The human ear is prone to all sorts of aches and pains, a great many of which stem from the accumulation of wax, water, or infectious material inside the ear. While there are plenty of tools, like cotton buds or metal scrapers, that can help remove excess ear wax, many of them just end up pushing it further into the ear canal. Fortunately, ear candling provides an effective, holistic alternative.
At MacMed Salon, Spa and Medical, we offer ear candling treatments to help clear out your ear canal to relieve discomfort and buildup. Our trained medical and spa staff will provide a comfortable and safe experience for you in one of our three Massachusetts offices. To schedule your appointment, contact MacMed today.
Ear candling involves placing one end of a tubular or conical candle into the ear and lighting the other end while the person being candled lies down on their side. The candle itself is generally inserted through a hole in a paper or aluminum plate in order to catch any bits of ash or melted wax produced during the candling session. One candle will burn for about a half hour to forty five minutes before reaching about four inches in length, at which point it will be removed and extinguished. At that point, a new candle can be used to either continue treating that same ear or begin treating the opposite side.
The ear candling process works by warming the air within the candle. This air, along with paraffin, soy, or beeswax vapor, enters the ear and softens up existing wax deposits. In the end, the ear candle helps by working with the body’s natural healing processes.
The benefits of ear candling are manifold. To begin with, ear candling helps remove debris that cotton swabs and other tools leave behind by encouraging ears to produce fresh, healthy wax while shedding old wax. In some cases, it may also help the body naturally eliminate toxic material that leads to ear aches, chronic inflammation, and other ear discomfort. The gentle heat provided by the candle itself is great for soothing minor ear complaints like swimmer’s ear or sinus pressure. Some ear candles are also infused with essential oils, which gives them therapeutic benefits in addition to their other effects.
While ear candling can have enormous benefits, it’s important to realize that it can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Having molten wax or an open flame near hair, skin, or clothing can result in serious burns. If ear candles aren’t used at the right angle, hot wax may even drip into the ear canal. For these reasons, it’s important to have ear candling performed by a seasoned spa professional, like our staff at MacMed. They’ll be able to ensure that their clients have the best, safest, and most beneficial ear candling experience possible.