Forums > Social Chat > How do ear candles work? Or do they?
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2,996 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
100 characters max...
2,996 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posted:
Okay, question for the medical and physics buffs out there:
I recently bought some ear candles from a store in Glebe (for the uninitiated these are hollow tubes of wax that you light whilst stuck in your ear, that supposedly draw any wax buildup out of your ear). I haven't tried them yet, and am totally curious.
Is the idea of it sound? Is it a load of bollocks? Is it possible in physics terms? And in medical terms (Mike ) ?
Okay, question for the medical and physics buffs out there:
I recently bought some ear candles from a store in Glebe (for the uninitiated these are hollow tubes of wax that you light whilst stuck in your ear, that supposedly draw any wax buildup out of your ear). I haven't tried them yet, and am totally curious.
Is the idea of it sound? Is it a load of bollocks? Is it possible in physics terms? And in medical terms (Mike ) ?
It was a day for screaming at inanimate objects.
What this calls for is a special mix of psychology and extreme violence...
HoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
Posted:
I just stick to Q-tips and good old-fashioned elbow grease, none of these newfangled inventions
As I recall, at some point I read that removing the wax from your ears is actually harmful to your health because the ears need a coating of wax to function properly. Stuff on the outside (the stuff you want to remove because it's visually unappealing) is safe to get rid of, but doign too much to the inner ear can lead to injury or damage later on down the line.
Does Mr Ginny have anything to say on this one?
I just stick to Q-tips and good old-fashioned elbow grease, none of these newfangled inventions
As I recall, at some point I read that removing the wax from your ears is actually harmful to your health because the ears need a coating of wax to function properly. Stuff on the outside (the stuff you want to remove because it's visually unappealing) is safe to get rid of, but doign too much to the inner ear can lead to injury or damage later on down the line.
Does Mr Ginny have anything to say on this one?
What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.
GOLD Member
Now with extra strawberries
810 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia
Now with extra strawberries
810 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia
Posted:
as far as i know the hot air rising out of the tube creats a small vacume to suck the wax out. i think thats what they say on the box.
there are only ment to be used if you have Sinus problems or are having trouble hearing.
my aunty some times uses them and she says that they work really well if youare having sinus problems.
Missie
as far as i know the hot air rising out of the tube creats a small vacume to suck the wax out. i think thats what they say on the box.
there are only ment to be used if you have Sinus problems or are having trouble hearing.
my aunty some times uses them and she says that they work really well if youare having sinus problems.
Missie
I {Heart} hand me downs and spinning in the snow.<br /><br />
SILVER Member
member
44 posts
Location: Darwin............, Australia
member
44 posts
Location: Darwin............, Australia
Posted:
They do work!
I don't know the physics behind it but what Missie said sounds right.
As was also said, they should only be used if you have excessive wax blocking your ear canal.
Make sure that you soften the wax in your ear a couple of days before you use the candles. You can use 'WAXSOL' which you can buy at any chemist, or an old lady I know once told me that you can use warm olive oil (applied with an eyedropper) for a similar effect. Why OLIVE oil I don't know....
They do work!
I don't know the physics behind it but what Missie said sounds right.
As was also said, they should only be used if you have excessive wax blocking your ear canal.
Make sure that you soften the wax in your ear a couple of days before you use the candles. You can use 'WAXSOL' which you can buy at any chemist, or an old lady I know once told me that you can use warm olive oil (applied with an eyedropper) for a similar effect. Why OLIVE oil I don't know....
...a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men...
Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.
SILVER Member
enthusiast
214 posts
Location: Melbourne Australia
enthusiast
214 posts
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posted:
Yep they do work, as far as physics go the vacum thing sounds correct, they draw the wax out.
I don't think you need/or would want to use them more than once a month.
From memory they're american indian in origin, possibly south american.
They can 'cure' vertigo as it's somehow related to blocked ears or the middle ear.
give em a go, but have someone else holding them when they're burning so that a proper seal is kept and they don't burn down to far.
Yep they do work, as far as physics go the vacum thing sounds correct, they draw the wax out.
I don't think you need/or would want to use them more than once a month.
From memory they're american indian in origin, possibly south american.
They can 'cure' vertigo as it's somehow related to blocked ears or the middle ear.
give em a go, but have someone else holding them when they're burning so that a proper seal is kept and they don't burn down to far.
Trying to play the Akashic records,
but my turntables not compatible.
SILVER Member
enthusiast
214 posts
Location: Melbourne Australia
enthusiast
214 posts
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posted:
Oh and for people who like the sound of fire twirling, it's a little different, but very cool trippy sorta sound
Oh and for people who like the sound of fire twirling, it's a little different, but very cool trippy sorta sound
Trying to play the Akashic records,
but my turntables not compatible.
DIAMOND Member
The Ministry of Manipulation
2,523 posts
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
The Ministry of Manipulation
2,523 posts
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
well that cleared that up.
Ok next question....
How do nose puppies work?
well that cleared that up.
Ok next question....
How do nose puppies work?
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Posted:
DSS runs away cringing. Nice topic! Yuck.
DSS runs away cringing. Nice topic! Yuck.
I live in a world of infinite possibilities.
BRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
Posted:
There are several notes on this one, as this was covered in a few of the holistic care workshops I have attended.
1. The vaccuum thing is pretty much correct, though it works more like a thermal inversion (the air in the body being warm, the air in the tube being cool, the air at the top of the tube being warm from the fire, this creates an upward drawing "pressure").
2. You SHOULD NOT use these if you have sinus issues, or ear infections/issues. They can actually make the situation worse. It doesn't actually remove anything from your sinus' but more redirects the fluid to places it shouldn't be.
3. There was a scientific study done a couple years ago about these, it was shown on TV and put in magazines. They wanted to know what the percentage of ear wax was in the remaining parts of the cone versus the residue of the cone burning (which, btw the cone is light cotton/flax fabric, or heavy rice paper usually, coated in wax and rolled into a cone formation). The results were incredible. It was less than 2% body wax. Most of the wax was that which was used to make the ear cone in the first place.
4. As I have used these on other people several times, this is what I would recommend....
- they are amazing as a tool for relaxation. All you hear is this crackling effect of the fire and this little noise from the air. It is very soothing. Just don't expect to have your ears crystal clean when you are done. If you have alot of wax build-up, use one of the liquifiers on the market or swabs.
- do not use them when you are alone. You are essentially making yourself into a human candle. You need to have someone to help you guage how low the cone is burning so that you know when to stop. Stop when there is about 3-4 inches left to it.
- Find a comfy spot to lay on your side, preferably where it will be dark. It is hard to move once you have it started. It is very relaxing also to see the flicker of the flame reflected around.
- Use an aluminum pie tin to help catch the falling ashe so it doesn't fall on your face. Just cut a hole in the middle of it large enough for tip of the cone to fit through and go from there. Our workshop instructor learned this the hard way as she had a faceful of soot and some in her eye, after her first treatment.
Anyway..good luck using them. I hope this helps in some way!
There are several notes on this one, as this was covered in a few of the holistic care workshops I have attended.
1. The vaccuum thing is pretty much correct, though it works more like a thermal inversion (the air in the body being warm, the air in the tube being cool, the air at the top of the tube being warm from the fire, this creates an upward drawing "pressure").
2. You SHOULD NOT use these if you have sinus issues, or ear infections/issues. They can actually make the situation worse. It doesn't actually remove anything from your sinus' but more redirects the fluid to places it shouldn't be.
3. There was a scientific study done a couple years ago about these, it was shown on TV and put in magazines. They wanted to know what the percentage of ear wax was in the remaining parts of the cone versus the residue of the cone burning (which, btw the cone is light cotton/flax fabric, or heavy rice paper usually, coated in wax and rolled into a cone formation). The results were incredible. It was less than 2% body wax. Most of the wax was that which was used to make the ear cone in the first place.
4. As I have used these on other people several times, this is what I would recommend....
- they are amazing as a tool for relaxation. All you hear is this crackling effect of the fire and this little noise from the air. It is very soothing. Just don't expect to have your ears crystal clean when you are done. If you have alot of wax build-up, use one of the liquifiers on the market or swabs.
- do not use them when you are alone. You are essentially making yourself into a human candle. You need to have someone to help you guage how low the cone is burning so that you know when to stop. Stop when there is about 3-4 inches left to it.
- Find a comfy spot to lay on your side, preferably where it will be dark. It is hard to move once you have it started. It is very relaxing also to see the flicker of the flame reflected around.
- Use an aluminum pie tin to help catch the falling ashe so it doesn't fall on your face. Just cut a hole in the middle of it large enough for tip of the cone to fit through and go from there. Our workshop instructor learned this the hard way as she had a faceful of soot and some in her eye, after her first treatment.
Anyway..good luck using them. I hope this helps in some way!
Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
member
174 posts
Location: St. Paul, MN USA
174 posts
Location: St. Paul, MN USA
Posted:
My freshman year of college I walked into my room to find my roomie laying on her side with a candle in her ear. Trying not to laugh, I just ignored it, sat at my desk, and began studying. After what seemed like forever, she's like, "Aren't you going to ask what I'm doing?" I wasn't but thankfully she explained why on earth anyone would do that. She had a bit of a head cold and swears by her ear candles about twice a year when she gets a little sick. She says they help "clear up her head" a little and she did express how relaxing they were. At first I was a little leary but I let her do her thing and we ended up living together for 3 years. So I guess my story is that they look freaky to newbies but according to my friend Krista, they work. Best of luck to ya!
My freshman year of college I walked into my room to find my roomie laying on her side with a candle in her ear. Trying not to laugh, I just ignored it, sat at my desk, and began studying. After what seemed like forever, she's like, "Aren't you going to ask what I'm doing?" I wasn't but thankfully she explained why on earth anyone would do that. She had a bit of a head cold and swears by her ear candles about twice a year when she gets a little sick. She says they help "clear up her head" a little and she did express how relaxing they were. At first I was a little leary but I let her do her thing and we ended up living together for 3 years. So I guess my story is that they look freaky to newbies but according to my friend Krista, they work. Best of luck to ya!
Without further guilding the lily and with no more ado, I bid you farewell and sweet dreams...
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