The observe of ear candling entails inserting a hole, cone-shaped candle into the ear canal and lighting it. Proponents declare this course of creates a vacuum that attracts earwax and different particles out of the ear, leaving a residue contained in the candle. This residue is commonly cited as visible proof of the therapy’s efficacy.
Regardless of anecdotal experiences of improved listening to, decreased ear stress, and leisure, scientific proof supporting the effectiveness and security of this observe is missing. Moreover, well being organizations, together with the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgical procedure, actively advise in opposition to ear candling as a result of potential dangers similar to burns, ear canal obstructions, and tympanic membrane perforations. The purported advantages are sometimes attributed to the placebo impact or the pure migration of earwax out of the ear canal. Traditionally, this observe has been traced to numerous cultures, although its exact origin stays unclear. Its continued recognition suggests a persistent curiosity in different therapies for ear well being.
