Low or no data? Visit Zero Data then search for 'Healthify'. Click on our logo to return to our site and browse for free.

Ear candles

Key points about ear candles

Research shows ear candling has no medical benefits.
In fact, ear candles are harmful and can cause serious injury.
Ear candling is NOT a safe option for earwax removal. There are much safer ways to remove earwax.
Read more about earwax build-up and removal.

Print this page

An ear candle is a narrow, hollow cone that has been soaked in beeswax or paraffin and allowed to harden. During ear candling, you lie on your side while someone inserts the end of the cone inside your ear. The top of the cone is then set on fire and left to burn for a few minutes.

Ear candles are sold for removing earwax. There are claims that they can cure a wide range of medical problems including earaches, sinus infections, sinus pain and pressure, vertigo (dizziness) and cancer. BUT research shows ear candling has no medical benefits. In fact, ear candles are harmful and can cause serious injury.

Ear candles are harmful. They should not be used in adults or children.
Using ear candles can cause: burns to your face, ear canal, eardrum and middle ear injury to your ear from dripping wax your ears getting plugged by candle wax bleeding in your ear canal puncture of your ear drum delay in seeking needed medical care for underlying conditions such as sinus and ear infections, hearing loss, cancer and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (which often cause headache and painful sensations in your ear, jaw and face).

Ear candles are harmful. They should not be used in adults or children.

Using ear candles can cause:

burns to your face, ear canal, eardrum and middle ear
injury to your ear from dripping wax
your ears getting plugged by candle wax
bleeding in your ear canal
puncture of your ear drum
delay in seeking needed medical care for underlying conditions such as sinus and ear infections, hearing loss, cancer and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (which often cause headache and painful sensations in your ear, jaw and face).

Ear candling is NOT a safe option for earwax removal. There are much safer ways to remove earwax. Read more about earwax build-up and removal.

Ear candling: Ineffective and risky- a video

(FDA, US, 2010)

There are claims that the burning candle creates a vacuum that draws wax out of your ear (called the chimney effect). Some people think that the candle heats up the earwax, causing it to melt, and that it then comes out of your ear over the following few days. However, studies have shown that ear candles produce no vacuum in your ear and they don't remove ear wax. Ear candles do not draw out the wax or melt the wax.

Earwax build-up and removal | Pī taringa
Ear care and condition topics