Let's Snuff Out Ear Candling

Posting Date: 07/20/1999

I find it hard to imagine that ear candling is still popular, particularly after studies that show it?s not only wacky, but illogical and ineffective.

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Ear candling is another health myth ? and it?s us against them, folks.

I can?t imagine serious physicians would give this procedure any notice, so I was surprised when told that one celebrity doctor might believe in ear candling. On further investigation, I think he was just explaining how it is supposed to work, without making any judgments about its effectiveness.

What happens in ear candling is that a foot-long hollow fabric cone candle impregnated with bee?s wax is stuck in your ear and lit. The candle is then supposed to create a vacuum that sucks wax and debris from your ear.

From studies I?ve seen, the only thing that accumulates are ear injuries. There have been at least 21 known injuries from the candles, including burns, eardrum perforations and temporary hearing loss, according to reports in the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.

Also, the debris that accumulates is from the candles themselves, not from the ear. You can prove this by sticking an ear candle in a large jar, lighting it and seeing what is left over.

I?ve recently received some promotions for ear candles with testimonials from people who claim they work. This isn?t proof. If you want to know if something works, you look at valid scientific studies.

Personally, I don?t see how anyone could think sticking a candle in an ear and lighting it could be healthy.

Source: UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, March 1999.