 "Photo:")
Dr. George
Q: Ear candling; bad for your ears?
A: Ear candling, a practice that enjoyed an almost cult popularity for a time, is a procedure that has been advocated by proponents to remove wax from ears. It is sometimes combined with massage as a relaxing sequence. Marketed as a practice that began with Hopi Indians, it has been refuted time and again by the tribe as in no way ever practiced by Hopi.
It is done by placing a hollow candle in or just outside of the ear canal of the subject, who is lying down with head turned to the side. The purported mechanism of action is that as the candle burns, there is a negative pressure built up that draws "wax and ear debris (whatever that is)" from the ear canal. After the 15 minute to 45 minute session, the base of the candle will show a dark residue that has been suggested to be evidence of candling effectiveness but is actually residue from the candle itself.
It's not just a harmless little ritual either. It doesn't take a genius to deduce that the proximity of a lit candle with dripping hot wax, into or in proximity to a face and/or ear canal, is a procedure with real risks. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration in 2007 described ear candling as "dangerous to the health when used in the dosage or manner, or with the frequency or duration, prescribed, recommended or suggested in the labeling thereof". That's lawyer-speak for "it's BS".
Further reports include at least two instances of house fires resulting from the practice of ear candling. I think all this proves is that some people are just too dumb to be trusted with an open flame. You can't really blame ear candling for that, can you?
Send your anonymous questions to pulse@chicagoflame.com.
Be the first to comment on this article!