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Charles W. Beatty, M.D.
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Question
Ear candling: Is it safe?
Is ear candling a safe way to remove earwax?
Answer
from Charles W. Beatty, M.D.
Ear candling — a technique that involves placing a lit, hollow, cone-shaped candle into the ear canal — can cause serious injury and isn't considered an effective treatment for any condition.
The theory behind ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal auricular therapy, is that the heat from the flame will create a vacuum seal and the earwax in the ear canal will adhere to the candle. Ear candling has also been touted as a treatment for sinus infections and as a way to improve hearing.
Research shows, however, that ear candling is ineffective at removing earwax. In fact, the technique can actually push earwax deeper into the ear canal. Ear candling can also lead to:
- Deposits of candle wax in the ear canal
- Burns to the face, hair, ear canal, eardrum and middle ear
- Perforation of the eardrum or other ear injuries
If you develop an earwax blockage, avoid ear candling. Instead, consult your doctor about simple steps you can take to safely and effectively remove the wax.
Next questionKombucha tea: Does it have health benefits?
- Advice for patients: Ear candles. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PatientAlerts/ucm200896.htm. Accessed Feb. 23, 2010.
- Rafferty J, et al. Ear candling: Should general practitioners recommend it? Canadian Family Physician. 2007;53:2121.
- Earwax. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/earwax.cfm. Accessed Feb. 23, 2010.
- Ernst E, et al. Ear candles: A triumph of ignorance over science. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2004;118:1.
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