Thermal Auricular Therapy

Ear Yoga from the Hopi

Although most often associated with the Hopi People of North America, ear candles have been used by many cultures worldwide: historical evidence is available from ancient Egypt, and throughout Asia, the Orient and Siberia. Indeed, it may have formed part of moxibustion, a Traditional Chinese Medicine procedure still much in use today. In some cultures there is evidence to suggest that the process was quite ritualised and may have formed an integral part of various healing ceremonies, often with shamanic connotations.

Ear candles themselves are formed of long tubes of very fine beeswax- and honey-impregnated cloth, generally cotton, and often containing other substances such as sage or camomile which are known to have antiseptic qualities. There are a wide variety available, differing in shape, size and constituents. Biosun® Hopi ear candles used by IACG are generally recognised to be one of the best quality as they are made under license using the original Hopi recipe, and undergo regular independent testing. They are of course the most expensive!

A wide range of conditions benefit from ear candling: excessive and/or compacted ear wax is the most obvious, but it can also help with tinnitus, glue ear, sinusitis, vertigo, Meniere’s Disease, the effects of air travel and swimming, and snoring. There are some contraindications which will preclude their use such as active infection and inflammation in the ear canal, but your therapist will check with you before any treatment is initiated. The treatment itself can be remarkably relaxing: quiet fizzing and crackling sounds will be heard as the candles burn, but in general clients soon drift into a very relaxed state while the candles get to work.

Ear candling is a very safe procedure: the area around the ear is covered and at all times the therapist holds the ear candle to ensure it does not move. At no time is the client at risk of heat damage. The candles contain an inner filter to prevent any potential backflow into the ear and they are only allowed to burn to a level well above this. Extra care is needed with people who use a lot of hair lacquer: in this instance the whole head should be covered.

Treatment is quite simple: with the recipient lying on alternate sides, a candle is gently inserted into each ear and the end lit: as they slowly burn down they draw wax and other debris from the ear, and help to release any pressure differentials around the eardrum.

As with all therapeutic treatments, clients are advised to drink plenty of water afterwards, and to take it easy in the immediate post-treatment period. In particular it is advisable to avoid noisy environments especially if there has been significant clearance of ear wax, and to limit alcohol intake for a day or so after treatment. Because the treatment is so relaxing, grounding and centering exercises may be suggested as ear candling can occasionally lead to a temporary sense of ungroundedness, especially in those for whom this is already an issue. Your therapist will advise accordingly.

We at In a Crystal Garden are convinced that there is a lot more going on with the use of ear candles than is understood with the information currently available. Research is in progress to rediscover what that particular something is!