Ear candles are hollow fabric cones wrapped with beeswax, paraffin wax or soy wax. The majority of ear candles are roughly a foot long. The candle’s pointed end is inserted into your ear. The somewhat broader end is lit.
The warmth provided by the flame, according to proponents of this therapy, generates suction. Earwax and other pollutants are drawn out of the ear canal and into the hollow candle by the suction. You lay on your side with one ear pointing down to prepare for the operation.
Placing the pointed end of the candle into the open hole of the ear and adjusts it to form a seal. You should not execute this on yourself since it is risky. In fact, it can be dangerous even if an audiologist is doing it, and that’s what we’re investigating today. Read on to find out more about the dangers of ear candling.
Does Ear Candling Work?
Ear candling is a method that is used in alternative medicine. It is also sometimes referred to as Hopi candling or ear coning. This procedure is said to eliminate wax and promote overall health, although investigations demonstrate that this is not the case and that it is, in fact, inefficient as well as harmful.
Micro suction, which is performed by an audiologist and removes earwax swiftly and safely using a tiny suction instrument, is the method that is considered to be the safest approach to remove earwax. If you suspect that you may be experiencing earwax blockages, schedule an appointment with your audiologist to get your earwax removed in a safe and painless manner.
Ear Candling Can Cause Burns
It should come as no surprise that ear candling should be avoided since it can result in burns. It is very risky to put a lighted candle in your ear since the candle will quickly get extremely hot, and there is always the possibility that some of the wax from the candle would unintentionally spill onto your face, causing severe burns to your flesh. Even though there are precautions taken to protect your skin, it is still possible for your ear itself to get burned.
Ear Candling Can Perforate Your Eardrum
Ear candling has a range of risks, and one of them is that it has been linked to perforated eardrums in some people. Again, this can happen if candle wax gets into the ear and gets stuck there, which can tear the eardrum. Suctioning your ear is also not a good idea, and this can also cause a perforated eardrum. Because a perforated eardrum can be very painful and could make you lose your hearing, you should avoid any treatment that could cause it.
Ear Candling Can Cause Ash to Enter Your Ear
The removal of debris from your ear canals is the primary goal of this treatment procedure. Ear candling, however, may actually result in more harmful substances being introduced into the ear canal. It’s very common for materials like candle wax and ash to become stuck in your ear canal, where they can cause a wide range of unpleasant symptoms. After having their ears candled, a significant number of patients have required immediate medical attention in order to remove the foreign objects.
Ear Candling Can Cause Wax to Be Pushed into Your Ear
Lastly, ear candling may actually cause the earwax to get lodged deeper into the ear canal. This has the potential to do a handful of things that are really dangerous. To start, it can result in obstructions, which can then lead to ear infections or issues with hearing. Second, it may force the wax so far into the ear canal that you end up with the ruptured eardrum that was discussed previously.
Ear Candling Should Be Avoided
Ear candling, in a nutshell, is very risky since it has the potential to lead to a wide variety of aural complications. There is no justification for putting anything into your ear, much less something that is lit on fire at the tip of the instrument! Make an appointment with your audiologist right away if you want to ensure that you get the most thorough ear cleaning treatment possible.
They are able to make use of expert solutions that are both safe and actually beneficial to the situation. Ear candling should be avoided at all costs if you wish to keep your ears and hearing in good condition. Contact Professional Hearing Aid Associates at (785) 940-4101 for more information about ear cleaning and much more.
