The Truth About Ear Candling: Does It Work, Is It Safe, and Should You Try It?

Would you put a burning candle in your ear if someone told you it could clear wax and improve hearing? 

That’s exactly what many people are trying with ear candling. 

It looks unusual, feels “natural,” and is often advertised as a soothing alternative to medical treatments.

But here’s the problem: what you see in wellness ads doesn’t always match reality. 

In this blog, we’ll explore what ear candling is, how it supposedly works, what science actually says, the risks involved, and safer options for ear care.

Ear Candling Explained: More Than Just a Candle

Ear candling (also called thermal auricular therapy) involves placing a hollow, cone-shaped candle into the ear canal. 

The candle is lit, and practitioners claim the rising heat creates a vacuum that draws out earwax and “toxins.”

At first glance, ear candling might seem like a harmless wellness trick.

A popular version is Hopi ear candling, which is marketed as a holistic therapy that removes wax, relieves headaches, and even improves sleep. 

The name “Hopi” comes from a Native American tribe, though there’s no proof they actually practiced it.

You might be thinking: “If it’s been around so long, surely it must work?” 

Let’s look at the science.

How Ear Candling Supposedly Works

Supporters say the flame creates suction, pulling out wax and toxins. 

The process looks like this:

• A person lies on their side.
• A hollow candle is placed into the ear canal.
• The top of the candle is lit.
• It burns for 10–15 minutes.
• The leftover waxy substance in the candle is claimed to be earwax.

Here’s the problem: studies show the residue inside the candle isn’t earwax at all. It’s just burnt candle material.

👉 In a 1996 study published in The Laryngoscope, researchers tested ear candling and found:

• No suction effect
• No removal of earwax
• Some patients ended up with candle debris in the ear

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Ear Wax Removal Kits: What Works, What Doesn’t, and When to seek professional help?

The Safety Question: Is Ear Candling Risk-Free?

Now let’s answer the burning question: is ear candling safe?

The FDA has issued multiple warnings against it, and ENT doctors regularly see patients with injuries caused by ear candles. 

ENT specialists often share real examples of patients coming in with burns, blocked canals, or worsened ear infections after trying ear candling at home. 

Instead of clearing the problem, it usually creates a new one and in some cases requires urgent medical treatment.

Reported risks include:

• Burns to the ear, face, or scalp
• Blockages from candle wax dripping into the ear canal
• Perforated eardrum (can cause permanent damage)
• Delayed treatment for real medical issues

👉 According to the Health Canada, at least 21 cases of serious injury from ear candling have been documented in medical literature.

Even “Hopi ear candling,” despite being marketed as gentler, carries the exact same risks.

Microsuction is the preferred choice among audiologists because it’s quick, safe, and works even for people with perforated eardrums — something irrigation and ear drops can’t always handle. 

It uses a gentle suction device under direct vision, meaning there’s no guesswork involved.

Ear Candling and Ear Infections: A Risky Combination

Some people turn to ear candles when they have infections, hoping for relief. 

But does ear candling help ear infections?

The short answer: No. 

Using a burning candle near an already inflamed ear can make symptoms worse and even spread infection. 

ENT specialists warn that putting heat or foreign material into an infected ear is never safe.

Safer at-home remedies include prescribed drops, or for mild buildup, ear wax removal at home methods like olive oil drops. 

But for stubborn or painful blockages, always seek professional care.

Proven Alternatives to Ear Candling

Instead of experimenting with risky methods, here are safer, scientifically backed options:

Lexi’s Story: When Ear Candling Went Wrong

Lexi, a 37-year-old from East London, tried Hopi ear candling at a spa because she felt blocked before a holiday flight.

The session left her with more pain and muffled hearing.

Two days later she booked Dewaxify.

During her appointment, we found melted candle wax stuck to her ear canal wall.

A quick microsuction ear wax removal cleared it safely.

Lexi’s hearing test afterward confirmed her ears were back to normal.

Her story is not unusual. Many people arrive at our clinic after trying ear candling, relieved to finally hear properly again.

Why Dewaxify Is a Better Choice for Ear Care

At Dewaxify, located in Ilford, we believe you shouldn’t gamble with your hearing. 

Unlike risky DIY methods, our professional microsuction ensures your ears are cleared safely in just 20 minutes.

Here’s why patients choose us:

• Free online hearing test to check ear health in minutes
• Same-day appointments available so you don’t have to wait
• Trusted by over 1,000 patients in London for safe ear care
• Led by Sita Parmar, an audiologist with 15 years of experience

👉 Check Your Hearing in 3 Minutes — Free Online Test and BOOK YOUR APPOINTEMENT TODAY(Same day appointments are available).

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