear candling. In fact, most doctors don’t recommend this practice because it’s not considered safe or effective and could even do more harm.
Ear candling is usually done by a professional. This is commonly practised by massage therapist, herbalist and beauty therapists. You should never attempt to try it on yourself as this can increase your risk of injury as the hot wax and ash from the candle can burn your skin. Also, ear candling could make earwax build-up even worse. The safest way to remove earwax is to see your doctor or an audiologist for a professional cleaning.
