Ear candling, is a technique that involves lighting one end of a hollow
candle and placing the other end in the ear canal.
The Myth / Theory - The myth with ear candling is that the heat from the flame is supposed to create a vacuum that draws out earwax and other impurities.
Does it work? - You can find countless videos that show after using an ear candle there is a waxy buildup in the candle which is believed to be ear wax, but is it really earwax?
A study was recently conducted by a board-certified Audiologist, Dr. Cliff Olsen demonstrates that this waxy buildup in the candle is NOT actually earwax. The study uses an anatomically correct simulation ear canal and real ear wax (collected from patients). The simulation ear canal is weighed with ear wax inside the ear canal before using the ear candle. He then runs his experiment with 3 earwax candles.
Myth Busted - The results of Cliff Olsen, AuD candling experiment show that earwax is not actually being removed from the ear canal. If ear wax was being removed, there would be a noticeable difference in the weight of the ear canal with wax before and after the experiment. Even after 3 candles there is no substantial change in the weights. You can watch the experiment here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1MJnLeC4HkE. This is just one of many reported clinical studies that show that ear candling is a fraud.
Safe Solution for Removing Earwax - If you want to remove earwax at home, the best way is to use earwax softening drops and flushing with warm water, also known as earwax irrigation. In fact, earwax irrigation is the only method of at-home earwax removal recommended by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, and the method most widely uses in medical offices and clinics. The best earwax irrigation system will offer an irrigation tip with a multi-stream irrigation tip such as the SoftSpray irrigation tip from WaxBgone. Not only does a multi-stream tips virtually eliminate the possibility of injury to the eardrum, it is also more comfortable to use compared to systems that use a single stream of water. Follow the instruction carefully.
Conclusion - Ear candling is not safe and is not supported by scientific evidence as a method for earwax removal. If you are experiencing symptoms related to earwax, it is best to consult a healthcare professional for an evaluation and appropriate treatment. Additionally, it is safe to remove earwax at home by using earwax drops or ear irrigation kits.