FAQ

All you wanted to know about ear candles:

What is ear candling?

Ear candling is a simple naturopathic therapy that can be used at home as well. Placed at the entrance of the ear canal, the burning ear candle's warmth and the slight vibration of the air inside the candle improve blood circulation and have a beneficial effect on the ear, nose and throat area.

How ear candles are made?

The expression 'ear candle' is a bit misleading because it is not like a traditional candle. The ear candle has a hollow, cone shape, it does not have a wick and it is made of cotton linen soaked into a mixture of beeswax and mineral wax. The effect of the candle can be enhanced by using essential oils. In this case the inner surface of the candle is impregnated in essential oil or it is added to the wax mixture.

What are ear candles good for?

In case you do not have any health problem, you can use ear candles for relaxing and they help removing ear wax in a natural way. The mild warmth and vapours of the ear candle make the ear wax soft and swollen so it removes naturally within a few days. Ear candling can be helpful in case of ear problems, respiratory problems, cold or stress symptoms.

How long have ear candles been used?

According to certain sources the use of ear candles can be originated from antiquity. What we know exactly, is that ear candles or ear cones made of leaves of herbs, bark or textile, have been used in folk medicine for centuries. This traditional healing method is used by some Siberian tribes nowadays too.

Earwax in the ear candle or what does the ear candle draws out?

First of all the ear candle does not draw out anything! It is the most popular misconception about ear candling, that the candle draws out the earwax, bacteria etc. from the ear. That is simply not true! The ear candle is not able to produce this kind of vacuum. It is true that the air column moves gently inside the candle, but this light vibration is only enough to "massage" the eardrum and to stimulate the energy points of the ear. Ear candling can contribute to the hygiene and health of the ear but it does not draw or suck out anything.

What is that white dust and wax-like material in the ear candle after the treatment?

These materials are the burn residues of the ear candle (wax and cotton). According to certain therapists this residue can indicate health problems of the ear, we suggest that you should consult a naturopath for further information. So the residue does not come from the ear (it can also be found in a candle that was burnt in our hands) but it can help making a diagnosis of the ear.

How often can I have ear candling?

The number of treatments differs individually. If you are healthy, for relaxing or ear–cleaning one treatment per month is enough. In case of health problems, one treatment per ear is needed daily. You have to treat both ears at the same time because it is a double organ and part of the cavity system. You can have a daily treatment for 5-7 days then you have to have a week off. If your problems do not get better for a longer period of time, please consult your doctor.

Does ear candling hurt?

A correct ear candling treatment never hurts. You mustn't put the candle too deep into the ear and we suggest keeping the instructions. Ear candling is a soothing and relaxing process. If any kind of discomfort or pain occurs during the treatment it has to be stopped immediately.

Can I do ear candling on myself?

It is not advised to do ear candling treatment on ourselves. We suggest asking a person who lights the candle, puts it to the proper place in the ear, holds the candle in the right position during burning and takes it out at the end of the treatment. PLEASE NEVER DO EAR CANDLING ON YOUR OWN!

How long is the ear candling treatment?

A whole ear candling treatment takes about 30-45 minutes. The burning time of one ear candle is about 12 minutes and both ears have to be treated. We suggest completing the treatment with face and ear massage and have a few minutes relaxation.

Are there any special instructions to keep during and after ear candling?

As ears are paired organ we suggest treating both ears during a treatment, it's important to keep the instructions and the basic fire protection rules. We suggest keeping the ears dry and warm for 24 hours after the treatment, it's not advisable to dive or swim and please try to avoid draught.

Can I do ear candling on children?

Children have often earaches or other ear problems. There are ear candles formed to be ideal for treating children but in case of serious or chronic problems we suggest that you should consult your doctor. However we suggest treating children only if they are able to stay lying about 15 minutes (it's simpler if we tell them a story during candling) and they understand that it is not allowed to touch the candle during the treatment. It's not recommended to use ear candles on children under 3 years.

Is the quality of the ear candle important?

Yes, high quality ear candles are made of natural ingredients, they are supplied with safety accessories, these kinds of products offer more safe and pleasant treatment. According to experts the actual handwork, the natural ingredients, beeswax, essential oils, natural colorants strengthen the candle's beneficial bioenergetics effect.

How can I make ear candles at home?

We can find many "eHows" and instructions concerning this topic but we do not propose anybody to make ear candles at home or use home-made candles. Home-made, uncontrolled ear candles can cause injuries, they do not provide those safety accessories that professionally produced candles do. For your own safety, we suggest using high quality ear candles from officially registered manufacturer or distributor.

Is it possible to do ear candling during pregnancy?

As far as we know, ear candling doesn't have any negative effects on the baby or on the mother. But we must inform you that the ear candles scented with clary sage and rosemary essential oil are contraindicated in pregnancy. If the mother has any aversion to the therapy, it is better not to use ear candles or consult a doctor or a naturopath.

Should I treat both ears or just the one that hurts?

As the ears are paired organ and our sinuses are connected and form a system, it's suggested treating both ears at one time.

Can I use the ear candles on other parts of the body?

It is not forbidden to use the ear candles on other parts of the body, but we suggest using special body candles for this kind of therapy. Ear candles are designed to fit in the ear canal, the body candles have bigger diameter, with longer burning time, they are better for treating the acupuncture points.

What's the difference between ear candles and "navel candles"?

We prefer using the body candle denomination instead of "navel candle". The two candles have the same ingredients and shape but their size is different, the body candle is bigger with longer burning time. As their names indicate ear candle is used in the ear, body candle can be used on other parts of the body, on acupuncture/meridian points or in the navel.

Can I use the body candle on the face, on the back?

Carefully yes. Any accessible acupuncture points can be treated with body candles, in case of points treating special problems or being hard to treat please consult a naturopath. Naturally, ear candling or body candle treatment also requires an assistant and you should always keep the instructions.

What beneficial effects does ear candling have?

- Reduces pressure in the ear and sinuses; - Improves hearing; - Helps removing ear wax in a natural way; - Improves balance problems; - Helps stopping tinnitus (ringing in the ear); - Soothes itching; - Helps healing ear infections, inflammations; - Soothes headache in connection with the ear; - General soothing, relaxing effect.

What is ear candling recommended for?

Ear candling can be helpful in case of: - chronic ear problems (compacted earwax, ear aches, sinus problems, tinnitus); - cold, catarrh, headache, sore throat; - hay fever, allergy; - for everyone who: works outdoors or in dusty places, flies regularly, does water sports.

When is ear candling contraindicated?

- On children under 3 years; - In case of allergy to the ingredients; - In case of ear tumours, cysts; - In case of infection or inflammation in the outer ear; - After ear surgery; - If there is grommet, drain, cochlear implants, artificial or injured eardrum in the ear please put the candle behind the earlobe.