Ear candling
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Ear candling is a method that proponents say removes ear wax and "toxins" from a person's ear. Also called ear coning. It involves placing a hollow candle in the ear canal and lighting it; allegedly, the rising hot air pulls out the toxins and wax.
Ear candling is generally classified as quackery and pseudoscience, as no scientific evidence supports it. Skeptics note that wax forms inside the hollow candle even when it is not placed inside the ear.
Placing a candle inside the ear may leads to burns, infection, obstruction of the ear canal and perforation of the eardrum. Of particular concern is wax dripping into the ear, which can cause internal burning and blockage. [1] (http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/earcandle/index.html)
At present, selling candles for ear-candling is illegal in Canada. It is also illegal to import such candles into Canada or the United States.[2] (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/medical/candling.html)
External links
- Skeptic's Dictionary on Ear Candling (http://www.skepdic.com/coning.html)
- Quackwatch on Ear Candling (http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candling.html)
- CBC Marketplace article on ear candling and risks (http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/earcandle/index.html)
- The Straight Dope: "How do ear candles work?" (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_098.html)
- Health Canada's statement on ear candles (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/medical/candling.html)
- Photos of an Ear Candling experiment (http://www.abundanthealth.com/art-ec.html#exp)