Learning About Ear Candle and Ear Candling
Maybe you have never used ear candles before and are wondering what all the fuss is about? Well aside from all the debate of how effective or safe they may be let's explain some of the basic concepts of how they are made and the best practice of how to use them. Contrary to belief form the skeptics different forms of ear candles have existed for many many years. Rather than the questionable old quote of 'centuries' lets assume they have been used in some form for the last 50 years. Many older people still living today will recount child hood memories off their mums carrying out treatments at home using slightly more basic methods than we are accustomed to seeing today.
It was common practice to make your own basic form of ear candles in the home using wrapped cotton or card in a cone shape, either simply to blow smoke into the ear canal for warmth or indeed dripping cotton material into hot wax which would then be applied to the ear creating a seal for maximum effect. Today there are two common forms of ear candles that you will find in stores or on the internet, used daily worldwide by thousands of people. Essentially they are fine tuned consistently produced candles using the same basic concept of dripping material into hot wax and then cooled down.
In Europe it is common to find a traditional 'cone' shape similar to the ice cream cone, a narrow point at one end which is inserted into the ear and the opposite end a much wider diameter tapered down. Different forms of cotton strips or sheets are carefully wrapped in an overlay spiral fashion. The end result is then dipped for a few seconds into a hot drum of beeswax to soak the candle with the desired amount of beeswax. This is then cooled down and once set, final trimming would be applied.
The second equally found style is made under the same conditions although not as a cone shape but straight candle from top to bottom. Similar to a normal candle but of course with a complete inner hollow no more than a centimeter in diameter. This type of candle can be hand made in different ways generally using unbleached cotton. Either complete sheets of soaked cotton are simply wrapped around a stick or the more popular style of strips of unbleached cotton are wrapped in a neat spiral fashion, again around a stick. These candles will burn slightly differently but the popular spiral wrap style is more natural as the cotton is porous in nature allowing for good air flow as the candle burns.
Over the years and with safety being of utmost importance one company has now designed a candle which ticks all the boxes, if not more when it comes to safety. Custom designed filters are now inserted into the base of the candle to act as a barrier to ensure no residue beeswax can enter the ear canal, often sighted as an extreme risk of course. This is no longer the case. This is primarily why skeptics were concerned about the safety of candles as even now many candles are still sold with absolutely no filter. Protect yourself in as many ways possible to ensure a safe experience by only using ear candles with such a filter.
In addition and again rarely seen on candles, one company has had the foresight to design a 'stop mark' approximately and inch or so from the base of the candle to indicate the safe time to extinguish the candle before getting too close to the ear and head area. At all times when ear candling, individuals should only use ear candles in the presence of a partner or friend to ensure safety, observing the burning process and making sure the candle is at a ninety degree angle to the lead when laying down. This will eliminate the chance of any hot wax dripping hence the candle should be held by your partner at all times. Never believe that you can use candles alone as it is quite difficult to judge the correct angle when lying down especially when it is out of sight to the eye.
Both of the candles described work on the same concept of the transfer of heat to the ear canal but the sensation may be different as the candles burn. Generally there is no right or wrong design but simply a matter of choice and enjoyment. However individuals do report preference to the straight candles as the a cone shaped candle can be quite intimidating due to the large flame that is created by the cone effect. As with all natural treatments find the one which you most comfortable with, become familiar with the burning process of an ear candle the first time and most certainly observe all safety instructions as mentioned.
