DIY is all the rage these days and everybody likes a quick easy fix. Sink Leaking? You can learn about how to fix that from a YouTube video. It might take you a little bit longer than it would take a plumber, but there’s no replacement for the satisfaction you feel, right?
But that feeling only continues until your sink begins leaking again. That’s because in some cases the skill and experience of a professional can’t be successfully substituted for a quick fix.
Sometimes, that’s difficult to admit. Ear candling or earwax candling is a perfect example of a DIY fix that individuals keep coming back to. It sounds… kind of gross, doesn’t it? So, just what is ear candling, and how is it probably not the best thing ever? Well, let’s get into that.
Ear candling – what is it?
Everybody has had the feeling of a stuffy ear now and then. Occasionally, it happens when you’re ill and your ear fills with mucus. An excessive amount of earwax can also trigger this feeling and that can happen for a variety of reasons. This can sometimes be really uncomfortable. You may even notice a temporary loss of hearing. It sort of stinks!
As a result, some people think they have encountered what seems to be a natural and novel solution: ear candling. The idea is to put the non-burning end of a special, hollow candle inside of your ear. Individuals think that the wax and mucus are drawn out by the blend of heat and pressure changes in your ear.
Healthcare professionals definitely don’t suggest this technique. If you’re looking for evidence that ear candling actually works and pulls out wax, you won’t uncover any. Nearly every single hearing healthcare professional, as a result, will emphatically recommend against utilizing this practice ever. Ear candling also doesn’t help with sinus pressure.
Just listen to the FDA! (What is the FDA advising about ear candling? Basically, don’t do it!)
The negative aspects of ear candling
Ear candling might feel safe, initially. It’s a really small flame. And you’re utilizing “specialized” equipment. And there are a lot of people online who maintain that it’s perfectly safe. So, how could ear candling be dangerous?
Ear candling can, unfortunately, be really hazardous and there’s no way of getting around that! What are the negative effects of ear candling? Ear candling can impact your health in the following negative and potentially painful ways:
- You can jam that earwax even further up 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 obstruction, so too can inserting a specialized candle in your ear. In other words, ear candling can make your earwax problem worse! This can cause all kinds of other complications from hearing loss to severe infections.
- You can leave candle wax behind in your ear: Even if you don’t get burned, residual ear candle wax can go into your ears. Your hearing can become impacted from this, not to mention the uncomfortableness.
- You can severely burn your ear: The fire and the melting ear candle wax are quite hot. If the tip of the candle or the wax goes into where it’s not supposed to, you’re looking at 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 strong possibility you’ll burn yourself. Accidents will happen! It’s all too easy for candle wax to drip into your eyes or for your hair to catch on fire or for your face to get severely burned.
- Your Eardrum might accidentally get punctured: Whenever you insert something into your ear, you put yourself in danger! You may accidentally pierce your eardrum, causing substantial discomfort and harm to your hearing. Frequently, this is something that has to be treated by a hearing professional.
So, is ear candling recommended by hearing healthcare professionals? No… not even a little bit! Ultimately, earwax candling isn’t just useless, it’s downright dangerous.
A better way to Tackle earwax
Ear wax is normally rather healthy. In normal amounts, it’s good for your ears. Issues begin when there’s too much earwax or when it won’t drain effectively. So… if you can’t make use of a burning candle to remove earwax, what should you do?
If you have an earwax obstruction, the best thing to do may be speaking with a hearing specialist. They might suggest some at-home solutions (like using saline or mineral oil to soften the wax, allowing it to sort of run out on its own). But they may also clean out your ear during your visit.
We can clean out 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.
How to help your ears feel better
Schedule an appointment with us if you have excess earwax that’s causing you some discomfort. We will be able to help you clear any stubborn earwax out of your ears and get you back to feeling normal.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/ear-candling-ineffective-and-risky