Ear candling

From RationalWiki

Ear candling is a bizarre folk remedy for excess cerumen (ear wax).

The performance involves laying the victim "patient" on their side, and burning a special hollow candle over their ear canal. The heat is supposed to draw the impurities from the ear out of the canal and onto the base of the candle. When visible residue is seen at the base of the candle after the process the practitioner and wooee assume that wax was removed from the ear canal by some sort of quantum^[1] warm air currents. This residue is, of course, simply burnt wax from the candle that has run down the inside.

While one might think "it's harmless and cheap, so who cares?", the procedure comes with potential downsides - the most obvious is that hot wax from the candle might drip into the ear, burning the patient victim. There are also all the usual hazards associated with playing with fire indoors. There is no need for an alternative method to removing excess cerumen buildups. You can break down cerumen by using oil - commercial ear wax removal oils typically use peanut oil, although any vegetable oil will do the job. If you have a large deposit that isn't shifting, you can typically have it pumped out in a few minutes by a nurse. Talk to your doctor.

It is also claimed to remove "toxins" from the body by sucking them out with the warm air current. These "toxins" inevitably set off teh smoke detector, so if you hear teh smoke detector going off during ear candling, you know it's working! (/snark)

[edit] See also

• List of pseudosciences

[edit] Footnotes

1. ↑ The word "quantum" is used here by the original editor for the purpose of mockery. Ear candling enthusiasts stick to the hot air.