How to Use Ear Candles

Ear candles are thought to help relieve symptoms such as dizziness, sinus problems and other general health problems by safely removing excess ear wax from your ears. They are tall, cone-shaped candles and resemble rolled beeswax candles. Ear candles can be found at most health food stores for several dollars a piece. Here's how to use them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 ear candles
• Tin pie plate
• Fire source
• Helper

1. Cut a hole into the tin pie plate. The hole should be big enough for the ear candle to fit, but not so large that the ear candle can fall completely through.

2. Have the person who will be using the ear candle lie comfortably on their side.

3. Position the narrow end of the ear candle snugly into the person's ear. You will want it snug enough for the flame to create a vacuum.

4. Light the wider end of the ear candle. There will be a fairly large flame.

5. Let the candle burn down until it is 2 to 3 inches above the pie plate.

6. Remove the candle from the ear and extinguish the flame. Repeat these steps for the other ear.

Tips & Warnings

• Using ear candles usually works best when you have someone else to position and hold the ear candle while lit.
• Ash will fall as the ear candle burns. This is why the pie plate is important. The pie plate should catch the ash.
• The ear candle will have a large flame when lit. Use common fire safety precautions whenever using ear candles.

[mylady22]

on 7/20/2009 I'm sorry for what happened to your ear, but how do I know for sure the candle was the actual cause? Even if it was, there are always worst case scenarios with anything people do. You may have gotten a bad candle; you may not have used the candle correctly or responsibly; or you may just have experienced a freak accident. Just because my neighbor's dog bit someone, we're not going to outlaw all dogs. I have heard such good things about ear candling, I want to try it. I don't want to let one person's bad experience ruin mine. If we always let one bad experience influence our decisions, none of us ever would get married!

[Sharon01]

on 12/1/2008 I am stunned by how many "How To" articles I find about using ear candles-I used ear candles 1-1/2 years ago, I used them and received a severe burn from the super hot wax falling into my ear canal, I have suffered everyday since and now I find out I require ear surgery to fix the damage that has been done to my ear. If you have problems with your ears then go to a professional doctor. Don't risk pain and suffering like I did.
Oh and I almost forgot, the so called "chimney effect" that "draws out ear wax"-is FALSE you can empty, rinse clean a soda can, put the ear candle in and wrap foil around the opening of the can at the bottom of the candle, light it and let it burn down a few inches, take it out and look at what you have in the bottom of the ear candle- the same brownish red wax that you had when you put it in your ear and let it burn down. They should be outlawed!