Is Ear Candling Safe for Removing Ear Wax?

Ear candling is an alternative approach for removing earwax. It involves placing a lit, hollow candle in your ear to create a low-level vacuum that is supposed to soften and remove earwax, along with other impurities.

While popular, there is no evidence that ear candling works or is safe. Medical experts advise that you do not try it.

This article explores how ear candling is done, the truth about the purported benefits of ear candling, and the possible safety concerns and side effects of this practice.

How Ear Candling Is Done

Ear candles are hollow tubes that are about 10 inches long. They are also called ear cones or auricular candles.

Ear candles are made of cotton or linen tightly wound into a cone shape. The candle is soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or soy wax, and allowed to harden.

An alternative medicine health provider may offer ear candling. Some people also attempt it at home, though this is not advised.

Here’s what happens during an ear candling session:

1. You lie on one side with the ear to be treated facing up.
2. The candle is put through a hole in a paper or foil plate to catch wax drippings.
3. The candle is put into your external ear canal and then lit.
4. Burnt material is trimmed away as the candle burns.
5. The session is done when the candle stub is a few inches from your head, which usually takes several minutes.
6. The candle is removed, the flame is put out, and the outer ear is wiped clean with a cotton ball or pad.
   

Ear Candling Benefits

Proponents of ear candling say that it softens earwax and sucks out wax and impurities from the ear. With that, they claim that ear candling can treat:

• Sinusitis
• Sinus pain
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Dizziness (vertigo)
• Middle ear infection (otitis media)

Supporters of the practice claim that the dark, waxy substance sometimes left in the hollow candle stub after a session is earwax and other debris—proof that ear candling works.

However, it’s unlikely that ear candling benefits any of these conditions because they involve the middle ear, sinuses, Eustachian tubes, and nasal passages. The eardrum separates these structures from the external ear canal, where the candle is placed. That means any changes in the external canal would not affect anything beyond this membrane.

Some ear candle manufacturers claim that it’s the smoke from the burning candles that dries the ear canal. They say that the smoke stimulates your body’s natural excretion of:

• Wax
• Dead cells
• Pollen
• Mold
• Parasites
• Other debris 

Again, there is no evidence to support any of these claims about ear candling.

Ear Candling Side Effects and Safety

The American Academy of Otolaryngology does not support you trying ear candling because of the lack of evidence that it works and its safety risks.

Serious potential risks of ear candling include:

• Burns from the hot wax and flame (most common)
• Obstruction or blockage of the ear canal caused by dripping wax
• Perforated (torn) eardrum
• Hearing loss
• Otitis externa (outer ear infection)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against using lit candles close to your face, saying that ear candling carries a high risk of “potentially severe skin/hair burns and middle ear damage”—even when the candle is used according to the manufacturer’s directions.

While some practitioners use a plate to catch dripping wax and a towel or cloth for extra protection, the risk of injury is still there. There’s also a risk that lit ear candles could start a fire.

In a published case report, ear candling left a patient with:

• Pieces of candle wax in her ear
• A perforated eardrum
• Hearing loss

The patient’s providers concluded that ear candling “can do more harm than good,” and they recommended healthcare providers discourage ear candling.

Ear candling is especially dangerous for children, who are at higher risk for injuries and complications associated with use.

The Best Ways to Remove Wax

You don’t need to remove earwax at all. Earwax is beneficial as it:

• Naturally moisturizes the skin inside the ear
• Prevents dirt and dust from entering deep into the ear canal
• Helps trap and remove dead skin cells and debris
• Protects the inner ear from bacteria and other germs

Your ears have a self-cleaning system that naturally removes earwax whenever needed. Most people don’t need additional cleaning.

Earwax buildup can cause occasional discomfort in some people, however. A breakdown in the self-cleaning system of the ear can cause what’s known as cerumen impaction (when your ear canal gets clogged with earwax).

Symptoms of an earwax blockage include:

• Temporary hearing loss
• Itchiness
• Ringing in the ears

If you think you have too much wax in your ears, your healthcare provider can take a look inside your ear and use instruments specifically designed to remove earwax, if needed. They might also recommend over-the-counter ear drops that can soften earwax and allow it to exit the ear more easily with gentle irrigation (such as during a shower or using a bulb syringe).

Never use a cotton swab, as this can push earwax further into the ear.

Summary

Ear candling is an alternative practice that involves placing a lit, hollow candle in your ear as a way to remove earwax. Despite what supporters say, there is no evidence that ear candling has benefits or that it can treat any health condition.

The risks of ear candling, including burns, a perforated eardrum, and hearing loss, are serious. If you’re having discomfort you think is related to wax in your ears, skip candling and talk to your healthcare provider.