Ear candling is commonly known as Hopi ear candling, acknowledging the fact that it was Hopi Indians of the USA who kept this ancient practice alive and reintroduced it to the modern world. Modern research has proven what the ancients instinctively knew – that it works on a physical, emotional and subtle energy level.

An ear candling treatment requires a pair of specialised ‘candles’ to be used in the ears; these ‘candles’ are in fact hollow tubes made from linen, cotton or hemp and hardened with beeswax which has been infused with honey, propolis, various herbs namely sage, chamomile and St John’s Wort.

The burning of these candles has many therapeutic effects, and a practitioner usually follows this with a gentle massage of the face, ears, neck, scalp and feet to enhance the effects of the ‘candling’. 

It is a pleasant non-invasive treatment that can be used to promote an enhanced state of health, to relieve conditions related to the ear and head area, or simply as an enjoyable means of relieving stress. In our modern age, conditions such as headaches and sinus problems are extremely common and can affect sufferers on a daily basis.  Relief from such problems is very much in demand, and there is a growing trend to seek more natural forms of treatment.

Being a hollow tube, the centre of an ear candle is simply a column of air rather than a solid mass.  When lit at the top, the rising air column inside the candle begins to heat up. As the candle burns down, it continues to heat up the top of the rising air column in the centre of the candle. The rising air column creates a very mild suction action at the base, which helps to loosen compacted earwax.

At the same time, the beeswax and other ingredients (which are infused in the fabric of the tube) are vaporised.  These ingredients, some of which are slightly oily, make some of the air inside the candle heavier and it spirals downwards into the ear canal, setting up pressure waves and gentle sound waves from the sizzling ingredients, which massage the eardrum.  Since even the slightest movement of the eardrum is carried onwards to the middle and inner ear, all of the structures of the ear receive a gentle massage.  As the ear, nose, sinuses and throat are interconnected; this has theeffect of regulating and balancing pressure in the ears as well as the whole of the upper respiratory tract. Users often describe a soothing light sensation in the ear and head area as the sinuses are drained and cleared. Clearer nasal breathing and an improved sense of smell (even when the nose was blocked before treatment) are often experienced.

Ear-candling may assist with symptomatic relief of the following:

Sinus problems
Headache
Sore throat
Allergies
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Will aid removal of excessive ear wax
May also help to relax and calm, relieving symptoms of stress and anxiety.

As a complementary therapy, ear-candling does not claim to cure any disorders. However, therapists who carry out this treatment all agree that one of its most marked effects on their clients is a feeling of total relaxation. When the body reaches this state, many positive health benefits result.  The parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated, leading to lowered heart and respiratory rates and increased peristalsis in the digestive system.  The state of relaxation produces positive healing chemicals in the body and is an antidote to the harmful chemicals produced when the body is under constant stress.