Fire in the Hole - The Truth About Ear Candling

never do it personally, but know lots that SWEAR by it! they say it is amazing the stuff that comes out

I think it's fairly common and has been around for awhile. I've done it a few times without any problem. you'd be amazed at the crap it pulls out. your ears may be sensitive afterwards (to cold and loud noises). and it's important that you don't hold the candle straight up or the ashes may fall back into your ear. you need to keep the candle at an angle and use a pie plate thing to catch the ashes. it's easiest if you have a partner.

I've never heard anyone say it's "dangerous" or problematic. seriously, the worst you can do is set your hair on fire. ;) now, it's stupid to do it if you have ear infection or other issues. and don't do something stupid like put your fingers and other objects in your ears afterward, opening yourself up to bacteria and infections. but otherwise all it does is remove wax from the ear. and it's a lot less invasive than when a doctor flushes water INTO your ear to remove wax. the candle gently pulls it OUT. you can even do just half a candle if you're concerned about removing too much.

my friend had issues with wax buildup causing hearing problems and the candling was helpful.

I have candled all my kids ears. Now they know the feeling of too much wax in their ears and will ask have their ears "done".

from an ayurvedic standpoint, if you don't like ear-candles, try warmed oil, (depends on your dosha what kind-sesame for vata and kapha, coconut for pitta), and drop 5-10 drops in your ears befpre bed, letting them seep in. feels weird at first, but works wonders.

I have done it a few times over the years. I always find it helps if my ears feel clogged. It seems to help sinus problems too. I have worked at Health food stores for over five years.. I have sold thousands of ear candles...... people come back.. again and again. People swear by them. I also like Wally's Ear Oil. It helped my puppy when her ear was bothering her. It helps me too..
goodnite.

it is GREAT! I have been doing it for about 10 years, every few months... and feel so much better afterwards. I recently went scuba diving while on vacation and had to go a week with water in my left ear, candled my ears when I got home, and problem solved. ; )

My Mexican father practiced something similar on all of us children as we grew up: If one of us had an earache, he would say it was time to "Get the air out of your ear". He would roll up a cone of newspaper and sit the inflicted child next to the kitchen sink. He actually made a bit of a ritual about it... he was the only one who could roll the cone just right, he insisted... he would roll a tube around his hand then cone it and lick the end to make a sealed wrap. He would make sure the tight end was not too pointy, so as not to hurt, but tight enough to fit into the ear. Then he would gather us all around... there were seven of us children. I don't know if he insisted, so much as we all just wanted to watch. Then he would have my mother stand next to the inflicted child who sat on a chair, side to the kitchen sink. He would stand behind, and ask someone to turn out the lights, except for a small task light in the far corner of the kitchen. Then, he would insert the cone in the ear and promise "This is going to make you feel better". Then he would ask for hush all around, and gently light the tip of the coned newspaper. Then we would all wait and watch... and listen! The crackling flame on the newspaper was amazing in a usually quite noisy household. Well, the inflicted couldn't really see what was happening, that's why mom as at the side, to reassure, and dad would be saying things like "That puff was the air coming out of your ear" or "Wow, you have a lot of air in your ear, that is creating a big blaze on the newspaper". He would watch to make sure the cone went as far as it could without going too far, then gently drop the scorched cone into the kitchen sink that had been pre-wetted down. Then he would soak a cotton ball in some mineral oil and with his large callused fingers, gently push it into the ear. Then the lights would go on and everything would be back to normal. The next day, the inflicted would wake up without an earache.

Sorry to write a new post to something I haven' t been discussing but there are such things as placebo affects... just something to keep in mind

My husband learned on a special type of candle that are certified medical devices, made in the Hopi way by BioSun, which the least expensive are in Australia. I think we got them at Global Herbal Supply. If used properly, they are wonderful! In fact I would like to have it done again since I know it loosened up stuff in my head. I use olive oil with garlic and mullein every night to loosen stuff up before treatment - maybe for a month or so? That way you would get more out of the treatment.