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Burning Debate Over Ear Candling

Safety, effectiveness at issue in ear-cleaning practice

By Elizabeth A. Katz

Imagine lying on your side, sticking what looks like a tapered candle into your ear and lighting the tip on fire. Sounds risky, but some people swear that the ancient practice of ear candling (also called "coning") is not only the best way to remove wax and debris from their ears, it makes them feel great, too.

"I find it extremely relaxing. I'm convinced it makes you feel better. I totally believe in this stuff," says Royal Oak resident Craig Schenk, who has his ears candled two to three times a year by certified massage therapist Ron Truski, owner of N.E.A.R. Perfect Wellness, also in Royal Oak.

The ear candles used in the practice are made of cotton or linen, formed into a cone shape and coated in paraffin or bee's wax. The hollow candle is inserted into a plate that will collect the melted candle wax and is placed in the outer ear canal. The candle is then lit at the opposite end.

Proponents of ear candling say that as smoke from the burning candle enters the ear, it loosens wax and other debris from the outer ear canal. The heat creates a gentle vacuum and draws the material into the cone, cleaning the person's ear, as well as having a clearing effect on the sinuses. Truski charges $30 for a 35-minute treatment.

Cause for concern?

The Alternative Medicine Committee has been working for several years with the FDA to ban ear candles from the market, saying there is clear evidence that these products are ineffective and dangerous, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

Injuries including burns, partial or complete occlusions of the ear canal with candle wax, and eardrum perforation were cited, according to the academy.

The FDA states that the marketing of ear candles as a medical device or for therapeutic use is prohibited.

Steve Reeves, general manager of White Egret, Inc., an Ogden, Utah-based ear-candle manufacturer, says the company sells millions of candles each year, but labels them as for entertainment purposes only.

Michael Seidman, M.D., director of the Division of Otologic/Neurotologic Surgery and director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Henry Ford Health System, says he has patients who use candles and love them, but adds that the ears are self-cleaning and need no additional attention.

He also has seen patients who have harmed themselves with ear candles and cautions people to be careful when using them.

"The primary concern is I've seen at least two or three clients with burns to their ear canal or ear drums," he says. "But I have patients who use it and swear by it. I'm not going to discourage them."

KEEP IT SAFE

Ear candling carries certain risks. Some medical professionals say it's OK to do the procedure unsupervised as long as you're careful, and some ear candlers say you shouldn't do it unaided.

If you want to try the procedure, here are steps to make sure your ear-candling experience is a safer one:

- Consider having a massage therapist do the ear candling for you. Call local spas to find a certified ear candler.

- If you feel any discomfort, ask that the procedure be stopped immediately.

- Closely follow the instructions that come with the ear candle. Some companies, such as White Egret, also provide a video that demonstrates the correct procedure.