Ear Candles

[caliber66]

Wikipedia is handy, but it is not God. I could go in there and change to say, "Ear candling is the greatest thing of all time, every doctor on Earth agrees."

That did have a source in PubMed, which means there's an article published in a medical journal (in this case, it looks like an Ear Nose Throat journal) on the subject. Granted, the abstract says they only tested eight(!) ears in the clinical trial...

[Lammycat]

Maybe there are different types of ear candles I'm not aware of but the "Potential Dangers" section of the take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt Wikipedia mentions wax dripping in the ear/burning and perforation of the eardrum/obstruction of the ear canal. Every time I've done it my wife holds the candle at a 45 degree angle or so and the base of the candle is less further in than I'd put a Q-tip.

 

I'd say there are dangers if you're jamming the base into your ear or are burning the candle perpendicular to your ear while prone. I'm all for alternatives to traditional cures, though. And, the candles work for me.

 

Either way, there are "dangers" involved, much like there are dangers in poking a Q-tip or dropping a liquid into your ear.

[Tenderloin]

ok...I just bought some for 8.95. Still haven't the guts to spark em up yet.

[Lammycat]

ok...I just bought some for 8.95. Still haven't the guts to spark em up yet.

Get something good on t.v., get prone, and get someone to light/hold the candle for you in each ear. One ear at a time, of course. And don't be jammin' them all down in there too far or anything.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

I write about medical issues for a living, and I have spoken with an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) about ear wax. He explained that ear wax is a necessary evil, and should not be removed from the ear.

 

In the event that excess ear wax becomes problematic, the ears can be cleaned out by a medical professional with special equipment.

[Lammycat]

I write about medical issues for a living, and I have spoken with an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) about ear wax. He explained that ear wax is a necessary evil, and should not be removed from the ear.

 

In the event that excess ear wax becomes problematic, the ears can be cleaned out by a medical professional with special equipment.

Well yeah, if people start removing it themselves he'll have to change his title to simply "Nose and Throat Specialist."

That's 1/3 of his business, man.

 

All I know is that it helps my ears.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Most people don't need to remove it at all. It's there for a reason. If the ear becomes impacted with it, then it's a problem, and of course it could be removed by the patient himself, but I don't think it's something most physicians of any sort would recommend. If you want to put candles in your ears, knock yourself out. Whatever floats your boat.

 

By the way, an ENT actually deals a lot with allergies, and many of them do a lot of treatment of sleep apnea, snoring, as well as surgical procedures (especially for facial trauma), and so on. Dealing with ear wax is a very tiny % of what they do.

[bjorn_skurj]

In the event that excess ear wax becomes problematic, the ears can be cleaned out by a medical professional with special equipment.

Yeah, those bats with the long tongues. They're awsoem!

[Live Music Beth]

Be sure to let us know how it goes for you, Tenderloin. I'm intrigued.

[fickerson]

i had this done professionally a few weeks ago (and for not much more money than the candles cost at a store, apparently). it felt cool at the time, and it was fascinating to see how much freaking wax i had, but something about it didn't feel very natural. it dried up my sinuses and i got a nasty cold a couple days later. coincidence?

 

not sure yet if i'll try it again.

[a.miller]

i had this done professionally a few weeks ago (and for not much more money than the candles cost at a store, apparently). it felt cool at the time, and it was fascinating to see how much freaking wax i had, but something about it didn't feel very natural. it dried up my sinuses and i got a nasty cold a couple days later. coincidence?

 

not sure yet if i'll try it again.

Perhaps Mr. Heartbreak could dig up some information? I've always been interested in having this done. I used to play music with a guy who had it done and he said it made music ultra-clear sounding upon having it done.

[Tenderloin]

Be sure to let us know how it goes for you, Tenderloin. I'm intrigued.

 

Well...that was an experience. I finally got up the nerve to try these things. I opened the box and followed the extremely vague directions as best as I could. I punched a hole in a paper plate, filled a bowl with water, wrapped a damp towel around my head and was ready to go. Rather than lay down on my side, I chose to sit upright and keep the candle at an angle pointed skyward (as suggested in the directions) and lit the candle. There was an inner feeling of warmth almost immediately, accompanied by a muted crackling sound that was alarming at first, but wound up being quite soothing as the candle burned down. When the candle reached about 1/4 of it's original length, I removed it from my ear and snuffed in in the bowl of water. I was extremely relaxed after this procedure.

