In its "Clinical Practice Guideline: Cerumen Impaction," the journal "Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery" from September 2008 notes that ear candling is the most popular complementary medicine practice for removing ear wax. Ear candles can be purchased in drugstores, from alternative health shops and over the Internet. Ear candling's methods are simple, but questions remain about the safety and effectiveness of the procedure.
Candle Components
According to Health Canada, ear candles are narrow, hollow fabric cones impregnated with beeswax, paraffin or a combination of the two. The fabric is usually cotton or linen and hardens into a coned candle shape as the beeswax cools. Candles are about 10 inches long and contain no wick.
How Ear Candling Works
As described by the journal "Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery," ear candles are placed in the opening of the ear and the other end is lit. The candle's heat and burning action are said to create a vacuum effect or negative pressure that draws wax from the ear canal, depositing it on the candle's base.
Benefits
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that practitioners of ear candling claim that the procedure offers benefits beyond simple ear wax removal. The candles are said to remove toxins from body, relieve pain from earaches and improve hearing. Other claims state that ear candling can heal cancer, purify the blood and improve brain functioning.
Research
Although anecdotal evidence indicates that ear candling provides some benefits, very little formal research has been performed on the procedure. A small study conducted by the Spokane Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic and published in the journal "Laryngoscope" in 1996 found that ear candles produced no negative pressure and demonstrated no removal of wax from eight ears.
Warnings
The FDA issued a warning about the risks of using ear candles in February 2010. Specifically, the FDA has received reports of injuries caused by burns from hot wax, eardrums that have been perforated during candling and problems with wax that blocks the ear canal, requiring surgical removal. The FDA cautioned against the use of ear candling for children, as they may be more prone to move during the procedure and suffer burns.
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