Ear candles..

[lamoka]

Has anyone used ear candles and what was your experience..
aho

[Xentor]

I have never used one... but I have seen one used and explained its workings. Will that do?

[lamoka]

Absolutely..
I have been having this sinus ear thing hang on for awhile now and my chiro recommended ear candles.. so I got them online and received them the other day.. now I'm nervous :)
they are food grade paraffin with essential oils..
any info is greatly appreciated.. and what was the persons results..
aho

[SidneyCozzoi]

I had also been curious about that. I found this http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candling.html
I also found this http://www.earcandles.net/ for the latter, scroll down a bit to see written instructions and Q & A

Read this too http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/govtregulation/a/EarCandle.htm

[Eldawyn]

I've used them a lot. They're pretty cool. You can do it sitting up or laying down, but I prefer laying down. And have someone else do everything for you.

Make sure that the candle isn't straight up and down though. My sister got an ember in her ear and burned and really hurt for a looong time.

If you're doing it for sinuses, massage your face while the candle is smoking. Start just under one nostril, and with even pressure, small circles, massage toward the outside of your face, then curve back around to the inside ending just under the inner part of your eye and then rub over your nose as well. You can do this even without the ear candles and you should feel significant drainage. Hope it made sense... I could probably make a picture or find one if it didn't...

Oh.. when you have the candle in your ear, you'll hear it burning and fizzing/popping. That's normal.

We use an aluminum pie pan with a small hole in it, then the candle goes into the hole, and that into your ear. That way, if ashes fall, they land in the pan. Also have a damp towel if you are worried or if you have long hair, etc. And then have a bowl of water to douse the candle into once you're done with it.

While it's burning, have your partner periodically trim the burned part. This keeps it from caving in which keeps the smoke good and keeps ashes from going IN to the tube. I just hold the water under the candle, trim with sharp scissors so that it falls into the water. This is where the damp towel comes in handy -- sometimes I miss the bowl!

I kinda made this sound way more complicated than it is...

[Xentor]

The idea is that the heat of the candle will be applied to the one spot where we can't reach: behind the ear drum. It is thought to agitate the blood flow and evaporate superfluous moisture.

For that reason, I wouldn't use it with an infection at all. Sure it will dry out the infection, but the infected matter will still be in your head. This should not be a problem when one has non-infected moisture behind the ear drum, from, say, condensation or inhaling warm vapors.

[aluokaloo]

that sounds kinda creepy. knowing me it'd be just my luck i'd get burned.

[PandoraHealer]

uhhh.... yea... burn one in your ear and then just hold one and burn it- just in the air...

look at the difference (rather the similarities)
I don't know if we just did them wrong but several people did them all at once and when they all finished looking the same... we just held on in the air and burned it- looked the same as the ones we put in our ears.... i personally thought it was a waste of $ but we may have done something wrong if others have had luck with them.... who knows...
I'm not trying it again either way.
BB-PH

[Cindlady2]

I've read all the stuff that say they don't really work...... but I'm still using them.... for about 15 years now! Yes, most of the junk you see in the candle after the burn I believe comes from the candle it's self, however I have noticed a difference when someones ears are thick with wax or infected. I do use them when we have earaches and it dose seem to help. There also is some relief with sinus issues. I would think massaging the area as you candle would work even better.

I guess it comes down to .... try them a few times and see for yourself!

[ObsessedFae86]

Never heard of this. Sounds interesting. I would probably get burned though..

[Sethserpenthus]

I tried them when my aunt sent me a pair... didn't do much for me at all. My aunt swears by them, though.

[1111]

I have always had good luck. But I do usually have someone help me.

1111

[tribalesque]

I am having a friend do mine for me in a few weeks. I have massive pressure migranes when I fly and nothing seems to work, but ear candling was recommended and since my friend does them in a health food shop, I'm gunna get her to help me out before my next flight and see if it helps.

[Lyrien]

uhhh.... yea... burn one in your ear and then just hold one and burn it- just in the air...

look at the difference (rather the similarities)
I don't know if we just did them wrong but several people did them all at once and when they all finished looking the same... we just held on in the air and burned it- looked the same as the ones we put in our ears.... i personally thought it was a waste of $ but we may have done something wrong if others have had luck with them.... who knows...
I'm not trying it again either way.
BB-PH


I've done the same thing with the same result. I've used them a few times, but they never did anything for me. I wrote it off as quack.

