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About Ear Candles: How They Work, Ear Candling And Beeswax Candles
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Published: August 21, 2007
Every year it seems like there are new nontraditional, folk medicines and health methods that spring into the popular culture scene. These practices are almost always met with adamant support and unyielding opposition, leaving the average person without a clue as to what are the facts and falsehoods of a particular medicinal folk product.
An example would be ear candles, which first began to reach the mainstream in the nineties.
Ear candles are hollowed out beeswax candles that are placed over the ear canal. Usually quite long and with a slight conical shape, ear candles are lit at the end opposite the ear and burn for about 45 minutes on average. The idea behind how ear candles work is that when lit, ear candles will pull wax and toxins from the ear to improve hearing and overall health.
Although the procedure is described by many as pleasant, there are a few concerns with the actual safety of ear candling. For one, problems can occur if wax drips down the candle and into the ear, though the candles are sometimes lit on their side and placed over the ear while the patient is sitting up to minimize the chances of this happening. Another precaution is to place something around the outside of the candle in order to prevent wax dripping onto the head or the outer portions of the ear.
Another major concern with ear candling is whether or not it truly works. Many are astounded when they open up ear candles and look at the colorful mess that presumably comes from their own ear. Many ear candling proponents claim that this is in fact accumulations of ear wax and toxins from the user's ear. Yet strong evidence indicates that the candles may not be actually pulling the wax from the ear. When ear candles are burned away from the ear, the same waxy substance lines the interior of the beeswax candle. This suggests that the residue found in the ear candles is simply ash and the burned candle wax, not the combination of toxins and ear wax that ear candling supporters would have people believe.
Yet to say ear candles don't work at all may not be the entire truth either. Many people claim that ear candles help them to hear and feel better, despite the lack of true medical evidence. With Americans beginning to grow accustomed to many opposing viewpoints giving conflicting reports and information, it's no wonder that people are willing to try ear candles despite the inherent and proven risks. Though the process of how ear candles work is debatable, the number of people who have tried ear candling and believe in it is enough to give one pause.
Before deciding to give ear candles a try, it's important to understand the dangers that come with it. Though potentially a rewarding and invigorating experience, the chances of something damaging the ear seems too great a risk to justify ear candling. There are certainly other ways to remove ear wax, and it might be beneficial to look into these alternative methods before burning a beeswax candle over your ear.
Sources:
The Six Most Frequently Asked Questions About Ear Candling. The Colon Therapists Network. 1997-2007.15 Aug. 2007. http://colonhealth.net/ear_candling/candleqa.htm
"Ear Candling." Wikipedia. 15 Aug. 2007. 15 Aug. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling
Adams, Cecil. "How do 'Ear Candles' Work?" The Straight Dope. 10 March 1995. Chicago Reader, Inc.. Aug. 15 2007. http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_098.html
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Ear candles are hollowed out beeswax candles that are placed over the ear canal. Usually quite long and with a slight conical shape, ear candles are lit at the end opposite the ear and burn for about 45 minutes on average. The idea behind how ear candles work is that when lit, ear candles will pull wax and toxins from the ear to improve hearing and overall health.
Although the procedure is described by many as pleasant, there are a few concerns with the actual safety of ear candling. For one, problems can occur if wax drips down the candle and into the ear, though the candles are sometimes lit on their side and placed over the ear while the patient is sitting up to minimize the chances of this happening. Another precaution is to place something around the outside of the candle in order to prevent wax dripping onto the head or the outer portions of the ear.
Another major concern with ear candling is whether or not it truly works. Many are astounded when they open up ear candles and look at the colorful mess that presumably comes from their own ear. Many ear candling proponents claim that this is in fact accumulations of ear wax and toxins from the user's ear. Yet strong evidence indicates that the candles may not be actually pulling the wax from the ear. When ear candles are burned away from the ear, the same waxy substance lines the interior of the beeswax candle. This suggests that the residue found in the ear candles is simply ash and the burned candle wax, not the combination of toxins and ear wax that ear candling supporters would have people believe.
Yet to say ear candles don't work at all may not be the entire truth either. Many people claim that ear candles help them to hear and feel better, despite the lack of true medical evidence. With Americans beginning to grow accustomed to many opposing viewpoints giving conflicting reports and information, it's no wonder that people are willing to try ear candles despite the inherent and proven risks. Though the process of how ear candles work is debatable, the number of people who have tried ear candling and believe in it is enough to give one pause.
Before deciding to give ear candles a try, it's important to understand the dangers that come with it. Though potentially a rewarding and invigorating experience, the chances of something damaging the ear seems too great a risk to justify ear candling. There are certainly other ways to remove ear wax, and it might be beneficial to look into these alternative methods before burning a beeswax candle over your ear.
Sources:
The Six Most Frequently Asked Questions About Ear Candling. The Colon Therapists Network. 1997-2007.15 Aug. 2007. http://colonhealth.net/ear_candling/candleqa.htm
"Ear Candling." Wikipedia. 15 Aug. 2007. 15 Aug. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling
Adams, Cecil. "How do 'Ear Candles' Work?" The Straight Dope. 10 March 1995. Chicago Reader, Inc.. Aug. 15 2007. http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_098.html
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