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Ear candling, also called ear coning, is a folk medicine practice intended to remove earwax (cerumen) and "toxins" from a person's ear by means of a hollow candle placed in the ear. It involves placing one end of a hollow candle in the ear canal and lighting it. Ear candling has been shown to be ineffective at creating a vacuum and removing impurities from the ear, and has resulted in injuries *.
Origin
Manufacturers of ear candles often refer to them as Hopi ear candles, referring to the Hopi Native American nation. There is, however, little objective evidence that ear candling is in fact an established treatment within Hopi folk medicine.
Procedure
One end of a cylinder or cone of waxed cloth is placed into the subject's ear, and the other end lighted. Usually the subject is lying on one side with the treated ear uppermost and the candle vertical, perhaps stuck through a paper plate or aluminum pie tin to protect against any hot wax or ash falling down the side.
A typical ear candling session can last up to 45 minutes, during which time a series of 1 or 2 ear candles may be burned for each ear. The experience is generally described as being unusual, but pleasant and relaxing.
The Colon Therapists Network website says "You may hear some crackling and popping" and "you may feel some heat during the ear candling session." It cautions that ear candling should not be done to people who have ear tubes, perforated ear drums, or artificial ear drums, and says ear candlers will use an otoscope to examine their client's ears before and after the session.
Theory
The hot air is claimed to melt earwax and create a vacuum that pulls out toxins from the inner ear and the sinuses. At the end of the treatment the subject is often shown the accumulated ash and melted wax inside the candle, which are presented as wax and even fungus drawn out of the ear, however the contents are simply the residue of the burned candle wax and cloth.
The benefits claimed for ear candling are vague and even contradictory, and no scientific studies have been done to document the health benefits of ear candling.
A comprehensive list of claims, from cleansing the ear canal and curing infections to clearing the eyes and purifying the blood, can be found on the Quackwatch website*.
Controversy
Ear candling is generally classified as pseudoscience or even quackery by mainstream medicine, as none of the scientific evidence supports it. Skeptics point out that that there is no mechanism by which the candle could conceivably draw out anything from the ear, and that a sufficient vacuum to do so could not possibly be generated. Nor could the candle create a sufficiently high temperature to "melt" the earwax as is sometimes claimed.
Some practitioners of ear candling show accumulations of "wax" inside used candles as evidence that they are effective. However, one European manufacturer, Biosun, points out that these are in fact products of combustion of the candle, which form inside the candle even when it is not placed inside the ear.
Dangers
Placing a candle inside the ear can potentially lead to burns, infection, obstruction of the ear canal and perforation of the eardrum. One particular concern is wax dripping into the ear, which can cause internal burning and blockage. * Some ear candles are designed with a plug inside to help prevent this, and others are designed to be self-extinguishing. However, most ear candles are not designed this way, leaving sensitive membranes in the ears exposed to hot wax and ash that can do permanent damage. In a study done by Health Canada, 122 ear specialists were interviewed by a group of doctors. 21 cases of damage done from ear candling were reported. Thirteen people were burned by ear candles, and another seven had their ears blocked with wax from ear candles. One person received a punctured ear drum. *Ear candles can be dangerous even when used properly.
Legal status
In Europe, some ear candles are regulated as medical devices, tested for safety and bear the CE mark (93/42/EEC).* The CE mark is mostly self-issued by the manufacturer, supposedly assuring conformance to a standard.
Selling or importing ear candles with medical claims is illegal in the U.S. and Canada. * However, they remain widely available.
External links
Support
Opposition
- Seely DR, Quigley SM , Langman AW. Ear candles: Efficacy and safety. Laryngoscope 106:1226-1229, 1996.
- Health Canada's statement on ear candles
- The Straight Dope: "How do ear candles work?"
- CBC Marketplace article on ear candling and risks
- Skeptic's Dictionary on Ear Candling
- Quackwatch on Ear Candling by Lisa M.L. Dryer, M.D
- Photos of an Ear Candling experiment
- Dr. Andrew Weil's opinion on ear candling
- Keeping Ears Clean by Robert Jackler, MD
"Ear candling"