Ear candling
Ear candling is a practice that involves the use of a hollow, lit candle placed in the ear to purportedly treat various health conditions, primarily aimed at ear cleansing. This ancient technique has unclear origins, possibly dating back to Asia, Egypt, or pre-Columbian America. Proponents of ear candling claim it can alleviate issues such as earwax buildup, tinnitus, otitis media, sinus pressure, and Meniere's disease. The method is said to create a low-level vacuum that supposedly removes wax and debris from the ear canal.
However, scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of ear candling is lacking, and many health professionals express concerns about its safety. Research indicates that the pressure created during candling is insufficient to remove earwax, and there are documented cases of patients suffering burns, ear canal obstructions, and even ruptured eardrums as a result of the practice. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers ear candles to be unregulated medical devices and has warned consumers about potential injuries. Despite the risks, ear candles remain available in health food stores and online. It's important to note that earwax serves a protective role in the ear canal, and its absence can lead to discomfort.
Ear candling
DEFINITION: The use of a hollow lighted candle to treat specific health conditions of the ear.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Ear cleansing
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Meniere’s disease, otitis media, sinus pressure and pain, tinnitus
Overview
The origins of candling are uncertain, but this ancient practice possibly started in Asia, Egypt, or the pre-Columbian Americas. Practitioners of candling (also called coning) use special candles made of linen or cotton soaked in wax or paraffin that are placed in the ear.
Mechanism of Action
A lit candle, hollow and about 10 inches long, is placed in the ear to create a low-level vacuum that sucks wax and other debris from the ear canal.
Uses and Applications
Many claims are made about the effects of candling. Proponents believe that candling can treat earwax build-up and can cure conditions such as tinnitus, otitis media, sinus pressure and pain, and Meniere’s disease.
Scientific Evidence
There is no scientific evidence to support the claims that candling works. In addition, no plausible reasoning exists for how candling might work. Furthermore, each condition that candling is claimed to cure occurs on the inner side of the eardrum and is, therefore, out of reach of candles. For other conditions closer to the site of candling, such as swimmer’s ear or temporomandibular disorder, no evidence exists to show that candling is helpful. Many other health benefits associated with candling are vague or scientifically meaningless. Some examples are “strengthen the brain,” “purify the mind,” “stabilize emotions,” “clear the eyes,” “purify the blood,” and “release blocked energy.”
Using candling to treat ear wax build-up has also been criticized. According to one group of researchers, the negative pressure needed to pull sticky wax from the ear canal would have to be so powerful that it would rupture the eardrum. After actually measuring the pressure during candling, the researchers found that no negative pressure was created. There are much safer and easier ways to remove wax.
Safety Issues
Many doctors have concerns about the safety of ear candling. Twenty-one of 122 ear, nose, and throat specialists who took part in a survey had seen patients who were harmed by ear candling. Of these patients, thirteen had external burns, seven had ear canal obstruction from candle wax, and one had a ruptured eardrum. Besides burns to the face, neck, ear canal, and eardrum, ear candling can also cause blockages, punctured ear drums, hearing loss, and infections.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers ear candles an unregulated medical device and has taken action to prevent the sale and distribution of ear candles in the United States. The FDA has also warned consumers about the risk of serious injury from candling. Despite these actions, ear candles are still widely available at health food stores and online.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, earwax is healthy in normal amounts and coats the skin of the ear canal, where it acts as a temporary water-repellent. The absence of earwax may result in dry, itchy ears.
Bibliography
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. www.entnet.org. Accessed 6 Sept. 2024.
Canadian Society of Otolaryngology. www.entcanada.org. Accessed 6 Sept. 2024.
Seely, D. R., S. M. Quigley, and A. W. Langman. "Ear Candles: Efficacy and Safety." Laryngoscope, vol. 106, 1996, pp. 1226-1229, doi: 10.1097/00005537-199610000-00010.
Wilson, Debra Rose, and BC Ahn. "Ear Candling: Safety and Side Effects." Medical News Today, 26 July 2023, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323685. Accessed 6 Sept. 2024.