[~Elise~]

This has been done since cavemen times (there are pics of it on the walls). I will say it works and has for centuries. I do it for people all the time. Rick swears by it now. I've been candling him for almost three years now.

The heat and the smoke create a vacuum that pull the wax and impurities out of your ears. Colds and flu actually start there, not in the nose or throat. Candle at the first sign of a cold and it won't get hold.

I've probably candled over 100 people over the years...every candle is different in what is in there... so TO ME it isn't crap.

Elise

[lizea]

My sisters boyfriend swears by them, and was going to do me, but then he had to up and go to Iraq (alright, not so much... he is in the Airforce and he got deployed until April) so I guess I will have to wait to be candled until then...

[Rick]

Yep, Rick swears by them. Rick has hypertension, so can't take OTC medications to relieve sinus pressure.

BTW, I need a candlin', baby.

[Lyrien]

Colds and flu actually start there, not in the nose or throat.

Elise

Umm, to each his own about the ear candles, but this statement is medically untrue. Can you elaborate on exactly what you mean.

[~Elise~]

Each are entitled to their own opinion BUT since I've done quite a bit more of these than the normal person, I think my experience carries a bit more weight in this particular instance. I'm not asking everyone to change thier opinion, but the large body of experience ought to help someone with a semi-open mind maybe reconsider.

As to the other... I will post sources later tomorrow--I'm tied up with previous obligations today.

Else

[Eldawyn]

This has been done since cavemen times (there are pics of it on the walls). I will say it works and has for centuries. I do it for people all the time. Rick swears by it now. I've been candling him for almost three years now.

The heat and the smoke create a vacuum that pull the wax and impurities out of your ears. Colds and flu actually start there, not in the nose or throat. Candle at the first sign of a cold and it won't get hold.

I've probably candled over 100 people over the years...every candle is different in what is in there... so TO ME it isn't crap.

Elise

Glad you've had luck too! Since you do have so much experience... could you share how you do it exactly? Sitting up, laying down, tips, etc.?

[lamoka]

And where do you purchase yours.. do you use paraffin or other.. I ordered some with essential oils, thought I ordered the beeswax, and got the paraffin.. won't use them cause of the paraffin..
would even be willing to sell them but would love to know where to get alternatives.. do you use essential oils or not, which is more helpful.. all these questions:)

[Kalena]

I work as a complementary therapist and use ear candles every week. Some people benefit more than others and a lot depends on why you feel you need to use them. They are wonderful for sinus problems, releasing pressure (from airplane flights), migraines etc.
For my public liability insurance (for work) I have to use Bio-sun (Hopi Ear Candles) so named after the American Indian tribe who make them. They are made of unbleached linen and coated with beeswax and a mixture of herbs. They do produce them with essential oils now but I personally can't see the benefit from those as the oils would evaporate and not penetrate the ear drum.
It is best to lie down and have someone else do them, not least because they have to be extinguished in water and besides it so much more relaxing to have the treatment done for you :D You do not need to cut burnt bits off, the ash that falls is light and not hot and does not stain or mark clothing, you could always cover you shoulders with a towel anyway.
To use them you need to fit them to the ear first, gently roll the end between fingers and fit to the ear making sure you don't actually poke it in the ear. Light the candle and replace in the ear and wait for it to burn down. Most of them have a small filter fitted and a mark to let you know when to extinguish the candle. Make sure you are in a small room with no open windows or doors, no drafts and no smoke alarms! The person receiving the treatment should hear a faint (at first) hiss and crackle (it gets louder as the candle burns) and the ear drum should become slightly warm. Any discomfort or excessive heat and the treatment should be stopped. Repeat with the other ear.
When I do a treatment I also do a lymphatic facial massage to help drain sinuses and any congestion.
If you open the candles after to look at the contents, this is where opinions vary. Some say it is all ear-wax, some say it is the coating from the candle, some say it is both. All I can say is that it is rare to get two the same even on the same person. for different treatments you can get honey coloured debris, stuff with black bits in, fine yellow powder, a lot of debris or not much at all... a lot depends on the person and why they are having the treatment.

