Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Ear candles are intended for relaxation not for removing ear wax contrary to popular belief. Ear candles are a part of good energy hygiene and are a synergistic approach to relaxation. Why? Because more often than not, our sense of well-being is out of balance. People all over the world are seeking peace, relaxation and moments of happiness to balance the opposing rigors and stress of everyday life. People desire and need a feeling of security, peace of mind, as well as a sense of personal well-being that is inseparably related to happiness. Many people get that sense of well-being from the use of ear candles because it helps them relax during times of stress.
But, in this day and age, trying to meditate and fund this state of zen seems almost impossible. Who has time? We all know transitioning to a relaxed and comfortable state is extremely valuable when we experience sensations of pain, congestion, pressure, etc. But how do we do this? Here is the unknown secret of ear candling. It triggers your energy centers to shift from that sympathetic state (fight or flight) to a parasympathetic state (relaxed wakefulness).
It has been discovered through a study in Germany that this actually happens and is not a placebo effect of ear candling.
Many people report that using ear candles have helped them relax during these types of stressful situations:
- Ear aches
- Sinus infections and pressure
- Releasing blocked energy
- Relieving pressure points of tension
- Headaches and migraines
Could it be a placebo effect? When tens of thousands of people all over the world report great benefits from using ear candles, it’s hard to contest the benefits of ear candles. While no one can claim that ear candles treat or cure any condition or disease, they do appear to bring balance and promote healing to the body. Isn’t that the ideal anyway? Giving our body the opportunity it needs in order to heal itself vs giving it medications with so many potential side effects?
To understand what ear candles do NOT do, let’s look at the famous study by Dr. Seely’s study “Ear Candles – Efficacy and Safety” which was performed at his ENT clinic. Dr. Seely wanted to determine if ear candles actually pulled wax out of the ear with a vacuum. He found that the residue inside the candle stub was wax residue from the burnt candle and not cerumen (ear wax).
Dr. Seely’s study conclusions are consistent with all of the scientific testing to date. Even the “clinical” testing by White Egret Candles drew the same conclusion. The only thing that was found inside of the ear candle were flakes of skin. However, they continue to purport that ear candles pull wax out of the ear. Why? Because it’s a quick sale.
View Anne Tatum’s study on ear candling that White Egret, a manufacturer of ear candles, uses to show that there is ear wax in the candle (when there isn’t).
Want to find out the truth yourself? There is a simple way to test the theory that ear candles pull wax out of the ear. Take an ear candle and close the end of it and burn it down to the burn line label or until it’s down to about 4 inches. Lo and behold, you will discover the same amount and type of residue inside of the candle that you thought had come from your ear. Who do you believe now?
At the end of the day, if you feel better after ear candling, isn’t that all that matters?