Everybody loves a quick fix, especially when the fix is also a DIY fix. Sink Leaking? Just search YouTube for the ideal plumbing tutorial, buy the suggested tools, and go to work! It might take you a little bit longer than it would take a plumber, but there’s no substitute for the satisfaction you feel, right?
At least, until your sink begins to leak again. That’s because sometimes the skill and experience of a professional can’t be successfully substituted for a quick fix.
Sometimes, that’s hard to admit. Ear candling or earwax candling is a perfect example of a DIY fix that individuals keep coming back to. It doesn’t really sound that pleasing, does it? So, exactly what is ear candling, and how is it maybe not the best thing ever? Well, let’s dig into that.
What is ear candling?
Everybody has had the feeling of a stuffy ear from time to time. Sometimes, your ear will fill with mucus when you’re ill. Too much earwax can also trigger this feeling and that can occur for a variety of reasons. When this happens, you may experience some discomfort. You might even notice a temporary loss of hearing. It kind of stinks!
This means that some individuals believe they have found what seems to be a natural and novel option: ear candling. The idea is that a special hollow candle is placed in your ear (non-burning end). People think that the wax and mucus are drawn out by the mix of heat and pressure changes inside your ear.
Healthcare professionals definitely don’t recommend this practice. Do ear candles actually pull wax out? No. There’s absolutely no evidence that ear candling works (especially not in the way that it’s supposed to work). Nearly every single hearing healthcare professional, as a result, will strongly recommend against using this practice ever. Ear candling also doesn’t help with sinus pressure.
The FDA also firmly advocates against this practice.
What are the disadvantages of ear candling?
Ear candling might feel safe, at first. It’s not as if it’s a huge flame. And you’re utilizing “specialized” equipment. And there are plenty of people online who claim that it’s perfectly safe. So how could it be possible for ear candling to be dangerous?
Ear candling can, unfortunately, be very dangerous and there’s no way to get around that! What are the negative effects of ear candling? Ear candling can affect your health in the following negative and potentially painful ways:
- Your Eardrum could accidentally get pierced: There’s a danger that comes with inserting anything in your ears! You might accidentally puncture your eardrum, causing substantial discomfort and harm to your hearing. Frequently, this is something that has to be treated by a hearing professional.
- You can jam that earwax even further into your ear: In much the same way that pushing a Q-tip in your ear can pack the earwax into an ever-more-dense blockage, so too can inserting a specialized candle in your ear. Your earwax problem can be worsened by earwax candling, in other words! This can lead to all sorts of other complications from hearing loss to serious infections.
- You can severely burn your ear: Fire is hot, and so is melting candle wax. If the candle tips or the wax gets where it’s not supposed to, you’re facing some considerable burning possibilities in your ear (and your ear is a sensitive location).
- You could severely burn your face: Look, any time you’re holding candles that close to your face, there’s a good possibility you’ll get a burn. Everybody has accidents once in a while. Severe burns on the face are not the only dangers, you could also catch your hair on fire or trickle hot wax into your eye.
- You can leave candle wax behind in your ear: The candle wax can get left behind in your ears even if you don’t get burned. Your hearing can become impacted from this, not to mention the discomfort.
So, is ear candling endorsed by hearing healthcare professionals? Not at all! Not only is ear candling not practical, it’s actually quite dangerous!
A better way to deal with earwax
Earwax is actually a good thing. In normal amounts, it’s beneficial for your ears. Issues begin when there’s an overabundance of earwax or when it won’t properly drain. So… if you can’t utilize a burning candle to get rid of earwax, what should you do?
If you have an earwax blockage, the most beneficial thing to do might be talking to a hearing specialist. Usually, they will recommend that you try some at-home solutions, such as a saline wash, to loosen the wax allowing it to drip out on its own. But in some cases, they will do a cleaning for you.
We can get rid of the wax safely with specialized tools and training.
It’s best to steer clear of things like ear candles and cotton swabs. Unless your hearing specialist says differently, it’s a good plan to never put anything smaller than your finger in your ear.
Give your ears some relief
If surplus earwax is causing you a bit of discomfort or misery, you should make an appointment with us. We will be able to help you clear any stubborn earwax out of your ears and get you back to feeling normal.
References
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/ear-candling-ineffective-and-risky