 

After repeating the process in my other ear, I decided to open up the candles to find out the amount of residue that had been collected. There was roughly the same amount of wax in each candle, a long thin stream of brown residue that can only be described as, well...candle wax. It looked exactly like a stream of wax that flows down from the side of a dinner candle as it burns down. This was somewhat disappointing, as I was expecting an amount close to an overzealous toothpaste tube squeeze. Maybe my ears are cleaner than I thought, or maybe I screwed it up in some way.

 

All in all, I found the experience to be extremely relaxing and quite effective. The most positive thing I can say, is that I haven't suffered from my ears "popping" as they have in the past. I have had this trouble for years, and I'm glad to say it's gone...if only temporarily.

 

Was my hearing any better??? Mmmmm...maybe, but my attendance at a Led Zeppelin cover band that night sure took care of that.

 

Next up: THE NETI POT

[fickerson]

After repeating the process in my other ear, I decided to open up the candles to find out the amount of residue that had been collected. There was roughly the same amount of wax in each candle, a long thin stream of brown residue that can only be described as, well...candle wax. It looked exactly like a stream of wax that flows down from the side of a dinner candle as it burns down.

 

this is the wax from the actual candle. the wax from your ear should be stuck to the candle wax and is beige-colored and powdery - when the smoke breaks it down, it kind of vaporizes it.

 

i hope you don't get a cold.

[Live Music Beth]

this is the wax from the actual candle. the wax from your ear should be stuck to the candle wax and is beige-colored and powdery - when the smoke breaks it down, it kind of vaporizes it.

 

That's disappointing.

[Sir Stewart]

Next up: THE NETI POT

I can kinda vouch for that, having used this:

Same deal. Good times.

[a.miller]

I can kinda vouch for that, having used this:

Same deal. Good times.

I have a lot of sinus problems....perhaps this would alleviate some of them.

[caliber66]

I have used the neti pot, and I think it does provide some benefit. It is a unique sensation, though, so prepare yourself for that.

[a.miller]

I have used the neti pot, and I think it does provide some benefit. It is a unique sensation, though, so prepare yourself for that.

Unique...how? Like, yuck I hate this or Wow, this feels cool. Perhaps personal preference.

[caliber66]

Like "OH MY GOD WHY DID I PUT SALT WATER IN MY SINUSES...oh, no, that's kind of nice, actually."

 

It's tingly.

[jenbobblehead]

once you get over the initial apprehension of pouring water up your nose, there's really nothing to it. It doesn't have a weird sensation or anything, it just feels like wet nose.

[Atticus]

Like "OH MY GOD WHY DID I PUT SALT WATER IN MY SINUSES...oh, no, that's kind of nice, actually."

 

It's tingly.

 

 

once you get over the initial apprehension of pouring water up your nose, there's really nothing to it. It doesn't have a weird sensation or anything, it just feels like wet nose.

 

why don't you two get a collection of rooms and some pets...

[bjorn_skurj]

That's disappointing.

I am a bit envious of anyone living in Burlington. I

[Beltmann]

once you get over the initial apprehension of pouring water up your nose, there's really nothing to it. It doesn't have a weird sensation or anything, it just feels like wet nose.

That's it exactly. I'll vouch for the neti pot, too.

 

As for the ear candles, I have never used them. But my wife tried it and somehow singed her womb. I don't think she did it right.

[a.miller]

Like "OH MY GOD WHY DID I PUT SALT WATER IN MY SINUSES...oh, no, that's kind of nice, actually."

 

It's tingly.

Does a lot of....stuff....come out when the water comes out? I feel as though I might be running at a slightly higher booger count, given it's allergy season. I wouldn't mind lowering said count.

[caliber66]

You definitely want to blow your nose thoroughly right before you do the neti pot, and lightly immediately afterwards. You want to have a clear track for the liquid to percolate through your sinus cavity. I haven't noticed the runoff being "chunky" when I've done it, but most of my concentration is always focused on the sensation of water (etc.) flowing through the inside of my face. I definitely feel clearer after - whether this is psychosomatic or not, I couldn't tell you.