Ear Candling
What is Thermal Auricular Therapy (also known as Hopi Ear Candling)?
This therapy is an ancient practice that has been widely used for centuries not only – in the USA, Mexico and throughout the world. It is a pleasant and non-invasive treatment of the ears, used to treat a variety of conditions.
What are Hopi Ear Candles?
The candles are specially designed hollow tubes of organic linen and beeswax, still made today on the basis of the old traditional formula originating from the Native American Hopi Indians.
Thermal Auricular Therapy – Hopi Ear Candling for whom?
The treatment can help people who suffer from tinnitus, compacted earwax, sore throats and hay fever, colds and flu, swimmers ears, inner ear pressure (e.g. following flying and diving), balance problems, headache and migraine, ringing in the ears, hearing problems, snoring, rhinitis and sinusitis, catarrh and asthma, tendency to ear aches and infections. It is an excellent treatment before a flight.
The candling can also help to stimulate blood and energy flow, to regulate pressure in the ears and to relax. The therapy can also help to combat anxiety and stress through the herbal essences that are added to the ear candles and through the stimulation of the lymphatic system.
The contra-indications for Hopi Ear Candling are the inflammation of the ear, any form of infection or abscess of or in the ear, cysts, head injury within 24 months, ear tubes grommets, epilepsy, dental work that has left the face sore, allergies to the ingredients including wax, surgery within the last three months, perforation or damage of the ear drum and artificial ear drums.
What does the treatment involve?
Before the treatment, there is an initial consultation to ensure that Ear Candling is right for the recipient. Treatment can be carried out whilst the recipient lies sideways on the massage couch. The practitioner will gently insert a candle in the first ear with a protective flannel around the ear to ensure this procedure is safe and non-damaging. The candle is then lit and suction draws any impurities from within the ear. This process is known as the ‘chimney effect’. The rising air gives the eardrum a gentle massage and also helps to regulate ear pressure. The ear candle may pull a small amount of loose or flaky earwax, dead skin cells or yeast cells from the very external part of the ear during the treatment.
The way in which the ear candles work to remove some earwax or mucus in the sinuses is through sound. The effect of the flame is to create a vibration that travels through the ear canal. The eardrum, in turn, vibrates the inner ear bones at such a frequency that it is like an inner ear massage. This then pushes further into the Eustachian tubes and the sinuses, helping to push out any blocked pressure in the head and ears.
The recipient will experience a crackling sound as the candle burns and possibly some popping of the ear and experience gentle heat around the ear area as the candle burns lower. When the candle has burned down two-thirds, it is carefully removed from the ear and extinguished. The entire process is then repeated for the other ear. Once both ears have been treated, the recipient will receive a soothing facial massage.
After a treatment
After the treatment the recipient should rest for about 10 minutes. It is during this time that a soothing face and scalp massage will be given.
After the therapy the body finds it easier to flush the waste through the lymphatic system, and the recipient will notice the detoxifying effect for about 48 hours. Maximum benefit from the treatment is gained through resting afterwards and drinking plenty of water over the next couple of days.
It is advisable to avoid water sport for about 24 hours after the therapy and the ears should be kept warm, as they might feel slightly sensitive for a few hours.
The number of treatments that may be needed to cure a problem depend on the age of the person, the length of time the recipient has suffered from the condition and what condition exactly the person is suffering from.