Stick What in Your Ear?By Lisa Wade McCormick, ConsumerAffairs.com, 2/23/2010
Does sticking a burning candle in your ear sound like a good way to remove ear wax or cleanse your blood of impurities?
Many consumers are apparently trying this procedure -- often called "ear candling" -- because of claims that it can do everything from remove toxins in the ear canal to cure cancer. But federal health officials warn consumers not to use these products, saying they can cause burns and other serious injuries.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also said consumers shouldn't be swayed by claims that ear candling can improve hearing, relieve headaches, sinus and ear infections, purify blood, cure cancer, or improve brain functions.
"FDA has found no valid scientific evidence to support the safety or effectiveness of these devices for any medical claims or benefits," the agency said in a statement released on Saturday.
Ear candles are hollow cones about ten inches long made from a fabric tube soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or a mixture of the two. Companies that make these products claim that burning a candle in the ear creates a vacuum that draws wax and other debris from the ear canal.
But the FDA said consumers who have used ear candles have suffered burns and perforated eardrums that required outpatient surgery. These injuries happened even when consumers used the ear candles according to the manufacturer's direction, the FDA said…
2 comments:
Well I've been using ear-cone candles for 27 years with my family and friends. We all find relief. We only use a top quality product made of only 100% beeswax (which is dripless) and 100% cotton.
True there are some candles out there that should be banned especailly when the candle uses parafin or even a parafin blend. Parafin drips and if the materal used for wicking burns to quickly then you may have a problem.
Last year, when I was getting the feeling of a head-cold coming on. I did one candle in each ear and drew out the infection; when I opened the candle i could see the infected wax (having done ear-candling treatments many times I've learned how to differentiate wax build-up). It also helps to alleviate candida.
From talking to many practioners who have switched to the candle of 100% beeswax and cotton, desired results have since been obtained.
More protection from the FDA? Somtimes I wonder who they are really protecting? Who would miss out if one were to use an ear-cone? Doctors, drug stores, pharmaceuticals all would miss a fine opportunity wouldn't they? Let's see - banning confrey, unpasturized apple cider, unpasturized milk of any kind, will the FDA ban any product that doesn't have a give back to a large corporation? Erika is correct, the better product is safer. And I realize there are more silly folks out there that could burn a whole hourse down using one of these, but they aren't the best outdoors folks either.
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