What Are Ear Candles?
What Are Ear Candles?
What are ear candles and what are they good for?
Description:
Ear candles are 8-12 inch cones of rolled up waxy paper material that are used to remove soft earwax. They come under the heading of alternative medicine practice which claims to improve general health and well-being.
Other terms used are: ear candling, ear coning, or thermal auricular therapy. These candles must be used with caution.
How they are used:
To use them you would lie on your side and place the narrow end of the candle in your ear canal and then light (yes light) the opposite end. As the candle burns slowly, it creates a vacuum that can draw wax out of the ear. A session can last from 15 - 45 minutes. Most people prefer to have someone help them.
For at least 90 percent of the population, earwax will come out of your ear naturally. This procedure is most useful for people who have very small or especially curvy ear canals and need help in clearing their ears.
The concern about ear wax:
Too much wax in the ear can affect hearing and/or trap moisture in the ear which can lead to infection. Hard wax cannot be removed with ear candles; that would be done in a doctor’s office using a special tool.
A bit of history:
It is claimed that ear candles are an ancient and natural therapy handed down by many civilizations and was used as far back as ancient Egypt. It is said they were used by the Chinese, Sumerians, and Tibetan monks. Credit seems to be given to the Hopi people but online research indicates that the Hopi people have nothing to do with ear candles. There is some debate about this.
A warning:
Ear candles are widely available in the US, but selling them or importing them with medical claims is illegal.
If you decide to try them:
If you decide to use ear candles use them no more than once quarterly. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package. When done safely there appears to be no risk. You can buy ear candles at health food stores or on the internet.
For teenagers, it may not be ear wax creating a problem with hearing loss, but other issues. See the link below:
- Signs of Hearing Loss in Teenagers
Hearing loss is becoming a serious problem for teenagers because of their lifestyle. Something as common as a hairdryer can have an effect on hearing because of the high decibel level. If you find yourself raising your voice to speak to your teen or
