Everyone loves a quick fix, especially when the solution is also a DIY fix. Sink Leaking? You can learn to fix that from a YouTube video. It may take you a little bit longer than it would take a plumber, but there’s no replacement for the gratification you feel, right?
At least, until your sink begins to leak again. Because, as it so happens, in some cases a DIY fix is no replacement for the well-sharpened skills of a professional.
It isn’t always easy to acknowledge that this is the case. Ear candling or earwax candling is a perfect example of a DIY fix that individuals keep coming back to. It sounds… sort of gross, doesn’t it? So, just what is ear candling, and how is it maybe not the best thing ever? Well, let’s dig into that.
Ear candling – what is it?
Have you ever had a plugged-ear sort of feeling? Sometimes, it takes place when you’re ill and your ear fills with mucus. In other cases, it may occur because you have too much earwax in your ears (and too much earwax can have any number of causes). When this happens, you may experience a certain amount of discomfort. Your hearing might even temporarily go. It sort of stinks!
As a result, some individuals think they have encountered what seems to be a natural and novel solution: ear candling. The concept is to place the non-burning end of a special, hollow candle in your ear. Somehow, the mix of heat and the hollow design of the candle alters the air pressure inside of your ear canal, pulling the earwax or mucus out.
Healthcare professionals absolutely don’t suggest this approach. If you’re searching for proof that ear candling really works and pulls out wax, you won’t uncover any. Nearly every single hearing healthcare professional, as a result, will strongly advocate against utilizing this practice ever. Ear candling also has no effect on sinus pressure.
Just listen to the FDA! (What is the FDA advising about ear candling? In essence, don’t do it!)
The negative aspects of ear candling
Ear candling might feel safe, initially. It’s not as if it’s a giant flame. And you’re using “specialized” equipment. And there are plenty of people online who claim that it’s completely safe. So, how can ear candling be dangerous?
Ear candling can, unfortunately, be quite hazardous and there’s no way of getting around that! What negative affects can ear candling have? Ear candling can affect your health in the following negative and possibly painful ways:
- 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 burn yourself. Accidents will happen! Serious burns on the face are not the only hazards, you could also catch your hair on fire or drip hot wax into your eye.
- You could accidentally pierce your eardrum: There’s a danger that comes with pushing anything in your ears! You might accidentally puncture your eardrum, causing considerable discomfort and harm to your hearing. If this occurs it’s very likely that you will have to get professional assistance.
- 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. This Leftover wax can cause serious discomfort and, eventually, impact your hearing.
- You can severely burn your ear: Fire is hot, and so is melting candle wax. Your ear is very sensitive and substantial burning can take place if the flame or the hot wax gets somewhere it shouldn’t.
- The earwax can be crammed even further into your ear: In much the same way that sticking a Q-tip in your ear can pack the earwax into an ever-more-dense blockage, so too can pushing a specialized candle into your ear. In other words, ear candling can make your earwax issue worse! This can result in all kinds of other complications from hearing loss to severe infections.
So, is ear candling recommended by hearing healthcare professionals? No… not even a little bit! Not only is ear candling not helpful, it’s actually very dangerous!
A better way to deal with earwax
Ear wax is usually rather healthy. In normal amounts, it’s good for your ears. Issues start when there’s too much earwax or when it won’t properly drain. So… if you can’t utilize a burning candle to remove earwax, what should you do?
If you have an earwax obstruction, the most beneficial thing to do may be speaking with 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 run out on its own. But in some situations, they will do a cleaning for you.
We can clean out the wax safely with specialty tools and training.
It’s best to avoid things like ear candles and cotton swabs. Nothing smaller than your finger should be put into your ears unless advised by your hearing specialist or physician.
Give your ears some relief
Schedule an appointment with us if you have excess earwax that’s causing you some discomfort. We can help you get back to normal by clearing away any stubborn earwax.
References
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/ear-candling-ineffective-and-risky