What are Ear Candles & Are They Safe? A Guide
If you’ve been having trouble with earwax build up, you’ve probably read about ear candles before. You might be wondering what they actually are, and how they work. Read on for more information on ear candles before you decide to purchase them.
What are ear candles?
Ear candles are typically made of a fabric coated in wax and shaped into a cone. It was alleged that they were originally used by the Native American Hopi people of Arizona, however this has been disproven and manufacturers have since been banned from using the Hopi name for ear candles.
Other sources claim ear candles came from ancient Greece, Egypt and China, and even the lost city of Atlantis, but there is no evidence for this.
Today, ear candles are widely available for purchase at health and beauty stores, as well as online. Some beauty treatment clinics and alternative health centres also offer an ear candling service.
When did ear candles become popular?
Ear candling has popped up as a treatment for earwax build up, sinus pressure, and even spiritual health, many times over the years. However, due to the rumours of their ancient origins, their actual history is hard to pin down.
Recently, the trend of ear candling has become more popular due to videos of the procedure on TikTok.
How do ear candles “work”?
The process is quite simple: lie on one side, insert the ear candle into your ear canal and light the end. Wait for around 15 minutes before repeating on the other ear. The idea is that the heat from the candle will help soften the earwax, and the suction created by the candle will pull it out of your ear. Afterwards, you can break open the candle and see the wax it has “removed” inside for yourself.
Do ear candles ACTUALLY work to clear ear wax or relieve sinus pressure though?!
According to ear candle manufacturers and practitioners, ear candles create suction and a rise in temperature that soften and draw up wax from your ear canal.
HOWEVER, scientific studies have disproven this.
The temperature increase by ear candles is actually not even close to the temperature that would be necessary to sufficiently soften the earwax!
In addition, the negative pressure that would be required to pull the wax from your ear canal into the candle would be enough to rupture your eardrum: luckily ear candles do not produce this level of pressure, but they do still have their own dangers.
Are ear candles safe to use?
There is overwhelming evidence against the use of ear candles for safety reasons.
The NHS website also states that ear candles are ineffective and may cause serious injuries, and advises against the purchase or use of them.
In fact, the import and sale of ear candles for medical use is illegal in Canada and the USA due to the risk of injury and lack of medical approval from the FDA.
What are the risks associated with ear candles?
There are many risks when using ear candles, including:
Burns to skin from hot wax or ash from the candle
Fire hazards to surroundings from hot wax or ash from the candle
Wax or ash from the candle may enter the ear canal and cause blockages or temporary loss of hearing
Ruptured or damaged eardrums from the insertion of ear candles
Are there safer alternatives to ear candles?
If you’re having trouble with your ears, don’t worry; there are safer alternatives to ear candling that are proven to help, including ear drops, ear syringing and microsuction, that when carried out by a professional pose no risk to your health or wellbeing.
By far the safest and most reliable way to deal with problematic earwax is to hire a professional audiologist. You can book an appointment with Ear View for earwax removal here.
