Ear
Candling
An ear candle is a narrow, hollow cone that has been soaked
in beeswax or paraffin and allowed to harden. During ear candling,
the recipient of this so-called "therapy" lies on his or her
side while someone else inserts the point of the cone inside
the ear. The top of the cone is then set on fire and left to
burn for a few minutes. The health claim most often made for
ear candling is that the flame creates warmth and suction, which
draws ear wax out of the ear canal. Some promoters also say
that ear candling can cure a wide range of medical problems,
including ear aches, sinus infections, sinus pain and pressure,
and vertigo.
The art of ear coning dates back for centuries, to the ancient
Egyptian, Chinese, Tibetan, Aztec, Mayan and American Indian
cultures. Cherokee, Mexican Indian and European healers interested
in reviving the lost traditions still practice coning. German
medical students are taught coning as a part of their medical
practice. It is said that the Amish use ear cones as well.
As the cone burns, smoke moves the debris out of the ear. Osmosis
(diffusion through a semi-permeable membrane - e.g. skin) plays
an important role as the smoke soothes the sinus and nasal cavities.
Excess earwax is moved through the ear canal into the cone.
This is a very gentle and non-invasive process. Frequently participants
appear to have just awakened or have a sweetly stoned look .
