lifelong believer
- I've had ear candling done frequently since I was 3 years old. I suffered from severe ear infections and strep almost monthly for years until my dad took pity on me and started looking for a more permanent solution for my pain. Whenever I'd feel an infection coming on he'd sit me down and candle one or both of my ears. It's always helped relieve the pain and pressure associated with these issues and I would be better usually by the next day. I can't say that they're a cure for everything that ails you, but what's the harm in trying if the benefits can be so overwhelmingly good?
- —Guest mercy
Tinnitus
- I have a friend with tinnitus and I've helped her with the candling a couple of times. There is always a lot of residue in the candles afterwards so we decided to try burning one without putting it in her ear to see if we got the same results. There was only the whitish colored residue inside and not the dark, hardened, brownish stuff like the wax that was inside after being inserted in her ears. I agree with the person that said to send residue to a lab to determine what it actually is, but there appears to be two distinct types of wax and my friend feels relief after having the candling done.
- —pinkgrandma
Works for us
- Whether it is in the mind or not my husband and my daughter definitely benefit from using the ear candles when they have a cold. He suffers from earache as soon as he gets a cold and sometimes nearly completely loses his hearing. The candles work for him. My daughter suffers from sore throats and ears. The other night after crying in her bed for a while a candle relieved her of the pain and she slept all night. They may not be scientifically or medically proven but if they work, don't knock them!!
- —Guest Ali
White candle does not make red wax
- My family use ear candles; our candles are made out of white wax - white wax does not turn red when it melts! When we check to see inside the candles after use there is definately a red wax residue. I have had one ear with a wax build up and when I do both ears there is always far more wax in the bad ear's candle than the good.
- —Guest Mary
No risk procedure
- My Dad just had ear candling done because of vertigo and wax build-up from wearing hearing aids for many years. I saw what came out of his ears, AND IT WAS NOT SOOT OR CANDLE RESIDUE. It was a reddish yellow wax. The person who did the procedure used a fire retardant cloth that covered his face, hair, and shoulders. The flame was no where near his head. Afterward,he could hear in the worse of his 2 ears WITHOUT HIS HEARING AID, and 2 days later, he is still not dizzy from the vertigo. Don't knock it if you don't try it!!
- —Guest bugaboo
Worked on Vertigo...
- I helped harvest wheat this summer for the first time. I came back home and experienced vertigo. The doctor gave me steroids and medicine for the dizziness. Within two weeks, the vertigo came back. The doctor said more than likely I had some debris in my eustachian tube and it will just have to work itself out. I decided to try the ear candles. I did not see alot of wax, but did see a speck or two of dirt. I do not know if it was already in the candle, or if it was indeed from my ear. But I have not had any problems whatsoever with vertigo since then. I am a true believer!!!
- —Guest kelleygirl
If It Helps, Why Not?
- Whether or not the debris is from the ear, or from the candle is not as important as whether or not the procedure relieves pain and pressure. Do any of us believe everything we hear advertised? Ear candles are not a cure all, nor even a substitute when serious medical intervention is required, but, obviously the experience has been positive for many people on this post, including me. Risks? Yes. But there are simple ways to greatly minimize these risks. Each must decide for himself if these risks are worth taking. Personally, I keep ear candles and oil on hand for those after hour earaches when doctors are scarce. When properly done, I have consitently found the technique to provide comforting relief from ear pain and pressure.
- —Guest jmt
Ear Ache
- I had a small ear infection and my fiance's cousin brought one over to use. I did it in the ear that was infected and had pain. It took away some of the pain and there was a lot of red gunk n the bottom. I did it in the other ear and there was just a little wax. To me it appeared to have pulled some of the gunk from the infection. It feels much better.
- —Guest Kim
To each his own
- One spring I visited my aunt. Throughout our visit she suffered from intense allergy symptoms...pressure, drainage, itchy-watery eyes, etc. Her usual neti pot maintenance was not providing any relief. I offered to do a candling for her but she refused, stating that she "didn't want an open flame near her head." The last day of our visit, she was absolutely miserable!! Her symptoms had escalated to sinus pressure that caused a severe headache, drainage that was making her nauseated and her sinus was noticeably puffy on either side of her nose. I offered the ear candling again. She was so miserable she took me up on the offer. I did the ear candling for her with massage to lymphatics and sinus points. After we had finished the right ear, her headache had subsided and the pressure was diminishing. After the completion of both ears, her symptoms were completely gone! She was a believer!! I provide this service for my family and clients. All have felt benefits from the sessions.
- —Guest hab04827
I don't know
- I am just getting over a bad sinus infection. My right ear was completely clogged and my left was on its way to being the same. having no health insurance and decided to try candling. We did both of my ears. The right ear had a lot of dark red wax at the bottom and the left ear only had a little. We did the right ear twice because it still felt clogged and there was still a large amount of red wax. My left ear feels fine now but the right is still clogged. Maybe it was so full of wax that two wasn't enough... and it is for sure earwax because when I used a Q-tip a few days before the candling, it was the same dark red.
- —Guest melissa
Very sore ears
- I had candling done a couple of weeks ago. I had pain during the process in the right ear and it has continued. Planning to visit the ear doctor now and hoping that there is no permanent damage.
- —Guest jean
Great for Flying
- Definitely get ear coning done before flying. You'll feel no pain whatsoever from air pressure! I used to get it done every year when I travelled a lot.
- —kaycam11
Not sure!!
- We tried ear candling two nights ago, cut the candle open after and yes found residue in there, then we burnt a candle just by holding it out in front of us while watching TV. Surprise, surprise there was exactly the same residue and it had not been anywhere near the ear. Also why if this is supposed ear wax residue is it not at the very beginning of the candle that sits in the ear cannal and only after the filter area. I honestly can say I dont feel any different after the experience. I still feel my ears are blocked.
- —Guest tt
Send candle to lab.
- Proponents should send their results to a lab that will determine exactly what the debris is.
- —Guest jild
I had it done
- My brother says it helps him hear higher pitches when he plays. My brother-in-law says it relieves sinus pressure. So I tried it even though I don't really have ear problems. I felt very mild warmth and pressure during the session, and I felt a little more mental clarity for the rest of the day. Is it quackery? Well, half the people I know who've had cortisone shots and back surgery regret it, Tylenol doesn't always fix my headache, and we've all known plenty of people who've had chemo & radiation for cancer and died anyway. So what is "good medicine"? I hope in the 21st century, we can move away from conforming our health to scientific method and concentrate on what works for the individual. We need to respect each other's contributions and experiences.
- —curiousskeptics
