Ear Candles

@Modestah (11179)
United States
May 1, 2009 1:07am CST
Have you ever tried ear candling? What results did you get? Did you think that it was beneficial to use the candles? or did you think it was quack medicine? I asked my doctor about it once and he thought it was some bizzare religious ritual that Catholics must do. o-kay. tsss.
6 people like this
13 responses
@karsted (240)
• Canada
1 May 09
Gross!!! I have never, ever heard of that. How would somebody do that??? Light a candle and let the wax drip in your ear then harden and pick it out??? Ouch!! That does not sound right to me. Why would you want to do that?
2 people like this
@karsted (240)
• Canada
1 May 09
Sorry about being rude and everything....that just sounds pretty painful. :(
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
1 May 09
haha! well, that is quite alright - that DOES sound really twisted doesn't it? sorry for the confusion. Ear candleing is not quite like that though. It is a hollow wound cotton cone that is treated with essential oils like eucolyptus and bees wax... the tip is placed in the ear while the other end is lit, as the candle burns the smoke creates a sort of vortex which heats up the wax in your ear and draws it out. many people find it relaxing and soothing.
• Kingston, New York
24 Oct 16
It does not work that way I had it done with no problems
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
1 May 09
I've heard of ear candles before but never tried it I'm looking forward to reading the responses here to possibly learn more. LOL I've never heard of it being connected to Catholics though - my parents are both Catholics and never heard of them using ear candles.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 May 09
we are also Catholic and know for certain that it is not a religious ceremony to have ears candled. *shudder*
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
2 May 09
Well, little detective me did some research - first 'Natural Home Remedies' not in there at all. Then went online and afraid the first information I found was against it claiming tests said it didn't work and was actually dangerous. Not only does the FDA not approve but warn against - afraid however I didn't find anything on any of my favorite/trusted medical sites for or against. Think I will pass on this and stick with a warm wash cloth held on the ear for a few minutes to help drain ear wax.
• Kingston, New York
24 Oct 16
I do not think it a reglious. Thing more of A old home remedy that work for me.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
7 May 09
Whoa! I was born and raised Catholic - went to Catholic school for 6 years - and I've never heard of that being a ritual for us. I actually never heard of it until about 6 or 7 years ago. A friend of mine had heard of it to help with allergies and stuff. She tried it and it worked pretty good for her. I've never heard anything bad about it - except don't try to improvise and use stuff that "might" work in place of the real thing. You could get burned... But if you do it right, it's supposed to really help clean out your sinuses.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
20 May 09
Yes, they (we??) are a strange breed!
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
19 May 09
I know, that really took me be surprise when he suggested that it was a ritual. There are some strange ideas about what Catholics actually do believe and practice.
1 person likes this
@debny711 (264)
• United States
2 May 09
I just got over a bad ear infection. The doctor gave me 2 different kinds of drops that didn't work at all. A friend of mine suggested ear candles. At the time I never heard of them so I searched on the internet and found alot of postive info on them. I went to the health food store and bought a box of 4 for 10.00. I was afraid to try it by myself thought I was going to set myself on fire so my son helped me. It felt so good and they had a lovely lavendar scent. Worked like a charm. I am glad I did it.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
28 May 09
interesting to know that it worked so well where as the pharmeceutical preperations did not. I bought mine for 75 cents each - from Canada many years ago - but I bought 50 of them so that gave me a really good price. mine were eucalyptis(sp) coated and also gave off a wonderful and healing scent. Lavender would have been doubly relaxing!
• Kingston, New York
24 Oct 16
Yes they do feel good when it done right
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
1 Jun 09
I have heard of this but I have never done it. I think that it would be fairly comfortable and that it would get rid of the wax. I might have to try it sometime. I do think that there are many benefits to alternative medicine.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 Jun 09
there seems to be some controversy over it - but I do not believe it could hurt to give it a try so long as care is used in the application.
• Kingston, New York
24 Oct 16
Yes there is I try it and it work for me
• United States
3 May 09
I have used them and I think they work great. Very effective. Just be very careful with the flame. I use them over my bathroom sink.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
28 May 09
we've always had someone else administer them on us (me for the others, and a family member for mine) we placed a piece of foil with a hole in the center over the ear so that if the end of the candle should happen to fall off it would not burn the face
• Kingston, New York
24 Oct 16
It always better to have a friend to help We did our side those candles to make smoke Did not want the smoke alarm to go off
@spoiled311 (5500)
• Philippines
1 May 09
hi modestah! yup! i have tried ear candling and i love it! there was so much ear wax that came out and it stuck in the end of the candle. then the therapist let me clean my ears with cotton buds dipped in agua oxenada. i think i used five cotton buds (10 ends). i felt so clean afterwards and the itchiness that could not be removed by simply cleaning my ears was gone. au contraire. ear candling is not a catholic thing. it is an ancient form of cleaning the ears. i think it started in egyptian times, but of course the candles were different. we have candles available commercially already. i love ear candling! take care and God bless you! happy mylotting! :D
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 May 09
yes, my silly doctor who was so suspicious thought that Catholics were suspicious. (I myself am a Catholic and know it is not a ritual)
@Bd200789 (2994)
• United States
1 Jun 09
I've heard if ear candling, but I've never tried it.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 Jun 09
maybe you will someday - :)
• United States
1 May 09
i've never tried it,but i know people who swear by it. seems to be particularily good for people who have narrow canals and they're always getting blocked.i guess it wicks it up better than other methods.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 May 09
I thought they worked pretty well on those in the family that had a lot of wax build up.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
1 May 09
In fact when I went to have the facial treatment several days ago, the staff suggested me to have the ear candling. I declined it. I was worried about whether it would have a bad effect on my hearing. As I read from the newspaper and it said it was not so safe to have this kind of treatment. I don't want to take a risk. And actually I don't think it's very a comfortable feeling when you hear something outside of your ears when this treatment is available. I love China
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 May 09
isn't that something. I did not even know that such places offer these treatments. I had it done a few times but found it painful, others in the family enjoyed it.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
1 May 09
They do it here in the beauty shops if you want it done...I personally have ear problems most of the time...when I am tired. They say that an ear infection is like a volcano....it sizzles all the time then erupts once in a while..so when I am tired I do get an ear ache....which is alot of times! LOL....but I use peroxide to get rid of the excess wax. I do however know someone who did it....but she just did it once......never heard good or bad from her though..maybe it was a waste of her money!
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 May 09
We just did them ourselves, at home, at the time the candles cost 80cents each when buying 25 or more. I also use warm water and peroxide along with an irrigating syringe to get wax out of the family member's ears.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
11 May 09
Ok I was raised catholic. Granted, I did not pay attention as much as they wanted me to but I love candles and incense and all and my love of those things stems from my church-going days as a child. I do not have a clue as to what ear candling is. Please educate me on this. I'm curious now.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
19 May 09
ear candles are a treated cotton or linen material that is formed into a hollow cone shape about 10 inches long - this is fitted and placed into the ear and lighted at the top end. As the candle burns the smoke inside creates a sort of vortex which draws up the ear wax and impurities from within the ear canal. Some people find it very comforting and relieving of itchy and waxy ears. most in my family got a little light headed afterwards but enjoyed the whole relaxing process, myself I found it painful - but admittedly it could be because I have very little wax production.
1 person likes this
@eagletrek2 (5499)
• Kingston, New York
24 Oct 16
Yes I try it I am a over producer of ear wax and for a while I did not have any medical insurance. To do this right it take two people it more of a pain for Your friend to help but it the safe way to do it I got good results Doctors will say it will not work because they charge from $200to $500 for a ear wax remove cleaning.