Anyway, hope this helps.

[~Elise~]

I work as a complementary therapist and use ear candles every week. Some people benefit more than others and a lot depends on why you feel you need to use them. They are wonderful for sinus problems, releasing pressure (from airplane flights), migraines etc.
For my public liability insurance (for work) I have to use Bio-sun (Hopi Ear Candles) so named after the American Indian tribe who make them. They are made of unbleached linen and coated with beeswax and a mixture of herbs. They do produce them with essential oils now but I personally can't see the benefit from those as the oils would evaporate and not penetrate the ear drum.
It is best to lie down and have someone else do them, not least because they have to be extinguished in water and besides it so much more relaxing to have the treatment done for you :D You do not need to cut burnt bits off, the ash that falls is light and not hot and does not stain or mark clothing, you could always cover you shoulders with a towel anyway.
To use them you need to fit them to the ear first, gently roll the end between fingers and fit to the ear making sure you don't actually poke it in the ear. Light the candle and replace in the ear and wait for it to burn down. Most of them have a small filter fitted and a mark to let you know when to extinguish the candle. Make sure you are in a small room with no open windows or doors, no drafts and no smoke alarms! The person receiving the treatment should hear a faint (at first) hiss and crackle (it gets louder as the candle burns) and the ear drum should become slightly warm. Any discomfort or excessive heat and the treatment should be stopped. Repeat with the other ear.
When I do a treatment I also do a lymphatic facial massage to help drain sinuses and any congestion.
If you open the candles after to look at the contents, this is where opinions vary. Some say it is all ear-wax, some say it is the coating from the candle, some say it is both. All I can say is that it is rare to get two the same even on the same person. for different treatments you can get honey coloured debris, stuff with black bits in, fine yellow powder, a lot of debris or not much at all... a lot depends on the person and why they are having the treatment.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Yup--what they said... my results are the same too as what they stated. No two are ever the same.

I don't use one with herbs or essential oils because they'd burn up in the heat and there isn't that much effectiveness. However, I don't care for beeswax candles and prefer the parrafin candles. Beeswax burns too unevenly & too hot for me... I like the slow, even burn of the parrafin.

Laying down is the way to do it, IMO... sitting up just boggles my poor little mind. Letting someone do it for you is great too. I usually have the client do the massage on their face, rather than me. they know their trouble spots and I don't smudge the ladies makeup, either.

Elise

[Rick]

It's never bothered you to smudge my make-up... :smooch:

[Philosophia]

I'm not too enthusiastic sticking anything in my ears. _inabox_

[~Elise~]

I'm not too enthusiastic sticking anything in my ears. _inabox_

We could sing Happy Birthday to you as we light the candle in your ear on fire. :T

Amen to whoever said the comment about fire alarms... I think the first time I candled Rick--I set off the fire alarm... if it wasn't him, it was someone else at that same fair. They set my table right under the smoke alarm and I had his head closest to the wall... yeah...we won't talk about that one again.

Elise

[Cindlady2]

LMAO!!!
I can just see it.... all quiet and relaxed then... BUZZZZZ!!!!!

I guess we were always far enough from ours.



I use what ever kind I can get. I prefer the beeswax and I don't see how herbs and oils would work for that either, except to smell nice.

I also put a damp washcloth around the candle base and ear, I think it helps make a better seal.

Good Luck with them! :)

[~Elise~]

oh yeah--it was a standing joke at the psychic fair for MONTHS afterwards. I did an ear candling probably two fairs later (by then, Rick and I had expanded into major vending). The security guard didn't say a word... just quietly went and got the fire extinguisher and came and sat it at my feet.

It was hilarious. I'm sure he'd been waiting and watching for just that for months.

Elise

[LisaT4P]

I often use the ones that I pick up @ my local Natural Grocer, which I believe are beeswax. We've had great success with them.

In fact, I may try to stop by there today or tomorrow. I haven't candled in a while.

How often do you canlde your ears? I was originally told not more often than every 3 to 4 (maybe as long as 6 months).

[~Elise~]

I concur with that...usually not closer than three months...preferably 6 mo, unless something comes up that it's necessary

[Cindlady2]

Yhe.... unless someone develops a problem we go twice a year.