Ear Candling: Do's and Dont's

So many folks come into my shop seeking counsel as to the proper protocols of “ear candling.”  Ear candling is an ancient and honored technique (stemming from Egyptian times) employing a tightly wrapped tubular papyrus or other inert substrate impregnated with either beeswax, paraffin or soy (and may be scented with healing aromatherapy oils such as lavender or herbal medleys) to aid in the elimination of waste products and various adherences in the inner and outer ear canal.  Many other materials have been employed of the millennia, but these are some of the more common current renderings. 

Under constant, knowledgeable supervision, one gently inserts a lighted (meaning flame lit tip) ear candle into one ear (unlit tip into the ear) at an angle that suits the individual’s ear size, shape and proportion.  There is a slight knack to the precise angle of this orientation, which does come with exposure and wise guidance.  The key in this process is to exact a healing response in the form of effectively drawing (as a function of the wonderful, gentle heat vortex formed by this “technology”) unreconciled material from the inner workings of the ear.  As with all healing modalities (especially those involving an open flame) there are safety procedures to be followed. 

This approach was developed as a function of not having minuscule surgical tools with which to extract various encumbrances that have, historically, adversely affected the mammal community.  The variety of material that can find itself trapped in the ear is as broad as is the human experience.  I’ve seen and heard of material such as cotton filaments from a lifetime’s use of “q-tip” type swabs to tiny insect parts and hair particles from a multitude of trims over the years finding their way into the inner recesses of the ear construct.  There are times where the action of the candle process will simply render a mild obstruction free to then be transited by the cilia and muscular system, which strives to eradicate obstructions in the ear canal under normal conditions.

A light-handed approach is always the order of the day when ear candling is the solution at hand.  More than one or two candles per ear over as many days may lead, in some instances, to burning the inner ear or ear drum itself.  Also, the canal might begin to shut down due to excessive heat to the area in too short a period of time, emulating congestion – when in fact it is merely a natural response to too much of a good thing.

Bear in mind that there are some wonderful homeopathic, herbal and fluid flushing based systems for ear canal toning purposes to be had, aside from ear candling.  Adjustments in diet, as a function of allergic response concerns affecting ear wax build-up is also something to bring to the table for discussion.  Whatever your inclination, choose wisely and arm yourself with appropriate working knowledge. 

With respect,

Steve Siegelwaks