What are ear candles, and do they really work?
Ear candles use heat to draw out soft wax - they may help you hear better and prevent infections.
Yes, They can work. Ear candles are
8- to 12-inch cones of rolled-up waxy paper
material-they look like the cones cotton
candy comes in-and they're used to remove
soft earwax. To use one, lie on your side and
place the narrow end of the candle in your
ear canal, lighting the opposite end. The
candle burns slowly, creating a vacuum that
can draw wax out of the ear.
Who should use them
For 90 percent of people, earwax comes out on its own, but individuals with very small or especially curvy ear canals may need help clearing their ears. (Too much earwax can block sound or trap moisture in the ear, which can lead to infection.) Some of my clients have found that ear candles help, but others still need to visit a doctor to have wax removed. Hard wax is eliminated with special tools at a doctor's office; ear candles cannot remove hard wax. Handle with care
Use an ear candle quarterly if it helps you get rid of soft wax. Be warned, however: I've had a few patients burn their ear canals, but this shouldn't happen if you follow the instructions on the package. When ear candling is done safely, there are no real risks. Ear candles are sold at health food stores and are also available online at peacefulcompany.com, drugstore.com, gnc.com, and many other sites. -Michael Seidman, M.D., director of otologic/ neurotologic surgery at the Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit and coauthor of Save Your Hearing Now (Time Warner, 2007)
For 90 percent of people, earwax comes out on its own, but individuals with very small or especially curvy ear canals may need help clearing their ears. (Too much earwax can block sound or trap moisture in the ear, which can lead to infection.) Some of my clients have found that ear candles help, but others still need to visit a doctor to have wax removed. Hard wax is eliminated with special tools at a doctor's office; ear candles cannot remove hard wax. Handle with care
Use an ear candle quarterly if it helps you get rid of soft wax. Be warned, however: I've had a few patients burn their ear canals, but this shouldn't happen if you follow the instructions on the package. When ear candling is done safely, there are no real risks. Ear candles are sold at health food stores and are also available online at peacefulcompany.com, drugstore.com, gnc.com, and many other sites. -Michael Seidman, M.D., director of otologic/ neurotologic surgery at the Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit and coauthor of Save Your Hearing Now (Time Warner, 2007)
