Hopi Ear Candling

Hopi Ear Candling (/Thermo-Auricular Therapy)

Hopi Ear CandlingHopi Ear Candling has many physical and psychological functions. A light suction action or chimney effect is produced when the candle is lit, the vibration of the air within the Ear Candle generating a vacuum-like effect on the eardrum.

The candle induces a pleasant soothing feeling of warmth and balances pressure within the ears, forehead and sinuses. This can be used for many symptoms, including colds, flu, hay fever, sore throats, earache, sinus congestion, softening of ear wax, headaches, migraines, tinnitus, lymphatic congestion, as well as general cleansing.

The healing properties of Hopi Ear Candling has its foundation in two primary physical actions.

Firstly, the slight underpressure or mild suction (the chimney effect) inside the Ear Candle and the vibration of the rising air column serve to gently massage the ear drum and promote secretion in the frontal and paranasal sinuses.  This has an immediate subjective effect of regulating ear pressure.  Users often describe a soothing, light sensation in the ear or head area.

Secondly, the locally applied warmth stimulates vascularisation, invigorates the immune system and reinforces the flow of lymph.  At the same time, acupuncture points and reflex zones are
stimulated.

In addition the soothing herbal extracts effectively promote cleansing and healing.

The residue of the candle itself is beeswax condensate. That means the wax has become a vapour with the heat of the flame, and then condensed to form a powdery residue. This can be shown by simply burning an ear candle sitting sealed on your finger.

Also, if you use an otoscope or earscope to inspect the ear before treatment, it is found that any wax in the ear remains after the candle is burnt down. Likewise, a person who on inspection with the otoscope is seen to have no earwax before treatment will have the powdery residue in the candle afterwards.

The fact is no ear candle, whether Biosun or any other make, has sufficient suction force to lift wax from the canal. It is an unfortunate myth that misleads many people, and detracts from the many exceptional therapeutic benefits of the earcandle.

The chimney effect is a mild subtle fluttering suction that can move the eardrum, but is nowhere near strong enough or coordinated enough to lift chunks of wax several millimetres. Also note that the residue is substantially above, not below the filter in the Biosun candle.

If one sees solid wax pieces, this is a result of the powder residue coalescing into droplets as the flame comes lower into the candle. This is what many people interpret as the earwax.  In truth, impurities or deposits work their way to the surface and fall out in the following days ahead.


by Susan Neary
Hopi Ear Candling Safety and Side Effects