How Do Ear Candles Work?
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The Process of Ear Candling
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Ear candles aren't actually candles in the truest sense. They're actually pieces of cloth or paper that have been coated in wax and rolled into a hollow cylinder or cone shape. They do not contain a wick.
When using an ear candle, the patient usually lays down on one side on a completely flat surface, with the blocked ear pointing toward the ceiling. The side of the head is generally protected by a paper plate or aluminum pie pan with a hole cut it it. The vertical ear candle is inserted through the hole in the protective device and into the ear canal. The top end of the candle is then lit and allowed to burn until the candle is only a few inches long.
How Ear Candles Work
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Proponents of ear candles are generally those who practice alternative medicine. Practitioners say that the candles draw compacted wax out of the ear with negative pressure. The pressure, which is created when the flame sucks the air through the candle's hollow center, pulls the wax from the ear and into the candle. Many people say that, after the candle has been extinguished, the extracted wax can be seen on the inside of the candle.
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The Dangers of Ear Candles
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Most medical professionals say that ear candles do not work, and that they can even be dangerous. The danger mostly stems from the fact that a lit object is being held near the face for an extended length of time. However, inserting the candle into the ear can cause membrane perforation and other damage to the middle ear. Wax also can drip from the candle into the ear. These doctors also claim that any wax found in an ear candle after use is nothing more than the wax that has dripped from the candle. The reason why many doctors claim that ear candles do not remove wax is because compacted earwax is very hard. Any vacuum that would be capable of removing wax this way could also severely damage the ear.
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