Everyone loves a quick fix, especially when the solution is also a DIY fix. Sink Leaking? Just search YouTube for the ideal plumbing tutorial, buy the recommended tools, and get to work! A plumber would most likely be a little more efficient but then you wouldn’t get that feeling of self-satisfaction that comes with doing it on your own.
At least, until your sink starts leaking again. That’s because in some cases the skill and experience of a professional can’t be successfully substituted for a quick fix.
It’s not always easy to admit that this is the case. Ear candling or earwax candling is a perfect example of a DIY fix that people keep going back to. It doesn’t really sound very pleasing, does it? Let’s dive into just what earwax candling is and its dangers.
What is ear candling?
Everybody has had the feeling of a stuffy ear now and then. In some cases, your ear will fill with mucus when you’re ill. An excessive amount of earwax can also cause this feeling and that can occur for various reasons. This can sometimes be very uncomfortable. Your hearing might even temporarily go. It’s no fun!
Some people, because of this, believe that ear candling is just the inexpensive and novel solution they need. The idea is to put the non-burning end of a special, hollow candle inside of your ear. People imagine that the wax and mucus are pulled out by the combination of heat and pressure changes inside your ear.
It should be quickly noted that ear candling is not recommended by healthcare professionals. If you’re looking for evidence that ear candling actually works and pulls out wax, you won’t uncover any. In other words, most hearing and healthcare professionals will emphatically advise against ever utilizing this practice. (Does ear candling help with sinus pressure? Also no.)
The FDA also strongly advises against this practice.
What are the drawbacks of ear candling?
At first, ear candling may feel perfectly safe. It’s not like it’s a huge flame. And you’re utilizing “specialized” equipment. And individuals on the internet said it was safe! So how could it be possible for ear candling to be dangerous?
Ear candling can, regrettably, be very hazardous and there’s no way of getting around that! What are the negative effects of ear candling? Here are just a few of the (possibly painful) ways that ear candling can impact your health:
- Your ear can be seriously burned: The fire and the melting ear candle wax are really hot. If the tip of the candle or the wax gets where it’s not supposed to, you’re looking at some considerable burning possibilities in your ear (and your ear is a sensitive location).
- Your face could be severely burned: Look, any time you’re positioning candles that close to your face, there’s a strong possibility you’ll get a burn. Everybody has accidents once in a while. 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 ear can have residual candle wax left behind: The candle wax can get left behind in your ears even if you don’t get burned. Your hearing can become impacted from this, not to mention the discomfort.
- Your Eardrum might accidentally get punctured: Whenever you insert something into your ear, you put yourself in danger! You may accidentally puncture your eardrum, causing considerable discomfort and harm to your hearing. If this takes place it’s very likely that you will have to get professional help.
- You can jam that earwax even further up into your ear: Putting an ear candle into your ear can actually jam earwax further into the ear canal much like when you use a cotton swab. Your earwax problem can be worsened by earwax candling, in other words! This can cause all sorts of other complications from hearing loss to serious infections.
So, is ear candling recommended by hearing healthcare professionals? Not at all! Ultimately, earwax candling isn’t simply useless, it’s downright dangerous.
A better way to handle earwax
Earwax is actually a good thing. It’s helpful for your ears in normal quantities. It’s only when there’s too much earwax (or it isn’t draining correctly) that you start to have issues. So what should you do if using a candle is a bad plan?
If you have an earwax blockage, the most beneficial thing to do may be consulting with a hearing specialist. Usually, they will recommend that you try some at-home solutions, such as a saline wash, to loosen the wax allowing it to drip out by itself. But in some cases, they will do a cleaning for you.
We can remove the wax safely with specialty tools and training.
In general, you should stay away from techniques such as using cotton swabs and earwax candling. Nothing smaller than your finger should go into your ears unless advised by your hearing specialist or physician.
Give your ears some relief
Schedule a consultation with us if you have accumulated earwax that’s causing you some distress. We will be capable of helping you clear any stubborn earwax out of your ears and get you back to feeling normal.
References
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/ear-candling-ineffective-and-risky